Looks skinny when he's not all puffed up
- Thread starter JlaPinska
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DragoLikesReptiles
New Member
He looks a little on the skinny side to me, but not anything too worrying.
JlaPinska
Member
thanks for your reply. is there anything i can do to get him to gain some weight? i feed him every day plus he eats dark greens and healthy lettuce from a bowl on top of it. He was skinny when i got him, his ankles finally have a little fat on them but the rest of him doesn't. he's growing lengthwise pretty fast and shedding every month. i dont know what to do other than feed him more
DragoLikesReptiles
New Member
Feeding waxworms and other fattier foods. Please someone correct me if wrong I've never had a chameleon on the thin side. I think he is fine now, just post if he gets any skinnier, or ribs are showing when skinny.
JlaPinska
Member
they don't sell waxworms locally here.. i am getting this sampler pack http://www.rainbowmealworms.net/chameleon-sampler-pack/ iwhat are phoenix worms? fatty i hope?
JlaPinska
Member
thanks the only pictures i ever see are of them when they are puffed up so i have nothing to compare too
Blink
New Member
I wouldn't suggest feeding waxworms to "fatten him up". Waxworms are fatty, true, but they have no nutrition, which is what you want to give him. Some better options would be: silkworms, butterworms, hornworms, superworms, roaches... Etc... Also, make sure feeders are properly and well gutloaded. The insect is basically a "carrier vessel", so whatever you put into the bug goes into the cham. What are you gutloading with currently? He doesn't look dreadfully skinny to me. He could use a little extra padding, but he looks like he might be going through his "teenage stage". How old is he?
JlaPinska
Member
he is about 11 months old. same age as my daughter. i know about gut loading and all that. he has trouble shedding too it seems like as soon as he gets it off he is already shedding again. i upped the humidity to help. he doesn't just sit still he is very active maybe that is part of it? gut loading currently with oatmeal and chow
DragoLikesReptiles
New Member
Thank you, Blink, for correcting me. I just had the idea that if he needed to get a little more grams on him, a few waxworms wouldn't hurt. Thanks though, I want the best for this wonderful community.
reptileguy112
Member
Hornworms, waxworms, and butterworms
Blink
New Member
11 months old... Just as I expected. I'm pretty sure that looking slightly skinny and kind of awkward is normal for that age. I would try to add some fresh veggies and fruits to your gut loading, as they have more nutrition than some repackaged gutloads.
Veiledcham101
New Member
Very beautiful cham you got their 
. How old is he ?
. How old is he ?
JlaPinska
Member
Very beautiful cham you got their
11 months
sapphira80
New Member
In the pic, it looks like he is actually stretching himself out lengthwise. My male veiled does that too, sometimes a few days before shedding and other times just to do it. He does all kinds of weird stretches and poses... We just day it's Louie doing his aerobics. He also flattens himself out vertically, in like a leaf shape, when I clean his cage and get to close to him. They have pretty flexible bodies and they aren't supposed to be "chubby". Chameleons don't store fat like humans (on our tummies and hips). They store fat in their casque and neck region. I've actually never seen an overweight veiled chameleon. Not to say there aren't any, I just haven't seen one.
JlaPinska
Member
he has been roaming his cage "deflated" like that. hes running the length of his cage like a maniac trying to get the shed off his tail. he puffs up when he is basking and gets dark. they are silly little creatures. i took that pic after he literally ran to the front of the cage for food. he can shimmy pretty quick, for a chameleon lol. he does eat like a horse though so i'm still baffled on why hes so thin. i read that at this age they only need to be fed every other day. i still feed him every day. and he polishes off a handful of greens every day.
but i guess i just worry too much Lol i got lucky and my guy is pretty friendly i dont want him to get sick or something it would break my heart. thanks for all the responses!!
but i guess i just worry too much Lol i got lucky and my guy is pretty friendly i dont want him to get sick or something it would break my heart. thanks for all the responses!!
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