Abcess???
- Thread starter Crayola
- Start date
Elizadolots
New Member
Some are small. Thanks for the report Crayola. I'm glad it was not something more serious.
HolyToledo
New Member
Congrats on Crayola "passing" his vet exam!
Very glad to hear what the vet had to say. Crayola's mom loves her little one and takes good care of him and the vet report verifies that.
He is small for his age and always looks dehydrated with slightly sunken eyes. We have tried to change that but no matter what we've tried, it doesn't change. Crayola is just small and skinny, not dehydrated. His urates may have a bit of yellow tint to them sometimes but otherwise, they are nice and white.
As far as eating, what can we do? She offers him a variety of gut-loaded foods but he is very picky and won't eat most different things and not very much of what he will eat. A few mealies, a few crix and houseflies is all he is interested in. What gutlaods have the highest fat content? Even the vet seems to agree that this may be our only hope of fattening this guy up a little, if that even works.
Very glad to hear what the vet had to say. Crayola's mom loves her little one and takes good care of him and the vet report verifies that.
He is small for his age and always looks dehydrated with slightly sunken eyes. We have tried to change that but no matter what we've tried, it doesn't change. Crayola is just small and skinny, not dehydrated. His urates may have a bit of yellow tint to them sometimes but otherwise, they are nice and white.
As far as eating, what can we do? She offers him a variety of gut-loaded foods but he is very picky and won't eat most different things and not very much of what he will eat. A few mealies, a few crix and houseflies is all he is interested in. What gutlaods have the highest fat content? Even the vet seems to agree that this may be our only hope of fattening this guy up a little, if that even works.
Elizadolots
New Member
Wax and butter worms are high in fat. Hornworms and Silkworms are reported to be well liked and very nutritious. All of those are also "wet" feeders that will help with hydration.
Swayne8998
Established Member
It is best not to fatten with fatty foods. As pssh said in another thread, what if you fattened up by eating fast food? Silkies are a good choice to use. Try offering some nymph dubia roaches as well, chams seem to like them (they're my veiled's favorite food).
Elizadolots
New Member
Well, there is a difference between foods that are high in fat and foods that lack any nutritional value whatsoever. Getting more calories is important in trying to put weight on and feeders that are somewhat higher in fat (but still high in protein) are a good way to do this.
I should have mentioned phoenix worms as an alternate feeder, though they are fairly low in fat.
A big advantage of wax, butter and phoenix worms is it's possible to buy small quantities at local stores. When dealing with one chameleon, buying a wide variety of feeders can be difficult or extremely expensive. I mean....how many silkworms can one chameleon eat?
I should have mentioned phoenix worms as an alternate feeder, though they are fairly low in fat.
A big advantage of wax, butter and phoenix worms is it's possible to buy small quantities at local stores. When dealing with one chameleon, buying a wide variety of feeders can be difficult or extremely expensive. I mean....how many silkworms can one chameleon eat?
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pssh
Avid Member
Its fine to feed the "treat" feeders in moderation, but they shouldn't be used as a main food to fatten the animal up. I would just keep feeding as much as he will eat (dont limit the foods!) Feed the good stuff and only use the "treat" feeders as just that, a treat. Keep gutloading everything really well and he should eventually catch up or at least grow to a somewhat normal size (if he doesn't have parasites or another health issue.)
Have you tried small superworms? They are better than mealies in the gutloading/chitin/fat sense. They are higher in fat, but not so much that they can't be used regularly.
Have you tried small superworms? They are better than mealies in the gutloading/chitin/fat sense. They are higher in fat, but not so much that they can't be used regularly.
Elizadolots
New Member
I'd liken it to adding a milkshake to a healthy diet when trying to put weight on after an illness.
No, the butter and wax worms shouldn't be a staple, but adding a couple a day can help stimulate the appetite and up the total calories which is a good thing. And, again, they are readily available at Petco and Petsmart, which can be a factor for a lot of people.
No, the butter and wax worms shouldn't be a staple, but adding a couple a day can help stimulate the appetite and up the total calories which is a good thing. And, again, they are readily available at Petco and Petsmart, which can be a factor for a lot of people.
DanSB
Avid Member
I feel like I'm listening to a bunch of Grandmothers here "He's too skinny fatten hi up!" ha haa 
If he is healthy, active, hydrated, and has no parasites maybe he is just a smaller cham? There is variation within the species.
I'm all for varied feeders and such and it is an excellent idea to try as much as possible but stick with the healthy feeders and let him eat what he needs to be healthy.
