Baby quad health check

[Tattersb]

Your Chameleon - Male T. q. quadricornis, 4 months old, in my care for 2 1/2 weeks.
Handling - Once daily for hand feeding (if he is agreeable).
Feeding - Offered 6-7 small dubia and 6-7 small crickets daily. Feeders gut-loaded with Repashy bug burger, carrots and dark greens.
Supplements - two crickets dusted with Repashy LoD 2-3 times weekly.
Watering - Automatic mister one minute every two hours, (enough for water to puddle on leaves. I see him drinking at least once a day.
Fecal Description - Formed, moist and dark brown. Not sure of frequency, I can't always find the droppings. White urates, seem to be at least once daily. No fecal testing yet.
History - Captive-bred from reputable, established breeder.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - 16x16x30 ReptiBreeze with one side covered in Plexiglas for humidity retention.
Lighting - Reptisun T5 HO, lights on 6 a.m., off 6p.m.
Temperature - Temps range from 72-76, no basking spot.
Humidity - Humidity levels range from70-75%, maintained with misting, live plants, and partially enclosed cage.
Plants - 70% live plants, 30% plastic. Nandina, ferns, areca palm, Spanish moss.
Placement -Cage is in it's own room with one other chameleon cage (both are out of sight of each other). Top of cage four feet off the floor.
Location - Located on the Alabama Gulf Coast

I read that quads grow slowly, but there were no specifics on the preferable growth rate. Chaney is gaining about 1 gram every 4-5 days (5 grams on arrival, 9 grams now). Is that an acceptable growth rate, or is that too slow? I'm also concerned about over (or under) supplementing him. Since he is so young, I just want to make sure I'm on the right track with him.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Why don't you ask the breeder directly?

No one knows the "preferable" growth rate. My quads tend to grow big fast. I've been criticized by some European breeders for my big strong babies.

I've found that they grow especially slowly for the first few months and then start to take off. I've never really noted when they start to grow fast but it is somewhere around three months. Maybe @ponders could chime in with her observations.

As a species, they do grow slowly partly because of the lower temps they are kept at.

Back to your original question, your growth rate seems fine. It's when they don't grow you should worry.

 

[Tattersb]

Why don't you ask the breeder directly?

No one knows the "preferable" growth rate. My quads tend to grow big fast. I've been criticized by some European breeders for my big strong babies.

I've found that they grow especially slowly for the first few months and then start to take off. I've never really noted when they start to grow fast but it is somewhere around three months. Maybe @ponders could chime in with her observations.

As a species, they do grow slowly partly because of the lower temps they are kept at.

Back to your original question, your growth rate seems fine. It's when they don't grow you should worry.

Why don't you ask the breeder directly?

No one knows the "preferable" growth rate. My quads tend to grow big fast. I've been criticized by some European breeders for my big strong babies.

I've found that they grow especially slowly for the first few months and then start to take off. I've never really noted when they start to grow fast but it is somewhere around three months. Maybe @ponders could chime in with her observations.

As a species, they do grow slowly partly because of the lower temps they are kept at.

Back to your original question, your growth rate seems fine. It's when they don't grow you should worry.

Why don't you ask the breeder directly?

No one knows the "preferable" growth rate. My quads tend to grow big fast. I've been criticized by some European breeders for my big strong babies.

I've found that they grow especially slowly for the first few months and then start to take off. I've never really noted when they start to grow fast but it is somewhere around three months. Maybe @ponders could chime in with her observations.

As a species, they do grow slowly partly because of the lower temps they are kept at.

Back to your original question, your growth rate seems fine. It's when they don't grow you should worry.

Why don't you ask the breeder directly?

No one knows the "preferable" growth rate. My quads tend to grow big fast. I've been criticized by some European breeders for my big strong babies.

I've found that they grow especially slowly for the first few months and then start to take off. I've never really noted when they start to grow fast but it is somewhere around three months. Maybe @ponders could chime in with her observations.

As a species, they do grow slowly partly because of the lower temps they are kept at.

Back to your original question, your growth rate seems fine. It's when they don't grow you should worry.

I just didn't ask her directly because I felt like I was bothering her with too many questions already.

 

[ponders]

Hi Beth,

It's no bother, I enjoy talking to people interested in quads!

quads do grow slowly at first, then take off. If he is gaining 1 gram every 5 days, he is doing great. I do have a couple blogs with some growth rate notes that I documented a few years ago that you can check out. Females seem to grow faster and mature before the males.

I also supplement with plain calcium several times a week in addition to the Repashy.

Tylene

 

[Tattersb]

Hi Beth,

It's no bother, I enjoy talking to people interested in quads!

quads do grow slowly at first, then take off. If he is gaining 1 gram every 5 days, he is doing great. I do have a couple blogs with some growth rate notes that I documented a few years ago that you can check out. Females seem to grow faster and mature before the males.

I also supplement with plain calcium several times a week in addition to the Repashy.

Tylene

Thank you so much! I have some plain calcium so I'll start dusting his dubias some during the week. Was he using a feeder cup for you? He loves the one I have in there now.

 

[ponders]

No, he didn't have a cup, but they learn pretty quick where the food is! Love that picture too!