Overweight?

[LizardLurkin]

I've cut him back to one decently sized feeder every 3rd day, and bumped up dripper usage for extra hydration opportunities. I just hope I've caught his squishy weight gain early enough so that he's not harmed by it.
I scaled back feedings around the one year mark, to 3-4 feeders every other day, so I'm not sure how it could've happened unless their sizes were larger than what everyone else uses

 

[MissSkittles]

I think he looks to be of a healthy size and weight. He’s got just the very slightest pooching out of his cheeks and casque, but he’s not obese. You’re sharp to catch that and address it before he does get obese, but I don’t think I’d want him to lose much…just maybe a couple of grams. He’s looking great and healthy.

 

[BleuSaphir]

He looks well fed.
But not obese.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I think he looks to be of a healthy size and weight. He’s got just the very slightest pooching out of his cheeks and casque, but he’s not obese. You’re sharp to catch that and address it before he does get obese, but I don’t think I’d want him to lose much…just maybe a couple of grams. He’s looking great and healthy.

I have a kitchen scale, so I can make sure he doesn't shed off too much.
Yeah his lil cheekies are what ended up standing out the most. I gently squished them and was like "oh no, you're a little fatty aren't you?"
Thanks for your observations! I feel really bad for him, but hopefully between the smaller meal portions and his activity during the warmer months, he'll get back to an ideal weight.

He looks well fed.
But not obese.

That's good to know. Hopefully I can get him to look "properly fed" in some time!

 

[GrannyK]

Chubby and cute! What is wrong with that??? just a funny, but he is so handsome!

 

[LizardLurkin]

Even with a little weight and his funky eye, he manages to be so handsome

 

[Beman]

Can you post more pics for me? I need to see entire body from multiple angles... What I am seeing here does indicate being overweight. So I do differ in opinion than the others. Unfortunately Veileds are little chunks and every other day feeding can cause them to gain weight. How much does he weigh right now? Can you give me an approximate total length for him?

So here is the thing... Once you see fat storage in the cheeks and the casque this now indicates that they have excess fat storage around their organs as it stores in the abdomen first then fills out the casque and cheeks. Problem is you can see issues of gout and renal function when they hold excess weight like this.

I need current age and details above to help more.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Can you post more pics for me? I need to see entire body from multiple angles... What I am seeing here does indicate being overweight. So I do differ in opinion than the others. Unfortunately Veileds are little chunks and every other day feeding can cause them to gain weight. How much does he weigh right now? Can you give me an approximate total length for him?

So here is the thing... Once you see fat storage in the cheeks and the casque this now indicates that they have excess fat storage around their organs as it stores in the abdomen first then fills out the casque and cheeks. Problem is you can see issues of gout and renal function when they hold excess weight like this.

I need current age and details above to help more.

Thanks for the input. I read similarly on Petr's website that seeing the pudginess around the cheeks and casque is critical, which is why I wanted to confirm with everyone here.
I'll get some full body pics today and a weight on him when he wakes up. Should I measure him from snout to vent? Or snout to the tip of his tail?

Current age; I've had him for a year and 4 months about, so he may be a couple months older than that.

EDIT: Also I did feel the every other day feedings to be rather frequent, especially in the winter months when he was much less active. All my other lizards eat 1-3 times a week, depending on what they are. I'll keep him at this every 3 days schedule, unless you'd suggest something more drastic? How about supplementation/vitamins too?

 

[LizardLurkin]

Okay, I have the information.
Age: Over 1 year and 4 months old
Weight: 4.7oz or around 133 grams
Length: From snout to vent; 8 inches. From Snout to tail tip; around 16 inches.

Here's more photos, including full body and the condition of his arms and legs.

Thank you all for your help and guidance

 

[Beman]

Okay, I have the information.
Age: Over 1 year and 4 months old
Weight: 4.7oz or around 133 grams
Length: From snout to vent; 8 inches. From Snout to tail tip; around 16 inches.

Here's more photos, including full body and the condition of his arms and legs.
View attachment 369791
View attachment 369792
View attachment 369793View attachment 369794

Thank you all for your help and guidance

Ok so yeah just a bit overweight....

