There is at least one inconsistency in that chart with broccoli being a good gutload choice (it isn’t)
This is not a gut-load List, please don’t base on this alone, I compared this chart with high calcium food charts and eliminate any high gassy foods and line up with the recommended Gutload lists. It was just a resource I had.
Shoot, sorry, I read your comment saying gutload and didn’t read the actual title of the chart! Sorry, again!
I am familiar with gout as I suffer from it myself and when it flares up it is very painful and makes walking almost impossible.Update:
I ended up taking mr little in to c.s.u. today because I found him on the bottom of his cage, must have fell from the top which is about 4-5ft drop. Obviously I was concerned and took him to make sure no fall damage. They said he's damn healthy. Calcium/phosphorus levels were good and x rays showed no signs of any damage from the fall, and no mbd as well. All organs were functioning properly, the only thing that was not right was his uric acid levels, they were slightly elevated. They said this was the oldest captive chameleon c.s.u has seen. Makes me damn proud of the little guy. As for the leg grabbing, sounds like at this point they thought it was the beginning stages of gout due to elevated uric acid levels. He is in a smaller temporary cage for now so there is no risk of falling. He will go back next Friday to do blood work again and check on uric acid levels again. Gotta love when your heart drops when you see your beloved buddy laying on the ground and not moving. Uggghhhh
Thank you for that, the vet did say the gutloading may have to be changed, he will confirm that next Friday. What do you personally use for gutloading? They told me there is a commercial made gutload that is better, did not mention what it is though. Btw I see him drink atleast 2 times a week with distilled water from a little dripper. Im pretty sure he stays hydrated. But apparently not I guess
Personally I use Repashy products for that (bug burger is good for over 3 days before feeding/ and superload for the few days just prior to feeding to chameleon) along with kale, watercress and a little bit of carrot, a couple small nori flakes, and bee pollen. Honestly, the more you see drinking the more of a concern dehydration will be. I fog my chameleon for 8-10 hours every night. She’s got great urates and never drinks. I don’t need a dripper and my mist is only enough to coat everything (1 min).
It’s only recommended to run your fogged at night and never when the lights are on.
I am familiar with gout as I suffer from it myself and when it flares up it is very painful and makes walking almost impossible.
I take medication to keep uric acid levels in check but not sure if they have a medication for chams that would do the same.
Good to hear he is healthy otherwise and best to you both.
There would be no way I could keep the humidity up with out it. Unless I mist about every half hour or so, but then the cage would never get to dry out.. Like I said I struggle with the humidity in Colorado. At this point from what everyone is saying maybe I should go with a glass enclosure, but finding one to suit his size my be hard.
The vet said his calcium/phosphorus ratio was good. Ill ask them about the d3, I've never heard of d3 every feeding.
How long do you mist for each time, and how many live plants do you have?
Usually about 2 minutes misting sessions about every hour and a half to 2 hours. I have a total of 5 live plants through out the cage. As of yesterday he is in a temp. Cage with no live plants but same misting schedule. Humidity gauge never drops below 40ish percent, with the misting and fogger, with out the fogger humidity gets down to 25-30%. Should I be misting more often and ditch the fogger?
Usually about 2 minutes misting sessions about every hour and a half to 2 hours. I have a total of 5 live plants through out the cage. As of yesterday he is in a temp. Cage with no live plants but same misting schedule. Humidity gauge never drops below 40ish percent, with the misting and fogger, with out the fogger humidity gets down to 25-30%. Should I be misting more often and ditch the fogger?
Definitely fogger only at night, increase in how long each misting session goes for (like 5 minutes or longer if needed), don’t increase the amount of misting sessions you do, and add tons more live plants to help raise and stabilize the humidity
