Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was introduced recently to chameleons through a veiled cham so I'm new and still searching so I haven't provided my veiled with a dripping system but only misting the cage three times a day.As I keep reading I realise that I should provide a dripper as misting only is a questionable source of hydration.My question now is wether my cham stopped eating due to dehadration perhaps..He doesn't look dehydrated though.So has t anyone notice chameleons loosing appetite when running out of water?

I personally have not noticed a relationship between loss of appetite and lack of drinking water. In fact, in all case, I have noticed an increased appetite without drinking, and an increase in drinking when they do not eat. This is normal when they are about to shed their skin. A day or two before my Veileds shed, they practically stop eating and drink a lot of water.

There are many reasons why your Cham would stop eating. One of the most prevalent reasons are stress. Stress affects Chameleons in many different ways. Loss of appetite and less drinking is one of them. Have you introduced anything new into the enclosure? If so, remove the item, and wait a day. Illness is also a reason. If there are no foreign items in the enclosure, I would suggest a trip to the vet for a check up. It never hurts anyway.

The Lizard Lounge
Lizard Care

I have seen very dehydrated chams stop eating. Dehydration can cause a cascade of problems and chances are other health issues are linked pretty closely. Irritated eyes, poor sheds, general discomfort can all keep them from eating freely. Depending on the air humidity level in the cage, the amount of live foliage available, and the humidity on the room, neither the dripper nor spraying alone may be enough. I think most of us use a combination of spraying and drippers or spraying and humidifiers or a misting system. If the air is too dry a cham can dehydrate simply through respiration faster than it can replace fluids from a dripper. If the cage has lots of foliage to hold moisture they can lick leaves for a long time at a slower pace, they won't lose as much to respiration, and won't need to drink as much to "keep up". Some chams don't use drippers reliably as they age. Some only use drippers and don't lick foliage. Some do best when hand sprayed gently from above for 10-20 minutes. They are individuals. First, check the general humidity level of the cage. Use a good quality gauge, not a cheap pet store version. It will really pay for itself.