Reptile & Amphibian Forums

10 days ago I found a chuck, about 14 inches long. He was alert, but on a busy street so I decided I would try and give him a home. Took him to a pet store to confirm what he is. Bought a 4 foot tank, sand, basking lights and so on. But now 5 days later he still hasn’t eaten. I’ve tried romaine, mustard greens, dandelions, hibiscus, cantolpe, kiwi, grass, cactus, bird food, crickets, and some iguana food I bought that looks like mushed up berries. Still no luck. I’m not sure if he was someone’s pet or if he was wild. Could I be killing him if he was wild and put him into captivity? Could it be because he is shedding? I know they get their water from their food source.....so that means he hasn’t ate or drank in 5 days. Please if anyone has advice let me know. He is tame....just lays on my chest when I hold him. Help!

Fourteen inches is a full grown Chuckwalla. If you are keeping it at 89-95 degrees in the basking end of the cage, with a rock to hide under, that should be good. Your food choices are good, especially the dandelions--their favorite. Not sure why he doesn't feed. Can you post a picture? Is this lizard emaciated?
Have you tried setting it outside on a table in the direct sun to see if it will move around? Maybe it is injured? Does it walk? Need ore info!

I'd double check the identification 1st and foremost... Pet stores are not always experts regarding anything aside from taking your money. Post a picture here or at least google the species to confirm. Does the finder live where Chucks exist in the wild? It could have suffered unseen trauma from a car tire of course. Yellow flowers generally evoke a feeding response, especially dandelions. On the off chance it's something else try a "super worm" presented on the cage floor to see if that brings about a feeding response. Room temperature for humans is anything but stimulating for a rock basker... so insure that the background temperature is more than 80 degrees.