Problem with my male deremensis?

canzoman

New Member
Posted in wrong spot first time.

I got a WC Male deremensis that has been in captivity for about a year and has been dewormed and checked for parasites. (All clear)

My problem is that I got him last Tuesday and he ate 2 crickets that day but has not eaten anything since. So its been 4 days since he has eaten. He drinks ALOT everyday so that is good.

But I was wondering if this is normal or should I be concerned?

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - 2 Deremensis. Male and Female aprox 6-7 inches long for male and 8-9 inches for Female. How long has it been in your care? 4 days
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Never at moment still acclimating.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Gut loaded Crickets. What amount? 15 each every other day but will bump that up. What is the schedule? Every other day. How are you gut-loading your feeders? Gut load and fruit.
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Reptical with and with D3
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Drippers and misting. How often and how long to you mist? 30 sec for 4 times a day. Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes.
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Firm nothing odd.
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I believe they are WC but have been in captivity from what I was told for about a year now.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - 2 screen cages. 1 for male and 1 for female What are the dimensions? Male is in 18x18x36 and female is in 24x24x48 (she is bigger)
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? I use Reptisun 5.0's and 60 watt light bulbs. What is your daily lighting schedule? I light it from 7am to 7pm.
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? basking spot is 80-82. At bottom of cage its about 70-72. Lowest overnight temp? At night with no heat at all gets to about 60-63. How do you measure these temps? digital thermometers.
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? humidity is roughly 60-70%. How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Misting,Dripping, and have a humidifier with tubes right into the cages. What do you use to measure humidity? Hydrometers.
* Plants - Are you using live plants? Mix of fake and real. If so, what kind? The real are ficus.
* Placement - Where is your cage located? In my basement with baseboard heat. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? No At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? about 4-5 feet off ground.
* Location - Where are you geographically located? Northern NJ
 
variety is the spice of life...

Have you tried offering anything other than crickets? Can you get other kinds in your area, or can you mail-order some (insert plug for site sponsors here)?

When I had deremensis, I remember some pickiness with the common feeders, but that they loved wild-caught caterpillars and moths. I know, its winter in NJ, but maybe you'll be able to find some pupae and hatch them. And there's always silkworms and hornworms by mail.
 
These guys can be picky eaters and I have noticed the males slowing down in the winter months. Mine seem to be hooked on appropriate sized dubia roaches currently.Like the previous post said,offer a variety.
As far as the fecal check,how long ago was that? Can you trust the person you purchased from to give you accurate info? I would have any new wild caught animal checked out by an experienced herp vet unless you have experience with these situations. If you are going to have chameleons you will need a vet eventually anyway.Now is a good time to find one and establish a good relationship. If you need help in the meantime you can pm me.
Good luck with him.
 
These guys can be picky eaters and I have noticed the males slowing down in the winter months. Mine seem to be hooked on appropriate sized dubia roaches currently.Like the previous post said,offer a variety.
As far as the fecal check,how long ago was that? Can you trust the person you purchased from to give you accurate info? I would have any new wild caught animal checked out by an experienced herp vet unless you have experience with these situations. If you are going to have chameleons you will need a vet eventually anyway.Now is a good time to find one and establish a good relationship. If you need help in the meantime you can pm me.
Good luck with him.

Thanks. Fecal looks fine. I will try the silkworms. Maybe superworms.
 
EDIT-Funny I mention that. I just went to look at him again and he just pooped again and it was nasty almost clear gooey like with a small lump of brown and another lump of white. But ALOT of clear gooey stuff. Not like normal urine.
 
You said there was a lot of gooey stuff when he defecated...it could be from drinking more than normal. Although its good that he is drinking well, it can also be a sign that there is something going on.
 
I am getting a pair of these guys soon, and was told to max temp at 74. Is that not correct? Every thing I have read says to keep them cool.
 
You said there was a lot of gooey stuff when he defecated...it could be from drinking more than normal. Although its good that he is drinking well, it can also be a sign that there is something going on.

He finally ate 2 crickets today. Both only from my hand! strange...
 
I am getting a pair of these guys soon, and was told to max temp at 74. Is that not correct? Every thing I have read says to keep them cool.

i keep mine at around 70-75 with a basking spot at 80. Also gets down to 60 at night. they love that.
 
He finally ate 2 crickets today. Both only from my hand! strange...

LOL!!! I have not kept deremensis but I do notice that my more sedentary species will hand feed no problem. If I toss feeders in they will just wait until it comes near by instead of go after it. They are just lazy and would rather have the food come to them:p

This is one of the reasons you want to watch food intake with more sedentary species because they are more prone to get obese from lack of "exercise".
 
LOL!!! I have not kept deremensis but I do notice that my more sedentary species will hand feed no problem. If I toss feeders in they will just wait until it comes near by instead of go after it. They are just lazy and would rather have the food come to them:p

This is one of the reasons you want to watch food intake with more sedentary species because they are more prone to get obese from lack of "exercise".

Good point Cain! By the way "that thing" is doing fine.
 
After that giant dump he took he is eating like a champ now. I am happy.

He even decided to mate. Hopefully we get some eggs in the near future.
 
who knew chams could suffer from irregularity. I wonder if you could gut-load with prunes?



wow. Best wishes to the happy couple. Hope it takes.

Thanks! It was sooner than expected but I'll take it.

I bred veiled's but not these deremensis. So i have today's date marked.
 
EDIT-Funny I mention that. I just went to look at him again and he just pooped again and it was nasty almost clear gooey like with a small lump of brown and another lump of white. But ALOT of clear gooey stuff. Not like normal urine.
My deremensis poops just as you describe every time since I got him 8 months ago. He doesn't go every day, maybe twice a week, less in winter. He's been checked for parasites several times and is negative. I think that it's normal.
 
My deremensis poops just as you describe every time since I got him 8 months ago. He doesn't go every day, maybe twice a week, less in winter. He's been checked for parasites several times and is negative. I think that it's normal.

Thanks. That is good to know.
 
They are just lazy and would rather have the food come to them:p

I have kept deremensis and found some extremely picky about food and others going for anything that moved (juveniles). My mature male wouldn't touch anything that didn't walk right past his nose or eat in front of anyone and seemed to go for days without anything. I was so worried I would hide in a closet hoping to catch him in the act. He always knew I was there and just stared at the closet...but his weight was always stable so I finally left him alone. Green insects such as juvenile hornworms or field collected caterpillars or inchworms got him going more.
Wouldn't call them lazy, just completely anal about exposing themselves to view by moving.
 
I have kept deremensis and found some extremely picky about food and others going for anything that moved (juveniles). My mature male wouldn't touch anything that didn't walk right past his nose or eat in front of anyone and seemed to go for days without anything. I was so worried I would hide in a closet hoping to catch him in the act. He always knew I was there and just stared at the closet...but his weight was always stable so I finally left him alone. Green insects such as juvenile hornworms or field collected caterpillars or inchworms got him going more.
Wouldn't call them lazy, just completely anal about exposing themselves to view by moving.

Haha. That's funny about the closet. I do that all the time opening the door I peak in real slow to see whats going on first.
 
Here is the male.

He is missing his nail in front but thats how I got him.
 

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