Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my vieled is not eating while i watch. should i take the gradual approach, or should i leave the room during feeding?

You can hang a towel over his cage or leave the room while he feeds.

This really depends on the personality of the chameleon. Some chameleons are really shy, and won't eat or drink when you are there. Others will run straight toward you when the enclosure door opens hoping for some food.

I think setting up a blinder is a great idea. That way, you can watch him without him watching you.
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Joe
- www.chameleonkeepers.com

Well, sometimes that works. I had a deremensis who would not eat while watched. He always knew I was still in the room behind a "blind". I remember squeezing into a crowded closet and he just kept staring at the door. Makes you wonder who was smarter than who! So, I confined his food to a plastic box (rather than a small cup or bowl which he viewed with great suspicion too), weighed him regularly and kept track of how much he was eating that way. He hardly seemed to eat anything but kept a stable weight and looked great.

When my veiled was young, he would eat out of my hand and drink in front of me with no problems. Then he hit puberty and got his attitude and he didn't eat from my hand or even in front of me for months. A few days ago, he ate a waxworm from my hand! It's been several months since he did that.

Mine will eat with me in the room, as long as I'm not looking directly at him. If I put some food in his cage, and work on the computer which is in the same room, he'll go over to the cup and eat.

Joel Fish

thanks for all your help