Gutloaded food, makes chameleons more active?

[SilverWolf]

Is it just me, or maybe just my chameleon, or do most of your chameleons just seem happier with gut loaded crickets (or any other feeder insects)? I went quite a while without gut loading my crickets simply because I did not understand it well enough and didn't want to feed them something I shouldn't. Now my crickets are eating cilantro and carrots (I'm going to cut down on the carrots though, look for some turnip greens) and since these have been fed to my 5 month old jackson chameleon, he's been moving around his cage more. But maybe this is just me. He does tend to move around and pace more when he's shedding (which he just finished, just has some left over patches on his back) to get old skin off, but I think he's been happier before his shedding as well.

Anyway, what about everyone else?

 

[Carlton]

Is it just me, or maybe just my chameleon, or do most of your chameleons just seem happier with gut loaded crickets (or any other feeder insects?) I went quite a while without gut loading my crickets simply because I did not understand it well enough and didn't want to feed them something I shouldn't. Now my crickets are eating cilantro and carrots (I'm going to cut down on the carrots though, look for some turnip greens) and sine these have been fed to my 5 month old jackson chameleon, he's been moving around his cage more. But maybe this is just me. He does tend to move around and pace more when he's shedding (which he just finished, just has some left over patches on his back) to get old skin off, but I think he's been happier before his shedding as well.

Anyway, what about everyone else?

Of course a nutritionally superior food would help. Garbage in, garbage out. Quality in, quality out.

 

[oblgobl]

It's a bit like us I guess someone who eats a nutritionally balanced diet is going to have more energy and be more active than a someone who eats lots of junk food.

 

[Olimpia]

Of course a nutritionally superior food would help. Garbage in, garbage out. Quality in, quality out.

Yep, basically! A lot of feeder insects by themselves lack all the vitamins and minerals that chameleons require, and something like potato isn't going to improve them much. But by feeding bugs high-quality food you'll be bumping up their value so the meal the chameleon is getting is way better.

We can't stress enough how important gutloading is! So it's good to hear that members notice the improvement in their animals.

 

[Rex305]

Yes, I have noticed my Lil guy seems to be more active after eating gut loaded crickets as well. also seems like my gutloaded superworms fill him up ALOT. he seems to get "couch lock" meaning he dont wanna do anything. kinda like us humans after piging out at a steakhouse. lol but next day, he is climbing all over the place. lol