gut loading

[rerun12345]

So i figured out that i should gut load meal worms before i feed him today. My chameleon has been a little cranky because hes not always getting his vitamins and i want to know how to gut load meal worms as in what should i feed the meal worms and should i give them water? He is a juvenile chameleon that's around 7 months old. He is rather healthy and has over doubled in size since i got him. I got him when he was a few weeks old if that helps. I hope you can help me.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Mealworms are not a stable feeder. I hope you know that. For gutloading i’ll attach a image.

 

[rerun12345]

i know its not that's why i also feed him crickets but do u have any other suggestions for a stable feeder

 

[Haley Hendrix]

Yes.

 

[rerun12345]

ok thanks!

 

[Haley Hendrix]

While we’re at it. Let us review your husbandry, make sure everything is good for your little guy.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[rerun12345]

are you asking me to tell you that information or are you telling me to check if everything's okay about that info

 

[Lennoncham]

Hi there @rerun12345 welcome to the forums.

so to start mealworms aren’t the greatest feeder choice. They don’t have much nutritional value and don’t gutload well. The beetles can be fed and are somewhat more nutritious.

The pictures provided above show the best feeders and gutload. And there is always more options to build on from there.

if you would like to fill in the information in the form above we can review your husbandry (care) and recommend any changes that may need to be made.

 

[Haley Hendrix]

are you asking me to tell you that information or are you telling me to check if everything's okay about that info

There’s questions. If you would like answer those and we can give you feedback about things you can improve.

 

[rerun12345]

okay to start my cham is a veild chameleon, its a male, he is around 7 months old and i've been taking care of him for about 6 and a half months now,i used to handle him almost every day and although its not good for them because there not very social he was different in fact he wanted to be held, i was feeding him meal worms as a staple food ( that's my moms idea) and occasionally crickets and as a treat wax worms,when i feed him i usually feed him about 6 meal worms, i feed him everyday at around 12:00, and i always gut load the crickets, i dust my chams food with repti-calcium without d-3, i give him water him an dripper,i mist every few days, and i do see him drink,he usually is bright green/yellow witch means he is usually happy,he has never been tested for parasites,my cage is a screen and i don't exactly know the dimensions, the temp is about 75 degrees and at night it drops to about 60,i don't us real plants, the cage is near a window with sunlight and is not near any fans, and i'm in Nevada so like an oasis of the desert

 

[PabloTheCham]

okay to start my cham is a veild chameleon, its a male, he is around 7 months old and i've been taking care of him for about 6 and a half months now,i used to handle him almost every day and although its not good for them because there not very social he was different in fact he wanted to be held, i was feeding him meal worms as a staple food ( that's my moms idea) and occasionally crickets and as a treat wax worms,when i feed him i usually feed him about 6 meal worms, i feed him everyday at around 12:00, and i always gut load the crickets, i dust my chams food with repti-calcium without d-3, i give him water him an dripper,i mist every few days, and i do see him drink,he usually is bright green/yellow witch means he is usually happy,he has never been tested for parasites,my cage is a screen and i don't exactly know the dimensions, the temp is about 75 degrees and at night it drops to about 60,i don't us real plants, the cage is near a window with sunlight and is not near any fans, and i'm in Nevada so like an oasis of the desert

1. Stop the wealworms right now. Feed gutloaded roaches, BSFL, spikes, along with an optional weekly superworm and hornworm.
2. Supplements are off. You need a calcium with d3 and a multivitamin:

Week 1: daily calcium without d3, one day multivitamin
Week 2: daily calcium without d3, one day with d3
And repeat the cycle.

3. Get the dimensions of the enclosure.

What lighting are you using? It would also help if you copy paste the question form in your answer and answer the questions on it, so you don't miss any of the questions

 

[Lennoncham]

I’ll put my feed back in red.

okay to start my cham is a veild chameleon, its a male, he is around 7 months old and i've been taking care of him for about 6 and a half months now,

i used to handle him almost every day and although its not good for them because there not very social he was different in fact he wanted to be held, this is usually a sign that there might be something wrong with his enclosure. Can you post some pictures of him and his enclosure when you can.

i was feeding him meal worms as a staple food ( that's my moms idea) and occasionally crickets and as a treat wax worms,when i feed him i usually feed him about 6 meal worms, i feed him everyday at around 12:00, and i always gut load the crickets, so this should be opposite. The crickets should be the staple feeder. Mealworms basically never. Superworms are better as a treat and wax worms as a treat.

i dust my chams food with repti-calcium without d-3, so you should be using a calcium without d3 every feeding except once every 2 weeks use a calcium with d3 and once every 2 weeks use a multivitamin. On alternating weeks.

i give him water him an dripper,i mist every few days, you should be misting at least 3 times a day for at least 2 mins at a time.

and i do see him drink,he usually is bright green/yellow witch means he is usually happy,he has never been tested for parasites,my cage is a screen and i don't exactly know the dimensions, the temp is about 75 degrees and at night it drops to about 60, what is the basking temperature?

i don't us real plants, the cage is near a window with sunlight and is not near any fans, and i'm in Nevada so like an oasis of the desert

What type of lights are you using?

 

[PabloTheCham]

you should be misting at least 3 times a day for at least 2 mins at a time.

Dry days, wet nights???

 

[Pearl Fields]

also can you post pics of the enclosure and the cham? Andddd sometimes bright colors on a veiled indicate stress, and with the multiple things that are incorrect with the set up, it is very likely that your chameleon is stressed and not Exactly happy.

 

[Lennoncham]

Dry days, wet nights???

Ok so what do you recommend then?

 

[rerun12345]

ok thanks for the help ill get pictures as soon as i can and ill try my best to stop the mealworms but my mom might not like that idea also everytime i see something about mood and colors i see light or bright colors indicate happiness

 

[rerun12345]

oh and also i use a heating light and a daytime light for about 12 hours and at night i use a night time heating light

 

[PabloTheCham]

oh and also i use a heating light and a daytime light for about 12 hours and at night i use a night time heating light

night heat lamp needs to go bye-bye asap.

 

[rerun12345]

ok but why

 

[PabloTheCham]

oh and also i use a heating light and a daytime light for about 12 hours and at night i use a night time heating light

What UVB are you using???