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My Veiled Chameleon has not been eating or drinking lately, and have tried eveything I can think of, is there anything that culd help.
Optional Information: Pet's Gender: Female Pet's Age: <1 Name of Animal: Veiled Chameleon Already Tried: Mealworms, misting cag more frequently, keeping crickets close to her.
hello,
Can you tell me about the set up?
Diet?
Supplements?
Temps?
Do you have a mister?
UVB light? How old? Tube or coil? Strength?
Basking light?
State to locate a Herp Vet?
Joan
have her set up in a 20 gallon aquariam. I give her 3 crickets a day, switching between vitamin and calcium suplements every other day. do have a uvb light, its 5 months old. I use the UVB lght along with a thermal lght to set up a basking area. She has 3 sticks along with greenery to climb on.
Hello,
The Chameleon should not be kept in a fish tank let alone a 20 gallon tank. The need air flow of a Screened Vivarium: http://cages.net/ . This is very important. They also need height as they are arboreal.
The Chameleon actually needs a white light UVA bulb for basking and a UVB bulb which should be a tube type Reptisun 10.0. The bulb you have now is 5 months old any may not be stong enough to stinulate appetite as well as it is loosing potency. I suggest the calcium to be given 5 days a week and 2 days a week for the vitamin Supplement.
The lights need to be on 12-14 hours a day during the spring and summer months and in the fall and winter we reduce the light to 8 hours. The basking temps should be 85-95*F.
The chameleon should have some potted live plants like a Pothosis which they enjoy climbing on and may even use to lay eggs. They also enjoy drinking the water off the leaves and stems.
Chameleons love to be up high and do stress easily. That is why it is important for the chameleon to be in high enclosure ,so they have area for security. What you have now is not accomadating her needs at all.
I do suggest adding a misting unit to the tank vs the dripper as they do require the misting to be able to drink of leaves and branches. The Drippers have a tendency to over soak the enclosure.
You need to get this tank changed asap and the conditions correct for the Chameleon, or you have a chance of loosing her. Hopefully the proper conditions will help getting her eating again.I also suspect she may be getting dehydrated, which in this case we may have to do a soak of 50/50 warm water and plain Pedialyte to help.
I also suggest having her into a Herp Vet. Chameloens are very delicate and can go down very quickly if the conditions are not correct. I can locate one for you with a State.
This is a great care sheet for Chameleons: http://www.veiledchameleoncaresheet.com/
I would consider trying some different prey items too. Silk worms are great as far as nutrition and most reptiles willing accept them as a feeder. They can be ordered here:
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/ or http://www.coastalsilkworms.com/
Thank you, XXXXX XXXXX have one question left. When you say soak, can you explain to me what you mean. I mist the cage with a spray bottle, so im not exactly sure what you mean.
Hi,
We take a shallow dish and add a 50/50 warm water and plain Pedialyte(infant electrolyte solution) and place the chameleon so it cover the vent area(part where they defecate). This allows them to absorb fluids through the Vent. Soak as long as tolerated. I do believe a Herp Vet visit should be done. Unfortunately Pet shops when they sell animals do not always give the best information or sell the proper equipment. Joan
Experience: I have been doing Reptile Rescues for 15+ Years