Panther Cham won't eat and has bad aim!

[Kappy]

I've had my panther chameleon for about 3 months now with no complications. He's about 1 year old and normally eats 10-14 crickets per day. I've been misting adequately as well as providing adequate dusting to crickets 2-3 week. However, I recently changed his substrate and very minimally rearranged a few things in his enclosure about a week ago. I held him for a few seconds during this process then put him back. I've only held him twice in the 3 months because I personally don't find it necessary or beneficial. HOWEVER, Ever since then, his cricket consumption has dwindled quite a bit. He hasn't eaten any in about 4 days. I tried putting his crickets in a cup but he didn't eat those either. I also tried hand feeding (which I do sporadically) him a cricket, but he shot and missed. He has never missed before. I'm assuming his lack of accuracy has something to do with his lack of calcium intake from not eating.

Is it possible that a slight change in a vine or two has caused him to go on an eating strike? Or is it possible handling him briefly would cause this?
I believe he is staying hydrated, as his urate was very watery.

Someone please give me some ideas or some assistance! Thanks a bunch.

 

[ataraxia]

Hi, please fill this out. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Kappy]

Hi, please fill this out. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon – Tamatave Panther, male, around 1 year old, 3 months in my care.
Handling – 1 time in 3 months (just under a week ago)
Feeding – Crickets, 8-14 daily, What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering – Misting 2-3 times daily for a minute or two, or just to make sure everything in enclosure has been sprayed and leaves/vines are dripping. I occasionally see him drink.
Fecal Description – This week his fecal has been very watery, but before this week its been reasonably solid with white urate. Never been tested for parasite.
History -

Cage Info:
Cage Type – Screen cage. 18” x 18” x 36” tall
Lighting – ZooMed 100w Repti-Basking Spot Lamp, ZooMed 5.0 UVB Reptisun 13w bulb. Automatic lights go on at sunrise and off and sunset.
Temperature – 80-87 degrees. Lowest nighttime temp. of around 73-74.
Humidity – Not sure haven’t measured them. That will change.
Plants – No live plants.
Placement – Cage is located in a bedroom sized room. Relatively close to air vent, but air vent is almost completely shut. Cage is place on top of a desk about 3-4 feet from the ground.
Location – Miami, FL.

Current Problem - I've had my panther chameleon for about 3 months now with no complications. He's about 1 year old and normally eats 10-14 crickets per day. I've been misting adequately as well as providing adequate dusting to crickets 2-3 week. However, I recently changed his substrate and very minimally rearranged a few things in his enclosure about a week ago. I held him for a few seconds during this process then put him back. I've only held him twice in the 3 months because I personally don't find it necessary or beneficial. HOWEVER, Ever since then, his cricket consumption has dwindled quite a bit. He hasn't eaten any in about 4 days. I tried putting his crickets in a cup but he didn't eat those either. I also tried hand feeding (which I do sporadically) him a cricket, but he shot and missed. He has never missed before. I'm assuming his lack of accuracy has something to do with his lack of calcium intake from not eating.

Is it possible that a slight change in a vine or two has caused him to go on an eating strike? Or is it possible handling him briefly would cause this?
I believe he is staying hydrated, as his urate was very watery.

 

[Kappy]

If anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to help! This is my first chameleon so it's certainly a learning experience. Thanks!

 

[junglefries]

Bad aim is usually a vitamin deficiency or a sick cham. Lack of eating can be caused by illness or stress. Maybe try a superworm, moth or mantis to encourage a feeding response. If he is rarely handled, he may be stressed from handling, but most likely another cause. You didn't list any supplements. Might want to switch to a linear UVB bulb and recheck your temps also (100w is a lot of heat).

 

[ChameLIonLover]

If you are only feeding him crickets, I would suggest feeding a greater variety of bugs.

Also, I've read recently that a lower temperature at night can make a big difference. They need heat, but they also need cool. A temperature gradient ensures that your chameleon to get both cool and warm spots so they can temperature regulate. i believe this helps with digestion.

What substrate are you using? As far as I knew, anything besides a towel or paper towel of some sort is probably not needed.

 

[Kappy]

Bad aim is usually a vitamin deficiency or a sick cham. Lack of eating can be caused by illness or stress. Maybe try a superworm, moth or mantis to encourage a feeding response. If he is rarely handled, he may be stressed from handling, but most likely another cause. You didn't list any supplements. Might want to switch to a linear UVB bulb and recheck your temps also (100w is a lot of heat).

Sorry, normally I use ZooMed's reptivite with D3 on M/W/F. Thank you for your input. I will try those other eating options asap.

 

[Kappy]

If you are only feeding him crickets, I would suggest feeding a greater variety of bugs.

Also, I've read recently that a lower temperature at night can make a big difference. They need heat, but they also need cool. A temperature gradient ensures that your chameleon to get both cool and warm spots so they can temperature regulate. i believe this helps with digestion.

What substrate are you using? As far as I knew, anything besides a towel or paper towel of some sort is probably not needed.

As of now I have a small amount of mulch as a substrate. However, he hasn't ever eaten a cricket off the bottom, nor have I seen him walking on the bottom. I will also be checking on the temps. Thanks.

 

[JamesBryan]

Sorry, normally I use ZooMed's reptivite with D3 on M/W/F. Thank you for your input. I will try those other eating options asap.

Too much vitamins! Twice a month is about right.

Calcium without D3 every feed is what you want.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Yes D3 twice a month. No D3 4-6x weekly. People have varying beliefs, but if you just have a little mulch at the bottom and you are not creating a terrarium, I would just remove it.

The prob with the tongue is most likely supplement related.

 

[Kappy]

Yes D3 twice a month. No D3 4-6x weekly. People have varying beliefs, but if you just have a little mulch at the bottom and you are not creating a terrarium, I would just remove it.

The prob with the tongue is most likely supplement related.

Thank you. I will make the necessary supplement adjustments. How do I get him to eat now though? He doesn't seem interested and if he's missing with his tongue....then what?

 

[kinyonga]

If you were dusting too often with the D3 he could have a calcium deficiency and need a little extra calcium for a while to make up for the extra D3

 

[ataraxia]

Hi, do you mind filling out the form again. Please, fill it out completely. More detailed information is better. Its hard to follow through the posts.