Not Pooping?

[Dunnigan]

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - 2x2x4 screen
* Lighting - 5.0 reptisun
* Temperature - the temp at the bottom of the cage is about 70ish.
* Humidity - Dont measure humidity, i mist 2x daily
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
* Location - Bedroom, the top of the cage is above eye level, his highest perch is aswell


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - 1 year 3ish months male veiled, ive had him for about a year now
* Handling - HA! i wish...
* Feeding - Crickets as a staple, JUST started superworms, wax worms on occsaion. I feed them flukers cricket feed, i also offer apple, carrot, lettuce...ect
* Supplements - Miner-all 5-6 times a week.
herptivite 2x monthly
calcuim w/ d3 2xmonthly

* Watering - Hand water, 2x daily, yes i see him drink
* Fecal Description - Right now its been about a week...normally brown/black with white urates
* History - not while he has been in my care.
* Current Problem - Havent seen poop in almost a week!


About a week ago i introduced superworms into my guys diet, since then no poop. Obviously i have stoped feeding him supers. Should i take him to the Vet? Is there a reptile laxative i could give him? Or has any one expreicenced "reptile constipation" (which it what it seems to me) before?

I use fake plants in the enclosure. i looked at a good majority of them and havent seen any nibble marks ( so im pretty sure that he isnt eating them)

I have also recently moved (almost a month now) IDK if that is relavent or not but im throwing it out there.

i have the capabilites of taking him to a vet as early as tomorrow morning, but if it is not necessary id rather not.

He is still very active, no signs of bloating or anything,

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OntarioLizardman]

more peps will come in, but maybe his digestive system is getting used to the worms. and could there be poop its just hidden in plants? i would get some real plants. best of luck man!

 

[OntarioLizardman]

p.s i know how it is, im worried about my green tree python not popping at the moment. lol

 

[Dunnigan]

more peps will come in, but maybe his digestive system is getting used to the worms. and could there be poop its just hidden in plants? i would get some real plants. best of luck man!

I tried real plants several times.

They all die...

 

[Brad Ramsey]

A week is nothing to worry about.
Try giving him a very warm bath (if you can) or misting him a long time with very warm water.
Kitty has gone 6 weeks without pooping before. That's the longest, usually he poops once every 3 to 4 weeks.
He is on a superworm only diet (not my choice) but they are easy to gut load.

-Brad

 

[zelink14]

Does this often happen when a young chameleon eats something new? And if he doesn't poop, should he still be eating?

 

[BocaJan]

Mine did that too. Personally, if you can get him to eat a little kale, that seems to help. A bath will definately help if you can manage it. Take a big plastic refrigerator container, put about an inch of warm water in it. Holding your cham, put him in the water. Do not let go. I take the warm water and let it run over his back. I don't do his head since that isn't where they poop. As the water cools down put some more hot water into the cold water until it is warm. Don't just run the faucet over him. Let him bath for about 15 minutes. They will calm down after a bit when they feel secure.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

You said the temperature in the bottom of the cage is about 70, but what is his basking temp?

-Brad

 

[Dunnigan]

It seems to be about 84 (I just measured it)

 

[Dunnigan]

The bath worked...everything "came out" just fine

Thanks!

 

[zelink14]

Will the bath work the same for a juvenile chameleon? This would be a first time for him (equalling stress), but I think I maybe should try it, too.

 

[BocaJan]

The bath worked...everything "came out" just fine

Thanks!

Great! I am glad that it worked for you. FYI, I have a female who just pooped after 3 weeks. It was huge! Lots of urates too.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Just a quick comment on urates.
After a long spell of not eliminating the eventual "deposit" will have a lot of orange or yellow in the older urates and they will be very crystalized (crunchy like gravel).
This does not indicate dehydration.
Check the end of the urate section for moist white material, this is the newest part and a better indication of hydration.

-Brad

 

[Dunnigan]

Just a quick comment on urates.
After a long spell of not eliminating the eventual "deposit" will have a lot of orange or yellow in the older urates and they will be very crystalized (crunchy like gravel).
This does not indicate dehydration.
Check the end of the urate section for moist white material, this is the newest part and a better indication of hydration.

-Brad

I noticed this and I was scratching my head on this one...

My guys was moist and white on one end and orange-ish on the other. I gave him a shower and ordered some hornworms anyway.

Thanks for clearing this up!!!

 

[Titan]

I'm going to throw one in! Glad he-- ah, you know. Anyhow Im gonna post this
for future readers to stick in there bank of knowlage. A great way and well tested. is to inject your feeder with a small amount of "new" clean vegtable or corn oil. Really lubricates the bowels of the Cham and does no harm. But do this in small doses and not at all if, all is well!