Growth. But no shed?!

Ellron

Established Member
My 6 month old male veiled chameleon has been growing bigger visibly, but he hasn't shed in 50 days!

What is the problem?
 
My 6 month old male veiled chameleon has been growing bigger visibly, but he hasn't shed in 50 days!

What is the problem?

post pics so we can see :) maybe it will help :p but it might be his diet or vitamin intake? what are you feeding him and how often does he get supplements?
 
Daily feeding.
About four or five silkies or equivalent in other feeders.
Cal w/o D3 daily none on sat.
Cal with D3 on Sun.
Herptivite Monthly
 
Daily feeding.
About four or five silkies or equivalent in other feeders.
Cal w/o D3 daily none on sat.
Cal with D3 on Sun.
Herptivite Monthly

Wait do you feed him only 4 silkies a day, or do you feed him crickets and silkies?

My Cham who is only about 7-8 Months takes about 8-9 Crickets a day, with other treats mixed in a couple of days a week.

You should be giving your Cham Cal w/D3 every 15 days and Herptivite every 15 days also.

I made it easy for my self just made sure to write on my calendar by the chameleons room. Which days he gets what Calcium Daily and the other 2 about 7 days apart so it would make it around 15 days before I give him Calcium w/D3.
 
My supplementation is tailored for my cham.
He is on the small side.
23 grams.
I've been feeding him as advised by senior members on another thread.
I don't think feeding or supplementation is the problem.
 
He should be eating as much as he wants, not just 5 silkies. I feel like that isn't enough for such a growth delayed chameleon.
 
Ok. I will feed him alot now.
Until he turns away.
He still hasn't shed.
I figure I could feed him so butterworms to fatten him up?
 
Actually I think that butter worms have less fat and protein than crickets do, correct me if im wrong.
Their great for calcium though.
I wouldn't fatten him up on anything like wax worms and stuff like that.
Thats more unhealthy fat.
My advice would be to just feed him more and go about your normal dusting and so on untill he gets back to a healthy weight.
 
Could he be "sneak shedding" when you aren't looking? The little ones can blow it all off in an hour. Some of them even eat the shed. I just don't really think they can grow "visibly" and not shed.
 
Do they control their shedding or could it happen while they are asleep.
Every time he has shed we've found shed.
I'm getting him out to way tomorrow and do some measurements, so I will start keeping a log.
Thanks for all the input.
 
They cant control shed, its a natural body process.

As Pssh Said, at his age you should be letting him eat as much as he wants. Pssh is one with the under-feeding ;)

Honestly 4-5 silkies/crickets a day is not enough to make him grow, sure hell survive - but it will be maintenance mode.

Try Doubling that amount daily and you should start to see steady growth and more shedding.

Your dusting is fine, What hectic says would probably apply more towards a montane than a veiled which is essentially the same schedule as a panther.

If your overly worried, try some reptaid given orally through the syringe (according to proper dosing advice ;p )

When my boys were getting over the winter cold, they took a while to get back into action. But Reptaid and moving their temps up for a day or two really helped, and both shed the same week (after nearly half a winter of no sheds).
 
Could he be "sneak shedding" when you aren't looking? The little ones can blow it all off in an hour. Some of them even eat the shed. I just don't really think they can grow "visibly" and not shed.

I just seen that with my male Darwin :) he looked funny! :D but he lost it in a few hours. there was a bunch on the floor of his cage and it was gone in an hour. even though i fed him. maybe hes a neat freak like me :rolleyes::p
 
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