Obesity & problems moving bowels

[Chameleons Northwest]

By the time we learned of this forum early last year our veiled male cham, Guido, was already very overweight. He weighed a hefty 250g, and was of average length for an adult. His casque bulged so much it looked like it would burst. He had been impacted (ate a bundle of short twiggy debris from base of plant), and recovered (via super-hydration, pedialyte, pears). But for months he would only poop once every week or two, only in the shower, and usually after I massaged or "manipulated" his abdomen for him.

At the time of his impaction, one member here (don't remember who) suggested that due to his weight perhaps his fat pads were interfering with his ability to void and defecate. After examining Guido's body, I thought it was a possibility. (I don't know that male chams develop the fat pads that females do at the rear of the torso, but Guido's thighs and tail area were very chubby.)

Anyway, Guido is now down to about 170g and he poops several times a week. Does not need to do it in the shower. And no longer needs his abdomen manipulated. He eats a couple good sized critters every other day, and poops regularly.

Just thought I would share this. I do believe his obesity caused problems with defecation. One more reason to keep your adult cham on the leaner side .

 

[jannb]

Thanks for the info......my little guy it starting to get fat and I will definitely start keeping a closer eye on how many feeders he's getting. Jann

 

[sandrachameleon]

This is interesting to me. I believe I feed my panther chameleons more often and possible more quantity than many on here. I wonder if I am making them fat. What is the average weight of a male panther? Female Panther? what are the visual indications of a fat panther chameleon? Would folks like to take a look at the pictures of my chameleons https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/sandrachameleon-albums-sandra-s-chameleons.html
and tell me if anyone seems to hefty? Looking at Emmet this morning, his head does a seem a little on the fat side.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I don't know that one can list optimum weights. Average weights of a species or subspecies don't account for variables such as length and height, muscle tone, and bone density. We have veiled chameleons, panthers, and Meller's, and within each species we own the sizes (length) differ incredibly, so, therefore, their optimum weights also should differ.

I was guilty of overfeeding. Each of our chams got a handful of good sized feeders everyday, until I learned better. What I have found in our chubbier ones:
-Females that tend to look eggy when they are not (VERY round belly)
-Males and females with tight bulging casques and cheek pads, and a bulging area right behind the casque
-Overly thick tails and thickening legs.

We have a morph cross rescue that was overweight. He had chronic gular edema until he trimmed down.

 

[royden]

It's always nice to hear success stories. Guido is one of those chameleons on this forums that I think of as an actual member of the community.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

This is interesting to me. I believe I feed my panther chameleons more often and possible more quantity than many on here. I wonder if I am making them fat. What is the average weight of a male panther? Female Panther? what are the visual indications of a fat panther chameleon? Would folks like to take a look at the pictures of my chameleons https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/sandrachameleon-albums-sandra-s-chameleons.html
and tell me if anyone seems to hefty? Looking at Emmet this morning, his head does a seem a little on the fat side.

After looking at your pictures (beautiful animals) I would have to say that most of your chameleons are overweight.
The fat pads in the casque should not look like their brains are about to explode out of their heads.
Aside from any gastro-intestinal problems they might face, obesity is in general bad for their health and will most likely shorten their life expectancy.

-Brad

 

[sandrachameleon]

I typically feed three times a day, but just one to three bugs per meal (babies get more).

For instance, one day the adult males would have say two crickets for breakfast, one stick bug and a mealworm each for lunch, and a kingworm for dinner.
The next day they could have a small roach for breakfast, lunch a fat butterworm, dinner a couple crickets.
Third day, two crickets and a pillbug/woodsow, kingworm for lunch, a moth for dinner.
Fourth day, roach, worm, worm.
etc

After seeing how many people choose to let their chameleons go hungry every other or every third day, I decided not to do more than breakfast on Tuesday (except for the babies who will get plenty still), and maybe I'll do the same on Thursdays. I go to College Tuesday and Thursday evenings (and work full time days) so this would make MY life easier those evening. But I cant bring myself to starve them for a whole day. Im sure I would survive eating every other day, but I wouldnt like it!

thoughts?

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I thought the same thing when viewing the photos. A few chubbies, but definitely a very nice, beautiful, selection.

After looking at your pictures (beautiful animals) I would have to say that most of your chameleons are overweight.
The fat pads in the casque should not look like their brains are about to explode out of their heads.
Aside from any gastro-intestinal problems they might face, obesity is in general bad for their health and will most likely shorten their life expectancy.

-Brad

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Don't treat them like people ... they're not starving and their metabolisms are not like ours at all.
The amount each of your animals is consuming in one day seems reasonable, but I would do it all in one feeding 3 times a week.

-Brad

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

It's always nice to hear success stories. Guido is one of those chameleons on this forums that I think of as an actual member of the community.

Thank you, Royden. Guido is the guy in our avatar. He was young then, but well on his way to obesity.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Thanks gesang for this thread
It looks like I am seriously out-voted on the "better to eat many small meals a day" theory, vs lumps of food periodically. I certainly dont want to reduce anyones life expectancy!!!! So as of this moment, Tuesday and Thursdays lunches and dinners are no longer on the menu. I guess what stops me from inserting full starvation days is that Simon lived to be more than seven years, which I thought was pretty good? Simon ate four times a day his entire life (I used to work right across the street from home, so he got extra spoiled).
Do you advocate not feeding young ones also? or is this just in reference to adults?

 

[kinyonga]

Over-feeding/power-feeding that leads to obesity or in some cases rapid growth can lead to constipation, intestinal prolapses and in females, egglaying issues. It can lead to health issues that may shorten the chameleon's life. I don't know if it applies to all chameleon species or not. Some seem to need more to eat than others.

 

[Chuck G]

Obesity isn't good for any animal including ourselves and can lead to all sorts of problems.Keep in mind our spoiled caged chameleons are going to require less food than a free roaming chameleon in the wild. They simply don't expend the same amount of energy(calories) Also species are different,I fatten up my Parsonii before their possible winter fasting,when they slow down even more.