Picky eaters & always looking to get out

[Smotz]

2 Panthers in separate 24x48" enclosures.

Both with 24" UVB & 60w light bulbs for heat. Basking gets about 89 F.
Ambient temps have been rising due to summer but I want to say 70F on average.

Misting system 6 times a day between 1 and 2 minutes.

The guys are very picky eaters. I used to be able to break the hunger strikes with hornworms. Not even that is working. The hornworms are getting huge!

They'll eat wild moths when I am able to provide them.

Tried crickets, superworks, hornworms, etc. I do keep superworms in a feeding cup in the enclosures. The must eat because I clean up Poo (Which looks healthy by the way).

Secondly - they are always running for the exit when I open the door. I've attached pics of the enclosures.

Can I get some thoughts if I can make them better? I've been doing this stuff for awhile, I thought the cages looked pretty good.

 

[nick barta]

Your set-ups and husbandry looks good.

How old are they? My 2 year old Panthers don't eat near as much as when they were younger, so I don't feed them every day, they ignor the food if it is daily.

Wild-caught insects are an awesome source for appetite renewal.

The only other thing that causes my guys to go off feeding is if the basking bulb burns out, and I don't catch it!

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[Smotz]

Gotcha - I am not positive but I think they're right around 2 years old.

I am going to stop offering everyday.

They look very healthy..

 

[Blink]

I feel that feeding every other day increases appetite on feeding days. If food is offered everyday, the chameleon is often naturally going to become picky since food is so often available. Also, keep offering a variety. You might want to try some silkworms, phoenix worms (my guy loves the black soldier flies), roaches ( ), butter worms... etc. Your cham is adorable by the way....

 

[JlaPinska]

i feed my guy every day because he expects it but i cut him back to half. instead of 12 crickets he gets 5, 2 worms and sometimes a roach.

as for them wanting to get out, i imagine they might be tired of seeing the same enclosure every day. Mine hated being touched for the first 2 months but ever since i took him outside to sunbathe, he also now runs for the door when it's open. i let him free range in the house and he usually gets on a curtain rod and just hangsout. maybe you should try free ranging them, let them get out of their cage for a little bit. one at a time, of course. don't want to stress them out by seeing eachother

 

[Smotz]

I do put them outside when it's nice but in a small enclosure. I'll let them run around a bit.

Thanks for the input.