Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I've had my Ambanja Panther for a year now and I got hime when he was about 4 months old. He's had a hunger strike before a while back and he was fine when I took him to the vet. Although these days he only likes to eat superworms and occasionally waxworms- but never crickets. I'm thinking its either the winter climate change (slower metabolism) or maybe eating so many superworms caused an impaction- they are pretty chitonous right? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
BTW he does drink fine. He's alert, active, color is good. He gets plenty of light and sunshine even during the winter here (I'm in Southern CA) although its def. less sun than usual.

You said it could be the winter climate change....and it could be. It could also be that he is less hungry because he is an adult now.

Regarding impaction....is he pooping? If what's going in is coming out then (of course) he can't be impacted.

Good point, he has been pooping normally but of course not as often cuz he doesnt eat much these days. He's probably eated 3 or 4 superworms and a few waxworms in the last 2 weeks. Whereas a couple months ago he'd eat 7 superworms in one sitting. And this would be every other day. Do chameleons go through hunger strikes? I heard they do when they want something different to eat...

I have heard people say that their chameleons go through hunger strikes...but I've never had a chameleon do that. Mine do slow down on the amount they eat in the cooler months though....which is only natural since warmer temperatures would make their rate of digestion faster.

Thanks Kinyonga, I think I'm gonna wait a couple days till I take him to the vet. I'm hoping its not an impaction.
It might just be stress cuz he's been really testy lately, won't let me pick him up when I take him outside to a ficus tree. He used to let me hold him all the time at my previous living place. I think he may get stressed out by the environment (lots of birds (including crows and buzzing hummingbirds),cat and dog wandering around, mom gardening...). I've never seen him puff up som much! So I'm gonna leave him alone in his cage for a while- it all may be too much for him.
My Panther's name is Stewart by the way! Do you have any of your own?

You said..."I think I'm gonna wait a couple days till I take him to the vet"...I think it would be a good idea.

You said..."I'm hoping its not an impaction"...I'm hoping it isn't too. I've never had any problem with mine eating superworms, but they never get many of them at once.

You said.."It might just be stress cuz he's been really testy lately, won't let me pick him up when I take him outside to a ficus tree. He used to let me hold him all the time at my previous living place. I think he may get stressed out by the environment (lots of birds (including crows and buzzing hummingbirds),cat and dog wandering around, mom gardening...). I've never seen him puff up som much! So I'm gonna leave him alone in his cage for a while- it all may be too much for him"...chameleons can be quite stressed by all the goings-on around them...especially by big birds flying overhead.

You said..."My Panther's name is Stewart by the way! Do you have any of your own?"...I like the name! Yes, but I only have one panther at the moment. I have quite a few other chameleons though and quite a few other lizards and turtles/tortoises, etc. I have been keeping/breeding/hatching/raising chameleons for many years too.

I have 16 chameleons. Of those, only one has ever gone on a "hunger strike". I believe this was because normally he is spoiled rotten, usually never offered the same type of feeder insect twice in a row. But for a stretch of time a few years ago, I was low on choices. This picky male decided he'd had enough crickets thank me very much and he would just wait for something else. Luckily, a silkworm and butterworms shipment eventually arrived and he was happy again.
Careful how many waxworms and king/super worms you feed - they might like them but that doesnt mean a diet full of them is good (anymore than eating your favourite pizza every day of the week is good for you). Try offering butterworms, silkworms, roaches, etc. Dont give up on crickets either.
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SandraChameleon@gmail.com
BC Canada