Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I live in santa cruz california and over the last week the temperature just dropped 10 degrees outside. This has caused my panther chameleon to go into an instant food strike. The temp of the cage is still ok, about 80-85 at the top and 70 near the bottom. he wont eat crickets, he wont eat meal worms, he wont eat silk worms. what should I do?

The change in temp outside may not have much to do with the hunger strike. Length of day may, and many chams slow down in our fall as the days get shorter. If he's not losing weight and is drinking normally I wouldn't worry too much yet. Chams can go a week without eating much at all. They do get bored with the same few feeders we offer them fairly often. If you are feeding him every day drop back to every other day or two (unless he's a fast growing juvie). Try flying insects such as houseflies (you can get them from Grubco) or night flying moths. Try silkworms, tomato hornworms (cultured, not plucked off a tomato plant), or roaches to get him intrigued again. As the old saying goes "hunger is a sauce for any dish."