Starting to get worried!

[Bizzle90]

• Nosy Faly Panther (3.5 months old)
•Cage Type – 24 x 24 x 48" Reptibreeze screen enclosure
•Lighting – reptisun 5.0 plus, 15W basking household bulb
•Temperature – Basking 85-88, Ambient 70-88, nighttime around 70.
•Humidity – 60+%
•Plants – Pachira Acquatica, fake vines
•Placement – top of enclosure is about 6' tall.
•Location – Toronto, Canada

I have had him since Wednesday night - it is not Saturday afternoon and he has yet to have eaten. He came from a reputable breeder. I tried offering appropriate sized crickets and small silk worms and he has yet to eat. I know they sometimes tend not to eat due to stress of being in a new enclosure, but is it normal to go this long without eating?

Since he is so small and in a large enclosure, I have placed a feeding cup in the middle. He always looks at the bugs inside, but never goes for them. I gave him space and everything in case he was nervous in front of me, but he still hasn't eaten any!

He also never really basks - he's usually roaming the top of the enclosure hanging upside down under the UVB bulb (which doesn't produce much heat!)

Here are some pics of him and his enclosure.

 

[mychamybilo]

• Nosy Faly Panther (3.5 months old)
•Cage Type – 24 x 24 x 48" Reptibreeze screen enclosure
•Lighting – reptisun 5.0 plus, 15W basking household bulb
•Temperature – Basking 85-88, Ambient 70-88, nighttime around 70.
•Humidity – 60+%
•Plants – Pachira Acquatica, fake vines
•Placement – top of enclosure is about 6' tall.
•Location – Toronto, Canada

I have had him since Wednesday night - it is not Saturday afternoon and he has yet to have eaten. He came from a reputable breeder. I tried offering appropriate sized crickets and small silk worms and he has yet to eat. I know they sometimes tend not to eat due to stress of being in a new enclosure, but is it normal to go this long without eating?

Since he is so small and in a large enclosure, I have placed a feeding cup in the middle. He always looks at the bugs inside, but never goes for them. I gave him space and everything in case he was nervous in front of me, but he still hasn't eaten any!

He also never really basks - he's usually roaming the top of the enclosure hanging upside down under the UVB bulb (which doesn't produce much heat!)

Here are some pics of him and his enclosure.

My little nosy be was doing this same thing, he'd look at the crickets in the cup but he wouldn't go for them and that was making me worried. I decided to place the crickets on the screen on his cage so they could climb around near him and he went right for them, guess maybe he was used to hunting for his food compared to being cup fed. You could give that a try?

 

[Bizzle90]

My little nosy be was doing this same thing, he'd look at the crickets in the cup but he wouldn't go for them and that was making me worried. I decided to place the crickets on the screen on his cage so they could climb around near him and he went right for them, guess maybe he was used to hunting for his food compared to being cup fed. You could give that a try?

I tried that! Also, the previous owner told me that he cup fed all his guys (including the one I have).

Thanks for the tip though, i'll try it again!

 

[Bizzle90]

Anyone else have any idea?

 

[Chameleon Nation]

Try free ranging some crix. I know you said they were cup fed. The chase may trigger him to eat.

 

[Sticktongue]

Id suggest blue bottle flies. They seem to always work. However, that would prob be to long to order them and let them hatch (5 days).. I'd free range them like mentioned and keep cup feeding as well.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Try free-ranging a couple silkworms
Also, try a DARK coloured feeding bowl, with only one or two bugs in it. They often do not like red, white or shiny. and too many in the bowl at once can confuse them

 

[Bizzle90]

I tried free-ranging with no luck...he seems afraid of them and me!

How long can they go without eating?

I really hope he adjusts..it's getting me really nervous now

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

I know its easy to get nervous, but try not to.
Mine didn't eat for the first 6 days and he was fine
Give him a couple of days, but keep trying various methods/feeders
He'll come around

 

[Bizzle90]

I know its easy to get nervous, but try not to.
Mine didn't eat for the first 6 days and he was fine
Give him a couple of days, but keep trying various methods/feeders
He'll come around

Hope so, he doesn't look too skinny, more on the chunky side, haha..So, I guess it can't be too bad!

Thanks

 

[chametc]

• Nosy Faly Panther (3.5 months old)
•Cage Type – 24 x 24 x 48" Reptibreeze screen enclosure
•Lighting – reptisun 5.0 plus, 15W basking household bulb
•Temperature – Basking 85-88, Ambient 70-88, nighttime around 70.
•Humidity – 60+%
•Plants – Pachira Acquatica, fake vines
•Placement – top of enclosure is about 6' tall.
•Location – Toronto, Canada

I have had him since Wednesday night - it is not Saturday afternoon and he has yet to have eaten. He came from a reputable breeder. I tried offering appropriate sized crickets and small silk worms and he has yet to eat. I know they sometimes tend not to eat due to stress of being in a new enclosure, but is it normal to go this long without eating?

Since he is so small and in a large enclosure, I have placed a feeding cup in the middle. He always looks at the bugs inside, but never goes for them. I gave him space and everything in case he was nervous in front of me, but he still hasn't eaten any!

He also never really basks - he's usually roaming the top of the enclosure hanging upside down under the UVB bulb (which doesn't produce much heat!)

Here are some pics of him and his enclosure.

Just make sure he is drinking, so he does not become dehydrated. Good luck.

 

[Bizzle90]

Just make sure he is drinking, so he does not become dehydrated. Good luck.

I don't usually see him drink, but his urates are white - so I guess he drinks behind my back!

 

[Nia]

Try putting a bowl of water deep enough for the crickets to not get out and put a couple of crickets in the water to swim around.It catches there attention and they will get them out of the water.That has worked for me.

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

That is a new and interesting tip, if I get even a drop of water on a crix, they kinda drown and stop moving immediately. My concern would be a bowl of water deep enough, what if my Cham, who wasn't eating, slipped in and you weren't there to help get him out. Just a thought

 

[Bizzle90]

I've had the same experience with crickets and water - they tend to freeze, and stop moving!

I've tried a different cup, free-ranging, hand-feeding, nothing seems to be working.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I've had the same experience with crickets and water - they tend to freeze, and stop moving!

I've tried a different cup, free-ranging, hand-feeding, nothing seems to be working.

have you tried not being in the room yourself? Many of them do not like to be watched / seen when hunting or chewing.

 

[Bizzle90]

have you tried not being in the room yourself? Many of them do not like to be watched / seen when hunting or chewing.

Yes, I usually leave food in a cup and take off for a bit..he usually sees the food but doesn't go for it.

Ive run out of ideas, I just hope he doesnt starve himself to death

 

[sandrachameleon]

are the crickets small enough?

 

[Bizzle90]

are the crickets small enough?

yeah, I tried 1/4" crickets, and small silkworms!

 

[ChromaChameleons]

Try a white cup. A yougurt cup should be good, as long as the graphics on the outside aren't too flashy. The red of your present cup might be a stressor for the cham. Do not use a clear deli, as some chams will bruise their tongues on the sides.