Please help! Just got about a 1 month old baby chameleon and it won't eat.

[Melvin-Yoda]

I just got a 1 month old baby veiled chameleon two days ago and I don't think it is adjusting to its new home. He hasn't eaten anything yet and barely drinks. He was on his tree but now is at the top of his cage and barely moves. He seems to sleep a lot. It also looks like he is yawning every once in a while. I'm not sure if he is just taking a while to get used to his new surroundings.
I have tried to feed him superworms and baby crickets. Please help! I'm worries about my little guy.

 

[Panthro413]

Sleeping during the day? Not good :-/

 

[blue_cham]

Very young... The forum members are very helpful, but they will need a lot more info... and pictures help too

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? 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 - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

 

[kinyonga]

Are the insects the appropriate size to fit in its mouth? What's the basking temperature? Is it drinking?

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

Very young... The forum members are very helpful, but they will need a lot more info... and pictures help too

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? It is a veiled chameleon. I believe it is a male, around 1 month old, we just got him two days ago.
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? He has only been handled once for maybe a couple of minutes just to move him
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? We are feeding him small gut loaded crickets and super worms so far dusted with calcium. I don't think he has eaten any thing yet which is really worrying me. I have tried to hold out a worm infront of his face to see if he would take it and he hasn't.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? The brand of calcium is zoo-med repti calcium with D3.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have been misting the cage and tree about 4 times a day for a couple of minutes. I saw him drinking the first day we got him, yesterday maybe only once and today I haven't seen him drink at all. I am going to get a dripper and a humidifier.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I haven't seen any fecal matter yet. He hasn't been tested for parasites.
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. We picked him up from Petco.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? We have an aluminum screen cage, dimensions are 24 x 24 x 48
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? We have a Reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb, Daylight blue 60w UVA bulb, and a 100w intense basking spot bulb. Turn them all on in the morning, time has varied the past two days, and off around 12p when we go to sleep
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? The basking temp is around 85 degrees F, middle is around 75-80, and the lower part is around 70. I'm not sure what temp it drops to at night.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity is 50-75%. I am misting the cage and the live tree we have in there to keep the humidity levels up.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? We have a Schefflera plant and also a Pothos vine clipping. Washed the plant and repotted.
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? The cage is in the living room, there aren't any fans or vents around it, The top the cage is at about the middle of the room, right now it is on the floor.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? We are living in New York City.

I am really worried because I don't think he has eaten anything since we brought him home, I also haven't seen him drink anything today. He is starting to look a little dehydrated in my eyes and sleeps almost all day. Doesn't seem to move much and sometimes will open his mouth which looks like he is yawning. Thank you for responding. I just want to create the best home for my little guy and I hope he is going to be okay.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

Are the insects the appropriate size to fit in its mouth? What's the basking temperature? Is it drinking?

He was drinking the first day but I have't seen him drink today. Basking temp is 80-85. I think the insects would be able to fit in his mouth. We got him from Petco and they were feeding him small crickets. I now know we probably should have gotten him from a different place.

 

[absolutbill]

OK. One month is REALLY young to sell someone a chameleon, but you seem to be off to a pretty good start. Get yourself a timer and put those lights on it. Midnight is way too late to have the lights go off - I try to do 13 on, 11 off in the summer, and then decrease to 12 and 12 during the winter. I'm in Florida, so our days are always longer than yours are up north, but that's a good start. Don't worry about not seeing him eat, drink, or hand feed from you. He's still settling in, and has just had a huge change from the petstore to the mansion that you have for him.

To me the 100 watt seems a bit much, but your temps are good, so as long as you know they are accurate I'd be ok with them. The "yawning" could be him trying to thermoregulate - they will open their mouths to cool off, so that's why it's crucial that you know those temperatures are exact. Does he "yawn" by holding his mouth open for a little while, or is it more like he opens and then immediately closes it?

Finally, I know you just got him, but you're going to want to make sure that you read up on supplimentating your chameleon - you'll need more than just the calcium with D3. However, you've only fed him twice so far, so I'll just mention it for you to research. Read up on the care sheets for more info.

I think you are doing well so far with what you are doing. Give him time to settle in - I know it's tough, but leave him be to explore his strange new world and the humans who are now living with him. Good luck!!!

 

[Panthro413]

He was drinking the first day but I have't seen him drink today. Basking temp is 80-85. I think the insects would be able to fit in his mouth. We got him from Petco and they were feeding him small crickets. I now know we probably should have gotten him from a different place.

