Ate his own fresh urate

[Monzon]

Here is an observation: This picture is of a 4 week old reaching back and grabbing his own (white) urate while still defecating. He ate it and proceeded normally to rub the remainder on the branch as he walked off. If you look carefully, you can see him eyeing it.

 

[carol5208]

I cannot see anything from that picture and have never heard of this behavior! I wonder what would be the reasoning for this??? Anyone???

 

[DavidBuchan]

No clue here - fanciful guess though - did he see it move and mistake it for a grub?

 

[Monzon]

The whole action seemed so fluid and natural that I was left feeling that there must be a positive (that is to say "natural") reason for this. I had 10 live birth babies and all 10 seem to be thriving. They are active, hydrated, feeding on a wide assortment of swept insects. But I have only seen this one instance of urate eating. It was a few days ago, and they all seem business as usual still....

 

[suzi]

I have never heard of such a thing happen with a chameleon, I am very interested in hearing what others have to say. I breed rabbits and they produce cecotrophes that they eat in the same manner that is essential for there well being and for there babies (loaded with vitamins and such) I wonder if he is eating it for the nutrients or like David said thinking it is a worm or for some other unknown reason. Very interesting

 

[DavidBuchan]

The whole action seemed so fluid and natural that I was left feeling that there must be a positive (that is to say "natural") reason for this. I had 10 live birth babies and all 10 seem to be thriving. They are active, hydrated, feeding on a wide assortment of swept insects. But I have only seen this one instance of urate eating. It was a few days ago, and they all seem business as usual still....

Apparently very unusual but not a problem, then.....unlikely he thought it was something else from what you saw.....

 

[Aminah Undone]

I know of a few mammals that will eat their own or their offspring will eat theirs. It's beneficial to their health. However, I've never heard of reptiles doing this. That doesn't mean it isn't happening or isn't perfectly normal.