wont eat. shaky. old

[Rambo]

Over 5 year old Veiled Chameleon. proper enclosure with proper lighting. Have had no problems until almost a month ago.
Only seen him eat a couple crickets and maybe 1 superworm in that time span. He is a bit shaky on the branches. ALso, he misses a lot when he does try to eat. Seems like his eyesight is poor.
Ive heard varying times of lifespan in captivity.

maybe hes just getting old and its his time?

Also, i am moving to China in a couple months. I do not really want to give anybody a dieing chamelon so if he lives that long what can i do with him?

thanks for any help i can get

 

[Syn]

Can you please fill out this form?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[jannb]

Has he been to the vets recently for a check up? The Ask For Help Form will be very helpful to the members here and you might also find this older thread helpful. https://www.chameleonforums.com/any-advice-old-veil-supplements-diet-11367/

 

[kinyonga]

What supplements do you use and how often for each one? Please be specific.
What do you gutload/feed your insects with specifically?
How old is your UVB light?
Can you post a picture of your chameleon please.

 

[Rambo]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
4-5 yrs old. Veiled, 2 years.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
rarely, only when i clean cage.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
crickets, superworms, pinky once a month or 2. crickets are from pet store, not sure if they gutload em.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Reptolife, Repcal, i dust calc on crickets every feeding. reptolife once every 2 weeks.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
he has no prob drinking. i use a handsprayer, 10-15 min or so everyday

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
not that i know of

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

uvb bulb probably 6 months old. got it last spring sometime
never taken him to a vet

Thanks!

 

[Jamelon]

Crickets lost alot of nutrients after about 24 hours if they havent eaten. If the petstore gutloads them its alright for the first feeding, but you should be gutloading them as well. Feed them fruits and veggies, i give mine orange and carrots going to diversify my gutload soon though. try getting some other feeders, like silkworms, hornworms, butterworms to try to give him more diversity in his food. Not sure how long uvb bulbs last but you could always try picking up a new one and see if it helps, if it doesnt then use the old one still and save the new one for when that one goes. Ive never used reptolife is that calcium or a vitamin supplement? Is your repcal w/d3 or w/o d3? How often do you mist? i know it says 10-15 min a day, is that all in one go? or do you spread it out a couple times a day?

 

[Elizadolots]

Also, i am moving to China in a couple months. I do not really want to give anybody a dieing chamelon so if he lives that long what can i do with him?

I think as long as you've made it clear that you are looking for someone to see an elderly chameleon through his last months (hopefully years). It should not be a problem. You just don't want to delude them that this is an animal they'll have for many years.

It should definitely be someone with experience though, you don't want someone to learn on a senior chameleon.

This board is a great resource for you. I notice you don't have your location in your profile. If you add that, you might find posters in your area stepping up to help.

 

[AB EskimoC]

Gut loading your feeders is very important. It can be as easy as you throwing some carrot shavings, orange slices an sweet potato slices in your cricket keeper of super worm containers. That and with a new uvb (because 6 months is at about that time) and you just may see your Veiled seeming a little healthier. And you never described his stools. Is the urate at the end of his poo mainly white or mainly yellow. A little yellow is ok. A 5 year old veiled can be a very big Cham and can drink a lot of water. I think you need to start using a dripping system. The water is a little "thicker" and can be more of a solid stream down the leaves and vines than a spray bottle can offer.

 

[Rambo]

thanks for the responses

his stool is mainly white
repcal w/ d3
I spray him all in one sitting. I have a very busy schedule but i do try to spray him multiple times a day when i can. I should have bought a drip or spray system a long time ago.

he used to eat strawberries and bits of oranges all the time but i still cant get him to eat really anything. i try putting the crickets/superworms/ pinky right up to his mouth but that doesnt even get him excited at all. He might be sick im guessing i dont know. I know its not a hunger strike as hes gone through those before when he was tired of the food i was giving him.

How much would I look to be spending on a vet visit? 100 bucks or so?
Also, whats best way to transport him? a small cloth bag be ok? i dont wanna suffocate him.

ill get a pic up tomorrow sry

Thanks

 

[jannb]

When did you change the UVB bulb? If you don't have a meter to check it you should change it every 6 months.

He needs three different supplements. Calcium without D3 at every other feeding. Calcium with D3 twice a month and a muti vitamin such as Herptivite once or twice a month. You need to gut load the feeder with fruits and veggies. Collard greens are excellent. I also use Kale and Butternut squash.

Vets charge different in each area. You could ask about the price when you make the appt. Do you have a chameleon vet?