Well, you wouldnt have gotten "him" from a different place, being that he was already in Petco. But I know what you mean, Purchasing from a breeder is the way to go.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

OK. One month is REALLY young to sell someone a chameleon, but you seem to be off to a pretty good start. Get yourself a timer and put those lights on it. Midnight is way too late to have the lights go off - I try to do 13 on, 11 off in the summer, and then decrease to 12 and 12 during the winter. I'm in Florida, so our days are always longer than yours are up north, but that's a good start. Don't worry about not seeing him eat, drink, or hand feed from you. He's still settling in, and has just had a huge change from the petstore to the mansion that you have for him.

To me the 100 watt seems a bit much, but your temps are good, so as long as you know they are accurate I'd be ok with them. The "yawning" could be him trying to thermoregulate - they will open their mouths to cool off, so that's why it's crucial that you know those temperatures are exact. Does he "yawn" by holding his mouth open for a little while, or is it more like he opens and then immediately closes it?

Finally, I know you just got him, but you're going to want to make sure that you read up on supplimentating your chameleon - you'll need more than just the calcium with D3. However, you've only fed him twice so far, so I'll just mention it for you to research. Read up on the care sheets for more info.

I think you are doing well so far with what you are doing. Give him time to settle in - I know it's tough, but leave him be to explore his strange new world and the humans who are now living with him. Good luck!!!

Thank you for our input. I hope he will settle soon.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

Thank you for our input. I hope he will settle soon.

Thank you for our input. I hope he will settle soon.

I'm really worried, he looks so skinny and he hasn't really opened his eyes. Do you have any suggestions? I have been reading blogs from other people and some give their dehydrated babies a "shower". Would you suggest this? I misted him for a while hoping he would get a little bit of moisture.

 

[absolutbill]

You need to get a lot more plants into that cage, because it's so bare. That MAY help with him closing his eyes - right now he doesn't have anywhere to get out of the direct lights from his UVB and basking lights. You can also try a shower - make sure you are reading up on how to do that - have the shower head hitting the wall of the shower and him just getting the mist from the water bouncing off the walls. Make sure the water is warm, but not too hot for your little guy. I wouldn't worry as much about him being skinny, right now the eye issue is the primary concern for you. Let us know if these 2 things help at all.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

You need to get a lot more plants into that cage, because it's so bare. That MAY help with him closing his eyes - right now he doesn't have anywhere to get out of the direct lights from his UVB and basking lights. You can also try a shower - make sure you are reading up on how to do that - have the shower head hitting the wall of the shower and him just getting the mist from the water bouncing off the walls. Make sure the water is warm, but not too hot for your little guy. I wouldn't worry as much about him being skinny, right now the eye issue is the primary concern for you. Let us know if these 2 things help at all.

Thank you for your response. I will try the shower. I have been reading posts about how to do that. I also was wondering if I should try to feed him a mixture of pedialyte and mashed up worms

 

[kinyonga]

Sad to say but your chameleon doesn't look well. If you can mist it with a very very fine mist and get it drinking youm might be able to put a small cricket between his teeth to see if he will eat that way. Be careful not to spray water in its mouth because you don't want to get any in its lungs. If it won't eat that way then you might be able to get it to lick up some squash or sweet potato babyfood by putting a little bit of it on its lip.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

Sad to say but your chameleon doesn't look well. If you can mist it with a very very fine mist and get it drinking youm might be able to put a small cricket between his teeth to see if he will eat that way. Be careful not to spray water in its mouth because you don't want to get any in its lungs. If it won't eat that way then you might be able to get it to lick up some squash or sweet potato babyfood by putting a little bit of it on its lip.

Okay I'll try that. I'm so worried about him. Thank you for the advice!

 

[CharlesYamaguchi]

Oh no. This does not look very well. When they sit back like that with their head upwards, it is often sign of breathing distress. May be an upper respiratory infection. But it is hard to tell from the picture. Do not blame yourself. Pets stores should not sell such a young animal. But big chain stores get these animals from conditions that are condusive to breeding illness and it was probably sick for a long time.

 

[Melvin-Yoda]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. We lost the little guy last night. I am heartbroken. Thank you for your help.

 

[CharlesYamaguchi]

I am sorry to hear this. Do not blame yourself. He was very small. We have all lost chameleons before and learned a great deal.

 

[papypoko]

Sad to say but your chameleon doesn't look well. If you can mist it with a very very fine mist and get it drinking youm might be able to put a small cricket between his teeth to see if he will eat that way. Be careful not to spray water in its mouth because you don't want to get any in its lungs. If it won't eat that way then you might be able to get it to lick up some squash or sweet potato babyfood by putting a little bit of it on its lip.

i try your method of put small cricket between teeth, its works for my sick 1 month panther
my panther have respiratory infection too , since 3 days ago.
but today even worse, sleep all day long, and not able to eat by himself.
i put pinhead cricket and he swallow the pinhead cricket.
i gutload and put multivitamin too boost his immune.