how much "green" is too much?

[Lyneeso]

My 10 month old female veiled chameleon loves collard greens, kale, and romain lettuce. She will eat as much of any of the three as I give her in one sitting . I usually feed her a very small pinky mouse, 6-8 wax worms, and 8-10 gutloaded crickets sprinkled with her vitamin/mineral powder every 2-3 days. After the protein, I give her a couple or more half dollar sized pieces of greens. She is in apparently great health. I'm just wondering if this feeding schedule should be altered in the coming weeks/months. BTW, I only include the pinky mouse twice a week. Does this provide a well balanced diet?

 

[eisentrauti]

two pinkies per week is very unnatural and too much food. The reason why she's eating so much green food has probably something to do with a lack of water to drink

 

[Lyneeso]

it's un-natural? Can you elaborate? What is natural? If she is being over-fed what bad things can result? How often should they be offered pinky mice?
Thanx.

 

[cushcameleon]

Wax worms and pinky mice are treats, not staple feeders.

 

[ciafardo 4]

I wouldn't offer pinkie mice more than one,once a month

 

[Lyneeso]

She has a dripper which drips almost nonstop onto her pothos plant. I also give her a shower twice a week (in the shower) and try to mist her every day. She drinks occasionally from the pothos leaves but has always hated misting sesions. She just closes her eyes and hides. And yes, I have tried misting excessively for periods of time up to 25 mins but have NEVER seen her lap up water untill I stop the misting completely and let her relax. Anyways, her eyes are nice and plump and her urates are always a nice bright white color. She just like the greens.

 

[Lyneeso]

I wouldn't offer pinkie mice more than one,once a month

ok, will spread them out a bit then.
thank you

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."If she is being over-fed what bad things can result? "...she will likely lay bigger clutches of eggs, could become constipated and prolapse...it can cause egglaying problems and it might even push her towards MBD. It could also shorten her life.

 

[eisentrauti]

she won't get older than two years if everything works perfect. what do you think, how often find chameleons pinkies in the nature ?

 

[Zen Reptiles]

I don't know if this is true in chameleons, but for some other reptiles and most
amphibians, a diet high in lipids (fat, such as pinky mice and waxworms)
results in blindness.

It would also be hard on the organs over time.

Pinky mice should be offered once or twice a month.

 

[eisentrauti]

I don't even find a reason why to offer them one or twice a year ! You are right Brock, the chameleons die very fast because their inner organs store the fat

 

[Lyneeso]

ok, She's only been on this schedule for a few weeks or so, I doubt there has been any real harm done. She has eaten a total of about 4 or 5 pinkies. Thanks.

 

[kinyonga]

I've only given a chameleon a pinkie once under the direction of my vet when a Parson's was sick. (BTW it threw them back up but ate the insects it was given with no problem.)

Brock, I've read about amphibians ending up blind from excess lipids but not reptiles...which ones has it been reported to happen in?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I don't even find a reason why to offer them one or twice a year !

nor do I. Totally unnecessary. A variety of insects is a much better way to feed a chameleon, in my opinion.