blackhawk007
New Member
Background, Memphis is a bluebar Ambilobe 7 months old. We have had him since he was 4 months old. In that time he has grown SOO fast. His enclosure is 36X24X48 screened. I have a mistking setup with 3 nozzles misting every 2 hours. The lighting is a 36" T-5 fixture with 2 10,000k bulbs, 1 6500k, and a 6% T-5 Arcadia.This basking bulb is a 160w bulb high enough the keep the aluminum screen below 100 degrees but also allow for an 89 degree basking area. Lights are on 7 am to 7 pm. Ambient temp away from basking is 74-78 degrees. Its planted with a hibiscus tree, a hibiscus bush, and a gardenia, along with several synthetic vines. Humidity is monitored through my Herpkeeper and ranges from 45%-65%. The feeders on hand are dubias, crickets, super worms, silk worms, phoenix worms, and horn worms.
OK now to my topic. For the last few months (from day we got him) he has torn through on average 50-60 1/4 crickets, or an equivalent amount of the other feeders. For example we may sub in 5 silk worms for 20 less crix (mostly cup fed, unless worms are placed on vines). Making sure to keep a good variety each day. All of a sudden he refused to eat crickets. This was fine with all the other options we have on hand. Then he stopped eating super worms. As this was happening he rapidly decreased the overall amount he would eat each day of the other feeders. This happened over about a weeks time. Now for the last 2 weeks he only eats 2-3 silk worms or 1-2 horn worms per day if that. At all times keeping the space between his eyes as reference for feeder size. He is now 7 months old, he is just active as ever,his physical attributes have not changed. But he is also growing more slowly. He did go through a shed during the week that this started. Poop is consistent with his intake, and his urates are bright white. He is handled only to go out into the sun about every other week. Oh and I use calcium plus.
Now the question. Is this normal? Do you think his growth has slowed his eating, or his slow eating has slowed his growth? I am leaning to both, but its great to hear from others that have been there done that. Here is are some recent photos of him outside. Sorry for the blur. Thanks for reading!
OK now to my topic. For the last few months (from day we got him) he has torn through on average 50-60 1/4 crickets, or an equivalent amount of the other feeders. For example we may sub in 5 silk worms for 20 less crix (mostly cup fed, unless worms are placed on vines). Making sure to keep a good variety each day. All of a sudden he refused to eat crickets. This was fine with all the other options we have on hand. Then he stopped eating super worms. As this was happening he rapidly decreased the overall amount he would eat each day of the other feeders. This happened over about a weeks time. Now for the last 2 weeks he only eats 2-3 silk worms or 1-2 horn worms per day if that. At all times keeping the space between his eyes as reference for feeder size. He is now 7 months old, he is just active as ever,his physical attributes have not changed. But he is also growing more slowly. He did go through a shed during the week that this started. Poop is consistent with his intake, and his urates are bright white. He is handled only to go out into the sun about every other week. Oh and I use calcium plus.
Now the question. Is this normal? Do you think his growth has slowed his eating, or his slow eating has slowed his growth? I am leaning to both, but its great to hear from others that have been there done that. Here is are some recent photos of him outside. Sorry for the blur. Thanks for reading!