How many people have had Chameleons die of starvation when there is food available without some other underlying condition?
If he is healthy, active, hydrated, and has no parasites maybe he is just a smaller cham? There is variation within the species.
I'm all for varied feeders and such and it is an excellent idea to try as much as possible but stick with the healthy feeders and let him eat what he needs to be healthy.
How many people have had Chameleons die of starvation when there is food available without some other underlying condition?
Elizadolots
New Member
Well, this is what Holy Toledo posted:
So, it seems like there is some concern.
So, it seems like there is some concern.
HolyToledo
New Member
Yes, we would like it if he had a little bit more weight on him and maybe his eyes wouldn't look as sunken in giving him the look of being dehydrated (even though he is not).
He is happy and healthy, just skinny. And small. Because he doesn't eat much even though he has food available. If we can add calories to his diet, slowly but surely, he should grow more and put a bit of weight on over time.
My real question is what kind of gutloading fruits and veggies are higher in calories/fat so that we can try and add these to his diet through the few types of feeders he will eat? I am searching other sites/references also but was wondering what you guys think.
He is happy and healthy, just skinny. And small. Because he doesn't eat much even though he has food available. If we can add calories to his diet, slowly but surely, he should grow more and put a bit of weight on over time.
My real question is what kind of gutloading fruits and veggies are higher in calories/fat so that we can try and add these to his diet through the few types of feeders he will eat? I am searching other sites/references also but was wondering what you guys think.
Elizadolots
New Member
You can actually put fruit in the cage. Either in a bowl or clipped to a vine. Crayola might just eat it. He might also eat greens, so try getting some dark greens like kale or chard and clip a leaf (or a part of a leaf) to a vine. It's definitely worth a try. (and, how easy is that?)
You could try gutloading with oranges and other fruit for a couple of days to see if that helps. You don't want to do that exclusively, but fruits are higher in sugars so higher in calories.
You could try gutloading with oranges and other fruit for a couple of days to see if that helps. You don't want to do that exclusively, but fruits are higher in sugars so higher in calories.
Slug
New Member
Dan, I don't see the problem in ANYONE calling their elders "sir". to me it is a respect thing. I wish more "young folks" would call people sir or ma'am, and this is coming from a 30 year old! I guess I long for the olden days...
Kids, respect your elders, and they will respect you back. Act like a punk, and you will be treated like a punk. (not aimed at anyone in particular, it is just a philosophy that I have always lived by and I wish more people did.) (STEPS OFF OF SOAPBOX)
DanSB
Avid Member
I'm okay if kids want to be polite but I am only 36 and not ready to surrender my youth until I'm at least 80 or 90 or maybe when I head to a grave I'll do it.
I'm okay with being called a punk, I really kinda am one even though I try to be helpful and nice am polite to people most of the time and genuinely like people I am pot stirrer at heart...
DanSB
Avid Member
This is a great idea and also seems to be good at breaking hunger strikes. I should have remembered put greens in with mine when he wont eat it seems to work up an appetite too!
Elizadolots
New Member
I'm pretty easy going with the "sir" thing....I suspect the young ladies who called you "sir" had experience with the military....I'm not in the military but I live next door to them and when we interact, it's all "sir" and "ma'am". I was 27 the first time someone called me "Ma'am" and meant it....I was signing up for a city college course in technical writing and the guy selling me my parking permit called me Ma'am. I was crushed.
Now? I'm 53...call me Ma'am...call me Madame...call me "Mrs."....I'm fine with it, I'm clearly the elder female and I expect you young folk to respect that!!!! (insert funny emoticon here)
Now? I'm 53...call me Ma'am...call me Madame...call me "Mrs."....I'm fine with it, I'm clearly the elder female and I expect you young folk to respect that!!!! (insert funny emoticon here)
Slug
New Member
(Whispers) Me too!
Slug
New Member
I WAS 20 MY FIRST TIME BEING CALLED SIR!!! It felt awesome! My mom tells me I have an old soul trap in a young body.
Basically this means I am the 30 year old who has been yelling at kids to "GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN" for the last 10 years.
Elizadolots
New Member
Yay...it's also true that "a bit of grey hair" is utterly sexy and cool FOR A GUY....oddly, for women, being seen as the seniors is not flattering...
Perhaps this is a discussion for another forum....
Perhaps this is a discussion for another forum....
DanSB
Avid Member
Maybe we should complain about ourselves so the mods take appropriate action? ha haa Start a thread in the lizard lounge and I'll come play
