Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is a mystery topic that nobody ever seems to have info on,
but I though I'd post anyway to see if anyone has learned anything new.

My Jackson's is still having the "weak tongue" problem. Some days he shoots full length, and then some days he can't shoot it more than an inch or two.

He had a recent Vet visit (an ARAV herp vet) and she said he was in excellent health overall. She said the tongue problem is more than likely a nutritional thing, or a supplementation thing. This seems to be the consensus with everyone.

So, I upped his calcium intake, and vitamin intake, and the problem got better.
Recently I have started using Walkabout Farm's Quantam Series Montane Radiance Chameleon dust, and her gutload (both of these came highly recommended) as directed and he seems more alert, active, colorful and lively overall. Only, he is STILL not using his tongue properly. Like I said, one time it will work ok, and the next time it won't.

I thought for sure the high quality supplements and gutload would iron things out, but I'm perplexed. Has anyone had this problem? Has anyone solved it?
Is it a calcium thing? A Vitamin thing? How can this be happening when I'm using the best stuff money can buy, developed by a Chameleon nutritionist who has done years of trial work? Help!!!!!

Here are my setup specs:

2 Reptisun 5.0 tubes
3 regular plant tubes
1 ficus benjamina, 1 shefllera
24"x30"x48" cage with 1/2" spacing
75-77 ambient temp
82 basking spot
3 daily sprayings
auto-mister
feeding 3-7 crickets every other day dusted with above stated dust
(note: dust directions say to use every feeding)
gutloaded crickets with above stated gutload
1.5 yr old male jacksonii, 11.5" long, weight 92 grams

any advice, experience, help or anything would be great!!!

i wish i knew but i'll say this....almost every supplement says to use it everday and i'm sure the main reason for this is so that you can use it up and buy some more!!....it's supposed to be a dietary supplement not part of the daily diet as far as i'm concerned...i could be way off on this but i don't think my jax needs a daily dose of blue algae or bee pollen or some root from the mountains in China...i've only had my jax for about 6 months so it is certainly not a long term success but he's very active and healthy on insects fed a healthy, natural gutload and dusting 1 insect 2-3 times a week

I know that usually you are the expert giving ME advice, however, I had the same problem with my jackson. For me it was a dehydration issue. I got him used to drinking straight out of the spray bottle by lightly drizzling water on him. This way I could make sure he drinks enough on a regular basis. After he started drinking like this his tongue problem stopped. I could be wrong about yours but that's my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the input. I really don't think it's related to dehyrdration. My Jax is very well hydrated, and always has been. He drinks a ton of water every day as I spray him, and my Vet said he was well hydrated.

I am convinced this problem is due to under-supplementation. One thing that leads me to believe this is: Around 7 or 8 years ago, when I had one and then another Jax I never saw this problem. Since I wasn't near as informed as I am now, I used vitamin dust at every feeding, and really piled it on. The tongue problem never came up. It only came up with my current Jax, who I've been VERY careful supplementing. In his first year I only used dust once a week and then cut it back to once a month. Now that I have upped the level of supps. it is getting better, except for the occasional "bad day". I think I'm on the right track. This is a tricky problem with Chams.

I suspect this will take as much time (or longer) to work itself out than it took to develop. We still don't have their micronutrient needs worked out. I would not be too worried as long as he's interested in food, is shooting sometimes, and has no other nutritional problems showing up. You may find that you need to experiment around with the WalkAbout Farms products to find the right balance.