Strike on Dubias?

creddjobs

New Member
Hey Forum,
My little dude don't seem to be interested in Dubias anymore. I have had him for 5 weeks. We was eating them real strong when I first got him. I ran out of crickets (Well they all died because I had them in a bin that was too small, you live and you learn). During the time I was waiting on my crickets to come in the mail he was ONLY getting small dubias (for about 8 days). I got the crickets and he eats those but now he does not eat the dubias at all! I have read they do strike sometimes. I just want to make sure that this is something I should be worried about. Thanks!

Chameleon Info:•Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. Ambilobe Panther Chameleon : Male : Hatch date is 01/04/12 (3 months on next wed.)

How long has it been in your care?

Got him Feb 26th so a little over a month.

•Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

Only once for about 3 minutes.He didnt like that too much so Im going to leave him alone!

•Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

I feed him 1/4" crickets and small dubias. I feed about 15-20 crickets a day also with about 4-6 small dubias. I remove any feeders when I get home before the lights go out. He eats all crickets but have not been eating the dubias lately. I gutload with apples, oranges and mustard greens. I place it in a cup with a slit at the bottom so they can get to it. Im feeding them about once a week. Dubias eat like crazy, crickets not too much. I also use dry fluckers cricket feed and the orange/yellow cubes for hydration.


•Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I use Exo-terra plain calcium , Repcal Cal w/d3, Rep Cal reptivite. I dust with Cal every feeding. I used Cal with D3 twice a month and Reptivite twice a month.


•Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

I now have a MISTKING now, but I was misting twice a day with warm water in a spray bottle, Once in the morning for about 5 minutes and once in the evening for about 5 minutes.

•Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Dark brown or black with white tip. Has not been tested for parasites.

•History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He is a baby, got him a little early but have had constant communication with the seller since day 1.

Cage Info:•Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

Screen zoomed 16x16x30

•Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

Im using a reptisun 5.0 UVB, and a 60W basking light. 12 on and 12 off. No lights at night.

•Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

his basking spot is between 81-83. The middle of the cage is about 73-75. Night reaches about 68-70. I use 2 digital temp gages with probes.

Basking
•Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

His humidity says at about 50%. I'm hoping i can get them higher with the mistking!

•Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

Yes, I have a schefflera arboricola which fills up most of the cage. I also have some outside branches.

•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?

Cage is located in a corner in the room. I do have vents in the room but they stay closed. He is not in direct blowing of the vent. No traffic, he is in my home studio which I have no company in there. The cage sits on a stand so I would say it stands almost 5 feet 7 in from the floor.
•Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Not eating dubias like he used too. Though he does eat crickets.
 
would not worry about it at all. These creatures can be finnicky at times. My one chameleon refuses crickets til this day. He quit eating them at about 8 months old and is now about 2 1/2 yrs old. The other chameleon I have now I took in from someone and he is not in the best of health. He rarely eats anything I offer to him. It can be frustrating at times for sure. Be glad he is atleast eating something!
 
oh, and Im located in the BIG D, DALLAS TEXAS!!! WHOOOO! lol

Whoop WHOOP!



I agree with Carol, you dont have anything to worry about.
I know my guys are getting tired of them, as that is the main thing they eat.
I would suggest trying to rotate in some "exotic" feeders to stimulate their appetite, things they arent used to having. Things like locusts and mantids can "cheer them up" and break up the monotony of whatever feeders they normally get. It works for me anyhow.
 
would not worry about it at all. These creatures can be finnicky at times. My one chameleon refuses crickets til this day. He quit eating them at about 8 months old and is now about 2 1/2 yrs old. The other chameleon I have now I took in from someone and he is not in the best of health. He rarely eats anything I offer to him. It can be frustrating at times for sure. Be glad he is atleast eating something!

Thanks for the reply Carol! Yes he is eating every day. I put another feeder cup and put crickets in one and dubias in another, and free ranged some dubias. I find them hiding and the others are still in the cup. Crickets are all gone. I would think he would be devouring the dubias since they are gut loaded so good. I can hold them in the light and see all of their wonderful juices!!!! YUM !
 
Whoop WHOOP!



I agree with Carol, you dont have anything to worry about.
I know my guys are getting tired of them, as that is the main thing they eat.
I would suggest trying to rotate in some "exotic" feeders to stimulate their appetite, things they arent used to having. Things like locusts and mantids can "cheer them up" and break up the monotony of whatever feeders they normally get. It works for me anyhow.

Sounds like a plan solid! I will look into getting him some different stuff. I know he loved hornworms, Just havent had any since the first day i got him. Also you can move to Dallas whenever your ready. I will have you being a Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars and Rangers fan in no time!!! ; )
 
Sounds like a plan solid! I will look into getting him some different stuff. I know he loved hornworms, Just havent had any since the first day i got him. Also you can move to Dallas whenever your ready. I will have you being a Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars and Rangers fan in no time!!! ; )

I used to party there, not sure if Id want to live there though ;)

IME they LOVE locusts(grasshoppers) and you should be able to find plenty around. ;)
 
Thanks bro, Im looking online for some good sites, any suggestions?

You cant get hoppers ordered, you have to catch them. ;)
To catch them, I use a bin with a lid, and just catch them one by one in a jar, and add them to the bin. I keep sticks and orange slices in the bin. They eat/drink the oranges and this seems to keep them alive long enough for me to feed them. I have no idea what else they might eat that would be safe :eek:

Id recommend spiffy bugs for mantids, or mantisplace.com(never odered from mantisplace, but their site seems good and they have a wide selection)
 
You cant get hoppers ordered, you have to catch them. ;)
To catch them, I use a bin with a lid, and just catch them one by one in a jar, and add them to the bin. I keep sticks and orange slices in the bin. They eat/drink the oranges and this seems to keep them alive long enough for me to feed them. I have no idea what else they might eat that would be safe :eek:

Id recommend spiffy bugs for mantids, or mantisplace.com(never odered from mantisplace, but their site seems good and they have a wide selection)

Ill check them out. Thanks Solid! I would add some rep but you got it disabled..:p
 
My girl who is about the same age as your guy really goes bonkers for Phoenix worms (calci-worms). I started putting them in her cup and then slowly offering them to her on the end of two extended fingers after she tasted a few from the cup. I don't hold her very much at all but since I have been giving her a couple of phoenix worms every afternoon she comes right up to the front of the cage when I get home. Maybe these could help break the ice a little with your cham as well. :)
 
My girl who is about the same age as your guy really goes bonkers for Phoenix worms (calci-worms). I started putting them in her cup and then slowly offering them to her on the end of two extended fingers after she tasted a few from the cup. I don't hold her very much at all but since I have been giving her a couple of phoenix worms every afternoon she comes right up to the front of the cage when I get home. Maybe these could help break the ice a little with your cham as well. :)

Thanks Mojo, Where do you order yours?
 
I get mine from phoenixworms.com. I got the extra-small ones at first. They are EXTRA small! I had to get the next size up this time.
 
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