Chameleon won't eat!

K8t · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:17 am Post subject: Chameleon won't eat!

I am not sure if anyone knows a lot about chameleons, but I have a 6 almost 7 month old female veiled chameleon. This is my first chameleon so I am still learning a lot about them, especially problems that may occur. The problem with my chameleon is that she wont eat and she hasnt for about a week or so. I read that if she has robin blue spots on her then she wants to breed, which she does have. I dont know if her wanting to breed has anything to do with her not eating. Someone also said that she may be gravid even if she isnt fertile. I dont think she looks gravid but I put a bucket with moist warm sand in her cage and I feel I am doing everything right. But she hasnt even gone in the bucket at all, she is VERY active and moves around the cage all day scratching against the cage and climbing everywhere sometimes on the ground and even in the plant soil. She has lost a little weight and I still try to feed her everyday giving her a variety of meal worms, crickets, wax worms and sometimes grasshoppers. She will eat only like 2 wax worms and thats it. She used to eat A LOT. If anyone knows what the problem may be PLEASE PLEASE let me know!!! I dont want her to die! I will also attempt to breed her this weekend with my boyfriends chameleon. Thanks!
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0.0.1 Argentine Red Tegu
2.3 Red Tail Boas
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Rick · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:27 am Post subject:

She sounds gravid from your description. Veiled rarely go to the bottom of the enclosures unless they are looking for a spot to lay the eggs. Leave the sand in there, but put another thing of damp peat moss too. That way she has a choice. She may not like the sand.

I'd avoid breeding here as the introduction of another cham will cause more stress then she needs until she either lays some eggs or gets better.

Rick
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K8t · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:35 am Post subject:

Ok great, thanks a lot!
_________________
1.1 Veiled Chameleons
1.1 Argentine Black & White Tegu
0.0.1 Argentine Red Tegu
2.3 Red Tail Boas
4.6 Corn Snakes
1.0 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Variable King Snake
0.1 Northern Pine Snake
1.8 Ball Python
0.0.1 Green Tree Python

sabertooth · New Member Joined: Oct 12, 2005 Posts: 2

How's she doing?
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K8t · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:50 am Post subject:

Well she still doesnt really eat a whole lot except for when I have the food in my hand. But I have read that adults dont eat everyday and slow down a lot. I actually bred her with my boyfriends chameleon 3 weeks ago so hopefully she will lay in a week or so if she is even gravid. If not I will keep trying. Thanks for asking. Here is a pic:

drfish · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:05 am Post subject:

One of the biggest problems people have with Chameleons is diet. Basically, most chameleons will do perfectly well fed every other day. Mine in particular (Fischers Chameleon) requires less than this, due to being from cooler climates than most chameleons. Veiled's I believe come from Suadi Arabia and the Yemen area, which is for the most part arid dry desertland. The Fischers I own however is from the Kenyan rainforests, high up in the mountain regions.

Basically, a chameleon should be very keen to feed, so therefore, maybe less offerings will help instigate a higher feeding response, and work back up to normal routine from there.

Also be very sure to provide plenty of water for the chameleon to drink. As most chameleons do not associate standing water with drinkiing water, de-hydration is a big problem. It's best to use a drip feed method, or directly drench any plant life within the enclosure twice daily, and she will drink from there. I also shower my cham once a week. Hang a plant or similar foliage in the shower cubicle, and let her sit there for 20 minutes or so, with luke warm water splashing close to it, but not directly onto the cham. This will help re-hydrate the skin, as well as provide drink water.

K8t · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:11 am Post subject:

Ok that sounds good, I usually see her drinking everyday after I spray her cage. She also looks really healthy, so I must be doing something right, haha I hope!

Katie

Slizarus · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:52 am Post subject:

from your description I can't think it would be any external influence.. what are you feeding her? (Sorry if I skipped it by)

I studied chameleons for a time.. though I looked more into Jacksons, 4-horns, and the pygmies... Hope she lays.. I really do, egg binding is a huge problem with fem veileds fertile or not, they will lay.
I wish you the best.
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jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

If she is drinking from the leaves and eating a couple bugs per day-you are probably ok. make sure to dust her bugs with Calcium/D3 supplement twice per week. sounds gravid (full of developing eggs) whether she got them fertilized or not. VERY IMPORTANT with veileds to provide moist sand or dirt in a deep pot on bottom of cage . put the pot near the sides or vines she commonly climbs on so she finds it. Make sure her basking sites are 105F or so and rest of cage is in the 80F range during day and drop into 70s at night. They are from arid area of Yemen so they tolerate a little dryer and hotter temps than most other chameleons, but they are famous for dystocia unfortunately (getting eggbound). Good luck. at 6 months she is probably cycling for first time in life. I agree with reply above.....dont worry about mating on this one. she will do it again 2 or 3 times over the next few months and they retain sperm from prior matings for future eggs-that means if these eggs hatch and spoil (likely infertiles) a mating now may produce fertile eggs on her next clutch in 4 to 8 weeks from now. dont stress her with the mating this time. good luck . get a book and look at the receptive coloration of females (blue squiggles on her side) and when she is mated she will change again. read up on them!! they are difficult lizards but i love them . i have a 8 month old male. let us know what's going on.

jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

oh yeah, if you can give her tiny pinky mice that is good too for the calcium. she will need heavy feedings and calcium/d3 after she lays.crickets and worms,etc always good too. they will also eat leaves and flowers of hibiscus if you put a small one in her cage.