How much should my chameleon weigh?

[stranger23]

Ive got a male yemen chameleon roughly about a year and a half old he is about 6 inches from his nose to the base of his tail im just wondering how much he should weigh? i think he looks a bit skinny but have never seen an adult to compare him to so wanted to weigh him, he eats well will have about 6 crickets everyday just finished off 10 small locusts today all food is gut loaded and dusted the only thing i have a problem with is getting him to drink but he is getting used to being sprayed at least 3 times a day and he has a dripper (was given a waterfall from a young age so didnt drink the drips when i first got him) he is going to the vets at the end of the month just wanted to give myself peace of mind until i can get him checked out

 

[VeiledOwner87]

you should invest in a digital scale big enough to put a tupperware container on so you can put your cham in and weigh it. you should also put up some pictures. and start feeding him a couple fatty bugs 2 times a week

 

[stranger23]

Ive got the digital scales will put him in a tub and weigh him what sort of weight should he be at? will get my partner to put the pics up for me later ive taken some just cant get them from my phone to the pc lol

 

[VeiledOwner87]

im not sure at all what an ideal weight is. it would just be good for other keepers to help you. as long as hes not fat or malnourished you should be golden

 

[Miss Lily]

The adult males are quite skinny. I put a plant on my digital scales, reset them and let chams climb on the plant. Easy, when they play ball, lol! My male (I think he's about 2 years old) weighs between 170 and 180g. He doesn't eat much!

 

[pssh]

It all about the care he recieved when he was younger and his genetics. Reptiles grow according to how much food they are given and never stop growing. There is also an I credibly large range for 'normal' sized chameleons in one species. For example, my 11-12 month old veiled is just over 7 inches long snout to vent (17 inches total length) and 140-150 grams. Other one year olds may be smaller or larger (though he is on the larger side.) AND adult males can be up to 24 inches total length...

So basically, it just depends.

 

[stranger23]

Ah ok i know he was not treated right as a baby this is why ive got him, im surprised he lived as long as he has in those conditions, he had no uv or heat bulb after they broke and i doubt she replaced them every 6 months for him if she didnt get him a new one when the last one broke! He was never misted and was very afraid of it when i started but today we have had a break thru and for the first time he came to sit and be misted so drank a little before he decided enough was enough and went to hide, he was always just offered the box of crickets that the crickets come in and was left to eat what he wanted theywere gut loaded with a bit of carrot and sprinkled with t-rex chameleon dust every time, he was only in a 1 foot high viv so is having to move about in his new 4 foot high one that i made for him, he also didnt have any live plants just a stick he lived on so now has loads to explore and i also take him outside when its sunny to soak up some sun he will willingly walk on his stick to go for a walk outside and will then climb on us outside to sit on our heads and sun bathe (not got an outside enclosure for him yet but its on the list we just sit with him for a while) he was given a waterfall from a young age but is slowly learning where the dripper is and will drink when i mist now altho its just a tiny amount

 

[sandrachameleon]

It all about the care he recieved when he was younger and his genetics. Reptiles grow according to how much food they are given and never stop growing. There is also an I credibly large range for 'normal' sized chameleons in one species. For example, my 11-12 month old veiled is just over 7 inches long snout to vent (17 inches total length) and 140-150 grams. Other one year olds may be smaller or larger (though he is on the larger side.) AND adult males can be up to 24 inches total length...

So basically, it just depends.

Agreed.

You might find these previous threads edifying
weights:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleon-weights-13789/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/weights-your-chameleons-23247/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/weight-veiled-chameleons-12980/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/ch-melleri-weights-17849/
sizes
https://www.chameleonforums.com/right-size-34051/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-discussion/poll-52-a.html