If your chameleon is not using its tongue, there might different causes why it’s happening. In this post, you will learn about the possible reasons why a chameleon is not using its tongue and what you can do about it.
Chameleon’s tongue not only helps it catch food, but to also sense the smells. This is thanks to the Jacobson’s organ on their mouth palate. Thanks to their good taste senses, chameleons have specific food preferences and know what is edible and what’s not.
The most common reasons for a chameleon to stop using its tongue include illnesses, primarily metabolic bone disorder, which affects bones, joints and general well-being.
1: Metabolic bone disorder and chameleon not using the tongue
Metabolic bone disorder is a list of disorders mainly caused by lack of calcium in the diet, as well as lack of vitamin D. In order to absorb and use calcium, vitamin D is needed as well. Sources of vitamin D include multivitamins, but mainly – a full-spectrum lighting (UVB lighting primarily). This type of light allows chameleons metabolize vitamin D in their skin.
Apart from dusting chameleon’s food with calcium, you need to make sure to keep calcium to phosphorus ratios in check. Calcium to phosphorus ratio should be at least 2:1, however aim for 3:1 and higher. What is more, all the insects that you feed to your chameleon must be gut-loaded for at least 24 hours prior feeding (read more about it here in a new tab).
If there’s lack of calcium and possibly vitamin D3 in the diet, chameleon will slowly begin to develop metabolic bone disorder. In the beginning stages, it can be fixed by improving living conditions of the chameleon. However, if it gets too serious, changes will be irreversible. Or, will require immediate calcium injections and other treatment by a vet.
Signs of metabolic bone disease include soft and short jaw, puffy back legs and/or jaw, loss of appetite (can be due to pain in the jaw). Also, loss of weight, kinked tail and general lethargy and lack of movement.
A chameleon’s tongue and its base are made of muscles that are attached to the jaw and bone. So, any problems in that area might cause chameleon’s tongue to be paralyzed or not work properly.
So at home, make sure to always gut-load the insects before feeding them to your chameleon, and dust them with a pure calcium supplement (without phosphorus), like this one. That’s because phosphorus levels are high in many insects that you feed. Calcium:phosphorus ratio needs to be maintained at least 2:1 (3:1 and over is better). If you suspect MBD in your chameleon, take it to a vet.
2: Your chameleon is old
If your chameleon is older, sometimes it might be normal for it to start using its tongue less and less to catch the prey. Instead, your chameleon might walk to get the bugs and eat them. Younger chameleons tend to catch their bugs with tongue more efficiently and readily than older ones.
3: Chameleon is not eating
Another reason why your chameleon is not using or shooting its tongue is because it doesn’t want to eat food at all. There can be many different reasons why your chameleon doesn’t want to eat. These include wrong tank temperatures, illness (such as internal parasites or external parasites), stress, lack of humidity and many more. Have you changed anything recently or moved home? Review everything in the tank and make sure that everything is optimal.
4: Trauma or injury
If your chameleon is not using its tongue at all or can only shoot it partially and not fully, it could be due to injury or trauma. Has your chameleon fallen recently? Has it damaged any bones, especially its jawbone? If you suspect an injury, take it to the vet for an examination.
5: Lazy tongue
If your chameleon is trying to shoot its tongue and cannot do it fully, it could possibly mean that it has a lazy tongue. Sometimes, chameleons might develop lazy tongues. That’s especially true if you regularly feed it with tweezers, not giving a chance to use its tongue regularly.