Veiled eating less

[japanda]

I'm new to chameleons and have really just been going off what the previous owner told me. But recently he has been less interested in eating and cause to concern me.


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon. Male. 2.5 years. Have had for 3 months.
Handling - Rarely now that he is eating less. Very stressed when I have my hands in the cage.
Feeding - Was feeding 5 week crickets, superworms with silk and horn worms 2 times a week. (See below) Fed once in the morning, daily. In a container. Worms sometimes I'll put on the branches for him to eat off. Silk and horn worms eat whatever they are fed from the petstore, i feed same day purchase. Potato for hornworm? Superworms are eating whatever is in their tub, I was told that is all they need, gave potato but didnt look like they ate it.
Supplements - cant remember type of calcium, dusted every feeding. no other supplements
Watering - Use a mister bottle 5-6 times daily until enclosure is sufficiently dripping wet (chameleon hates this). havent seen him drinking but I didnt have him in an area I could watch him
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 - 2.5ft x 2ft x 4.5ft All mesh with fake branches within it.
Lighting - Heat lamp, UVB/UVA bulb on from 8am - 9pm timers. Unsure of brands atm
Temperature - No temp measuring system
Humidity - no humidity measuring system
Plants - No plants, I would like some.
Placement -4.5feet from the floor to top of cage. Zero traffic spare room. Only in there to feed/mist/carry cage out to the porch. Vent is blocked off since we have a/c on. Located under a window which is sometimes open during the day to allow UV light in.
Location - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Suggestions for large live plants are welcomed!
I was thinking of switching him to a 6ft long x 4ft wide x 3 ft deep aquarium with a mesh cover made for it. Standing up on its end Im not sure if this is a good idea or stick with the all mesh one?

WAS EATING 4-5 5wk crickets, 3-4 superworms dusted with calcium a day no problem for several weeks. Gave 1-2 silkworms with a hornworm twice.

Problem: Decided he wasn't interested in the crickets anymore about 2 weeks ago, so I picked up more silkworms since he ate those eagerly, fed 3-4 with 4 superworms a day. This worked for maybe a day or two. Stopped eating superworms (would get them in his mouth then spit them out chomped). Offered 1-2 crickets the entire time, rarely ate them. Got more hornworms and he ate these well but I'm pretty sure this isnt a diet staple...

Not sure where to go from here.

(Not impressed with me)

 

[Chellia]

Have you tried roaches, flies or Phoenix worms? He might just need a bit more variety for awhile and then offer him the crickets and superworms after awhile, maybe mixed with the others?

 

[Lazy Boy]

Have you tried roaches, flies or Phoenix worms? He might just need a bit more variety for awhile and then offer him the crickets and superworms after awhile, maybe mixed with the others?

Phoenix worms are to small but blue bottle flys I'm sure would keep him busy. Roaches are great but love to hide. Sounds like he is getting bored with his feeders but I would fill this out to see if anyone see something that sticks out https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[japanda]

Phoenix worms are to small but blue bottle flys I'm sure would keep him busy. Roaches are great but love to hide. Sounds like he is getting bored with his feeders but I would fill this out to see if anyone see something that sticks out https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Thank you I have updated my first post to include this information. My only options in Alberta is worms and crickets. The other worms are obviously going to be smaller like waxworms, etc.. Roaches are not allowed here unfortunately. I have called local petstores and all have basically the same story for me: superworms, crickets, hornworms and silk worms (smallest I'd go)

 

[crazychamzoo]

We experience food strikes from our Veiled Chams from time to time. We offer crickets as the staple diet with treats such as Phoenix worms and butter worms. When ours go on a hunger strike it usually only last a few days but we have experienced a hunger strike from a very stubborn male we have for 7 days. We have found that it's not a huge ordeal, we typically will leave 2 crickets readily available at any given time and offer a slight change with items like meal worms or Dubai roaches. We also house all our veiled Chams with live hibiscus, most enjoy eating the leaves as a snack from time to time. And please avoid the aquarium, we have locally rescued and nursed many veiled Chams back to health with URI and eye infections from being housed in an aquariums, the air really just gets stagnant and is a breeding ground for bacteria. I think the others are right, he's probable just bored and on strike, offer a little variety, and don't sweat it to much if he doesn't eat for a few days. Also at 2.5 years of age he may just not be comfortable with a change in his environment just yet, seeing you have only had him a few months. Have patience, be watchful for signs of illness, and importantly give him a lot of love.

 

[crazychamzoo]

Also noticed your cage is 4.5' tall, but 4.5' from the floor to the top of the cage. Just something we have found, our Chams are a lot less stressed when they can perch above eye level. I think they feel more comfortable and less vulnerable the higher they are. I'm 6', so we try if possible wether we are housing in a 3', 4', or 6' cage, to have the top of each of our cages at around at least 6'.

 

[kinyonga]

Do you have a substrate in the cage? Is he pooping? It's important to know the temperature.

 

[japanda]

Also noticed your cage is 4.5' tall, but 4.5' from the floor to the top of the cage. Just something we have found, our Chams are a lot less stressed when they can perch above eye level. I think they feel more comfortable and less vulnerable the higher they are. I'm 6', so we try if possible wether we are housing in a 3', 4', or 6' cage, to have the top of each of our cages at around at least 6'.

I can move the cage up on to a table of some sort as its sitting on the ground right now.

Do you have a substrate in the cage? Is he pooping? It's important to know the temperature.

No substrate. Its all mesh (outside cage sitting on a plastic bag to catch any water or debris that will come through) with connecting branches and big logs on the bottom if he ventured down there he can get back up. I haven't cleaned up the poop recently to know if there is fresh stuff since it all dries up quickly. Didnt want to stress him out with trying to take him out to clean it or basically crawling in there

We experience food strikes from our Veiled Chams from time to time. We offer crickets as the staple diet with treats such as Phoenix worms and butter worms. When ours go on a hunger strike it usually only last a few days but we have experienced a hunger strike from a very stubborn male we have for 7 days. We have found that it's not a huge ordeal, we typically will leave 2 crickets readily available at any given time and offer a slight change with items like meal worms or Dubai roaches. We also house all our veiled Chams with live hibiscus, most enjoy eating the leaves as a snack from time to time. And please avoid the aquarium, we have locally rescued and nursed many veiled Chams back to health with URI and eye infections from being housed in an aquariums, the air really just gets stagnant and is a breeding ground for bacteria. I think the others are right, he's probable just bored and on strike, offer a little variety, and don't sweat it to much if he doesn't eat for a few days. Also at 2.5 years of age he may just not be comfortable with a change in his environment just yet, seeing you have only had him a few months. Have patience, be watchful for signs of illness, and importantly give him a lot of love.

Ill skip the aquarium and keep looking for a hibiscus to put back in there. and Ill wait it out and watch! thanks

 

[camimom]

Because he's an adult, he may simply not be hungry.

My 3.5 year old male veiled eats every two days, becuase he just doesnt want food every day.

that could be the only thing going on here.

also, supers arent that fantastic to feed regularly.

jsut fyi

 

[japanda]

Ate a horn worm and 2 superworms last night. Crickets are still being offered

Thanks for the replies