How do you know if they’re overweight?

[FranklinTheCham]

Hello, this is my first post here on the forum! I have a quick question, I have about a 3 and a half month old male veiled chameleon. I dont know whether or not he looks overweight or not. October 26th he weighed in at 69 grams. Can anyone take a look?
Thank you

 

[Kaizen]

That’s a 3 1/2 month old chameleon? During their first year, male veileds don’t typically get fat. They’re just growing too fast. At 6-9 months, you can drop their feeding down to 3-5 feeders, 3 times/week. At 1-1 1/2 years, that can drop down to 2-3 feeders three times per week. Obviously, this will depend on the feeders you give, but think ‘med-large crickets’.

 

[AmandaS]

He does not appear overweight, but looks much older than 3.5 months.

 

[kinyonga]

This might help...

 

[Fchamel]

Welcome to the forums! ))) ?

 

[Fchamel]

One thing I would recommend... Once your chameleon reaches the age where that is possible. Is not feeding foods with a high-fat content more than often.

I can't seem to find a chart that doesn't show improper feeders. ?
If someone has a chart they can share, that would be great! ?

 

[FranklinTheCham]

Thank you everyone for responding. Yes he’s only 3 1/2 months lol. I feed him crickets, super worms, wax worms, hornworms, and mainly Dubai roaches. He gets an extremely varied diet and all the bugs are gut loaded. I cup feed and I feed him everyday about 10-12 bugs. Ever since he was young I fed him as much as he would eat. This was him August 14.
As long as I’m not over feeding him I think we’re ok lol.

 

[Fchamel]

Thank you everyone for responding. Yes he’s only 3 1/2 months lol. I feed him crickets, super worms, wax worms, hornworms, and mainly Dubai roaches. He gets an extremely varied diet and all the bugs are gut loaded. I cup feed and I feed him everyday about 10-12 bugs. Ever since he was young I fed him as much as he would eat. This was him August 14.
As long as I’m not over feeding him I think we’re ok lol.

Yep, your feeding him great feeders! @Kaizen what do you think of the quantity of food being given?

 

[Kaizen]

Yep, your feeding him great feeders! @Kaizen what do you think of the quantity of food being given?

No objections here.

 

[Kaizen]

Just to follow up,

At the 6 month mark, taper him down to 3 days/week, 3-5 feeders. At around 12-18 months, drop that down to 2-3 feeders 3 times/week. Assume medium to large crix as your metric. So, one full-grown dubia = 2-3 crix.
For example: Monday: 1 large dubia; wednesday: 2 crix; Saturday: a super and a silk or horn...rinse and repeat. Switch up feeders regularly, keeping in mind relative size.

 

[Beman]

Thank you everyone for responding. Yes he’s only 3 1/2 months lol. I feed him crickets, super worms, wax worms, hornworms, and mainly Dubai roaches. He gets an extremely varied diet and all the bugs are gut loaded. I cup feed and I feed him everyday about 10-12 bugs. Ever since he was young I fed him as much as he would eat. This was him August 14.
As long as I’m not over feeding him I think we’re ok lol.

Did you hatch him out? I am still stuck on this age being correct lol. I have three boys never have they grown at such a rate and I feed heavy when they are under 5 months lol. Your boy looks more like a 5-6 month old.

 

[AmandaS]

Thank you everyone for responding. Yes he’s only 3 1/2 months lol. I feed him crickets, super worms, wax worms, hornworms, and mainly Dubai roaches. He gets an extremely varied diet and all the bugs are gut loaded. I cup feed and I feed him everyday about 10-12 bugs. Ever since he was young I fed him as much as he would eat. This was him August 14.
As long as I’m not over feeding him I think we’re ok lol.

The thing to me is, he looks 3.5 months here in August.

 

[Fchamel]

No objections here.

Okay, thanks!

 

[FranklinTheCham]

I work at petco and I got him from there. He was hatched at my store and I took him home. He immediately went into a 24x24x48 habitat. He hatched July 16.

 

[FranklinTheCham]

I work at petco and I got him from there. He was hatched at my store and I took him home. He immediately went into a 24x24x48 habitat. He hatched July 16.

And I can promise you all, at my store the animals get nothing but 110% care

 

[Beman]

I work at petco and I got him from there. He was hatched at my store and I took him home. He immediately went into a 24x24x48 habitat. He hatched July 16.

Well that is very impressive. He is huge for his age. Depending on how large he gets you may have to get a second enclosure and attach them lol.