I have a Veiled Chameleon that has been keeing there eyes closed and not been very active or eatting much. Hasnt been

How long have you had Pascal?

I think we should talk about caging first. Vertical space is very important for these guys, so you want to make sure his enclosure is at least 36 inches to 48 inches tall (the bigger and taller the better!). He should have ample climbing surfaces inside his enclosure. It should be kept clean to prevent bacteria and mold buildup. Temperature and humidity are essential. I recommend getting a digital temperature and humidity monitor to keep an eye on the temperature and humidity of the cage. A daytime temperature range between 74-80F is ideal, and he should also have an additional basking spot at around 85F. All heating should come from outside**** the cage to prevent burns.

All veiled chameleons need a full spectrum UVA/UVB light source and it must be on for at least 10 hours a day. This is incredibly important for good chameleon health. The bulbs need replacing about every 6 months.

Humidity levels should hover around 50% and this can be accomplished in various ways.

I am very happy to hear that you are offering Pascal mealworms and crickets. I would caution you to feed live prey like crickets right now if Pascal is not feeling well, since crickets can actually attack him and give him wounds that can be painful and become infected. You may want to try varying his diet with butterworms, waxworms, superworms, and offering fruits and veggies such as blueberries, kale, collard greens or thin slices of apple.

Addressing the above can often alleviate many of the health problems chameleons experience, such as stress, poor nutrition, calcium and vitamin A deficiency. Metabolic bone disease (also another common problem with chameleons) is preventable with adequate UVB lighting.

I would try those modifications first, and see how he does. Hopefully if caught early enough, we can help him feel better!

Hi there! Do you notice anything on the outside, like crusted eyes, nasal discharge, sneezing, any wounds or changes to his skin?

Have you tried offering something different other than the mealworms and crickets? Like any of the other insects I mentioned or any fruit or vegetables?

Does he have a UVB light available?

That may be a good place to start, offering him something different like fruit and vegetables. You can slice them into smaller pieces and place them in a shallow dish. If he is sitting all the way at the top of his enclosure (as they tend to do), you may need to place him on a lower branch so he can sense the fruit and veggies. Alternatively, you can try offering him small, cut up pieces on the branches he is on.

I would definitely try different insects as well. Changing up his diet may spark his interest in eating.

Did you recently bring Pascal home from the pet store or have you had him for a while?

some veiled chameleons will eat strawberries. You can try them and if that doesn't work you can try kiwi, apple or cut up banana.

I think it would be a bit off for him to be feeling ill from something like a parasite infection. But it isn't impossible and he may have had a parasite infection from the pet store. Signs of illness in chameleons can sometimes take a longgggg time to see visually so he may have been feeling unwell for longer. If adding different items to his diet doesn't help, my next recommendation would be to take a fresh fecal sample to your vet to look for parasites that may need treatment. Chameleons can have roundworms, pinworms and a variety of other intestinal parasites.

Yes you can try lettuce. Other veggies to try are broccoli, zucchini, and kale. I don't think he would be crazy about tomatoes though unfortunately.

I would ensure the lettuce is romaine lettuce, not iceburg lettuce or spinach.

I would feed the fruit and veggies fresh, just to see how he does with those. But continue to dust any insects offered with calcium powder!

I am really impressed. It sounds like you have all of the husbandry issues covered that most chameleon owners don't do! So that is wonderful.

One more question, has anything about his environment changed? Playing loud music lately? Other pets bothering him? Moving his enclosure?

Hm okay. I hope the strawberries and romaine (not iceburg!) lettuce spark his appetite. Also, I forgot to mention before UVB light is blocked by plastic and glass so must be able to reach him through whatever lid you have on his enclosure. So just bare that in mind. Reduced UVB light exposure is a common cause of lethargy in chameleons.

I think we at least have a starting plan. Changing up his diet and making sure it is accessible to him is a good place to start. If that doesn't turn him around I would consider bringing in a fecal sample to his vet to ensure there are no intestinal parasites that are making him feel unwell.

How are things going? Do you have any additional questions?

No problem, I hope Pascal perks up with some new diet items. Thank you for being such a diligent chameleon owner!