Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,
I have a Senegal Chameleon named George. I got him about a year ago. Back in June I had a problem with him not eating for weeks.. but it was only from the stress of my drive home from college. I graduated so he hasn't done any moving since.
This past month, he hasn't been doing so well. He hasn't eatin in about a month, believe it or not. Every once in a while I can hand feed him a worm or cricket... but that's rare and hasn't happened in the past couple weeks. I use the cup method to feed him, but his tongue is not working so I have to let crickets loose in his cage. I will put the food in front of him and he will get REALLY close and try to use his tongue... the tongue barely comes out and isn't sticky enough to bring back the food. He has learned to go right up to the food and just try to bite it but he still hardly ever can catch his food.. and yes even when I'm holding the cricket/worm in my hand so it can't go very far.
Ever since this eating problem, I've noticed three things..
One: He is sleeping a LOT. He only opens one eye when he is awake.. sometimes he has both opened but it's not long before one shuts.
Two: I have a water fountain for him to drink from and now he frequently goes under the fountain like he's bathing. He does this a lot whereas before he only went down to take a sip of water. He never liked to get wet.
Three: He has always had this "Hip" looking thing at the top of his tale above his anus (not sure what it is). It appears to be a little swolen on one side.

Hopefully you made it through this long post and can help me out. He seems to still have the same strength and looks normal. I've never had a Cham during winter, so could hibernation be causing this.. hormone changes? He was a baby when I got him and has grown quit a bit since. I just can't figure out how it's been about a month with very minimal eating (like one or two crickets/worms)and he is still with us..? Thanks for any help!

I just recently went through this exact same problem with my three year old veiled. It is like it takes him a while eat, and is cocked and locked, but never pulls the trigger? Or even misses or shoots it out short distances? The smartest option is to visit a vet. He can give you an analysis and give you a good medication for George. Costs money and time, but is worth the life of Georoge. Basically, most tongue problems are the results of two things. One is from a lack of CA. This is and essential nutrient for the firing mechanism, the strong muscles located in the back of the mouth. The second is trauma causes by bacteria or physical injury to the tongue. Your vet can tell what is wrong and give you either antibiotic or calcium via oral syringe or both. To supplement better afterwards, try offering more green vegetables (such as kale, collards, spinach), and a more variety of fruits. Also try offering baby food via syringe (banana, sweet potatoes, my vet even told me to try turkey for added protien). Also make sure your UV bulb isnt more than six months old. Good luck and best wishes.

Are you really keeping that Veiled Chameleon in glass tank? All chams require a screen enclosure.

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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)

You have done well to keep a Senegal alive for a year.

A month is too long for him not to have eaten. It would be a good idea for him to see a vet. The fact that he is sleeping a lot and doesn't open both eyes is not good.

I have no idea why he is sitting unter the water.

Can't really help you with the "hip" thing, but I think I know what you mean and have seen what might be the same thing once in a Senegal female. She was quite old..and yours isn't old. I've had quite a few male Senegals that I got as WC adults live for three years.

What are the temperatures in your cage? Its normal for a chameleon to slow down its eating in the winter, but it can also happen if the temperature is too cool in its cage.

Senegals wouldn't hibernate, IMHO...but if your cage is too cold, it might be in a resting state. Since you got him when he was quite young, he would have normally slowed down his eating somewhat as he approached adult size, but the eye shutting doesn't fit with it being a normal slow-down.

Did you say you had a fountain or bubbler in his cage? I have never used either since they are difficult to keep clean and germfree.

Hope you can solve his problem!

What's the humidity level in your cage? If he's sitting under water he could be really dehydrated. A dehydrated cham can't and won't eat much at all. What is your lighting? How new are the bulbs? What brand? What are you supplementing with? If the lights are old (not producing much UVB) he could be dragged down from slow vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies which affect the tongue, eyes, and general activity. Then, the longer he doesn't eat the weaker he gets, and the less likely he will be to even try to eat. It's a vicious cycle. Senegals are tricky and you've been lucky, but he should not be going downhill like this, so it's time to check out all your husbandry to see if something is missing. Check temps, humidity, check your gutloading, dusting, and lighting to see if something has passed by unnoticed.