Okay, I have the information.
Age: Over 1 year and 4 months old Ok so right after the one year mark is when males will start packing on the chunk.
Weight: 4.7oz or around 133 grams
Length: From snout to vent; 8 inches. From Snout to tail tip; around 16 inches. Combining weight vs total length... He is sitting about 10-15 grams too heavy. So not obese just a little more junk in the trunk than he should have.... So if he has been getting 3-4 insects every other day.... I want you to take him down to 2-3 every 3 days. I want you to take weight checks every 2 weeks. You want them to drop weight slowly a few grams at a time so it is not a shock to their body. IF on the 2-3 insects every 3 days does not produce a loss then you need to either reduce food intake or extend to every 4 days at the same amount. Once you get him down to about 120 grams you want to find his sweet spot for maintaining weight not continuing to gain or lose it. I advice switching to every week weight checks at that point. He is right in between so watch him for healthy size... no thin looking limbs this is not healthy. Should be muscular though.

Keep in mind he is gonna act like he is starving... don't fall for it. I had to pull Beman's feeder run out of the cage totally because he was on a diet most of his life lol.

Tag me if you have questions along the way.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Ok so yeah just a bit overweight....

Okay, I have the information.
Age: Over 1 year and 4 months old Ok so right after the one year mark is when males will start packing on the chunk.
Weight: 4.7oz or around 133 grams
Length: From snout to vent; 8 inches. From Snout to tail tip; around 16 inches. Combining weight vs total length... He is sitting about 10-15 grams too heavy. So not obese just a little more junk in the trunk than he should have.... So if he has been getting 3-4 insects every other day.... I want you to take him down to 2-3 every 3 days. I want you to take weight checks every 2 weeks. You want them to drop weight slowly a few grams at a time so it is not a shock to their body. IF on the 2-3 insects every 3 days does not produce a loss then you need to either reduce food intake or extend to every 4 days at the same amount. Once you get him down to about 120 grams you want to find his sweet spot for maintaining weight not continuing to gain or lose it. I advice switching to every week weight checks at that point. He is right in between so watch him for healthy size... no thin looking limbs this is not healthy. Should be muscular though.

Keep in mind he is gonna act like he is starving... don't fall for it. I had to pull Beman's feeder run out of the cage totally because he was on a diet most of his life lol.

Tag me if you have questions along the way.

You're so right, he does act like he's starving. He'll get his silkworm, but then look at my fingers and show signs of readying to eat them But I know veileds are notorious bottomless pits.

Thank you so much for the very detailed regimen. I'll keep this thread updated as it might show people more clearly overweight vs ideal weight, and the effort needed to put in to keep things perfect. It feels more difficult to see weight gain in chameleons, being that they appear so skinny elsewhere still. (Perhaps I could illustrate some weight charts like there are for other reptiles...)

 

[nightanole]

Still has a tail center line. Hes on the heavy side of normal, but certainly not chunky yet.

 

[kinyonga]

What temperature do you keep him at?

 

[LizardLurkin]

Still has a tail center line. Hes on the heavy side of normal, but certainly not chunky yet.

It is interesting seeing the variance in opinion

What temperature do you keep him at?

His basking is 80 and above, with ambient temps ranging from 73 to 77.

 

[Beman]

You're so right, he does act like he's starving. He'll get his silkworm, but then look at my fingers and show signs of readying to eat them But I know veileds are notorious bottomless pits.

Thank you so much for the very detailed regimen. I'll keep this thread updated as it might show people more clearly overweight vs ideal weight, and the effort needed to put in to keep things perfect. It feels more difficult to see weight gain in chameleons, being that they appear so skinny elsewhere still. (Perhaps I could illustrate some weight charts like there are for other reptiles...)

Issue with weight charts is that there really is not a one size fits all approach. It really depends on the species, their length and how they are holding weight. I have seen large male Veileds show no signs of extra weight but sit at 155 grams.

In my opinion you really have to base it on the individual chameleon and the physical signs they are displaying. Once they get to the point of showing the extra weight in the cheeks and casque you know it is too much. Trying to keep them in that healthy range becomes the ideal.

Everyone has their own opinion on size.... I tend to be more cautious giving advice on weight because I have helped people and then they do not listen and end up getting their cham far too thin.

I agree with @nightanole your boy is not obese at all as I said before but he is on the heavy side of healthy too. Issue with this is if you do not work to find his sweet spot on food intake without weight going up or down then he will continue to gain. Happens pretty easily and quickly once they start approaching the 1.5 to 2 year old mark. They simply are not growing anymore so it all converts to excess.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Issue with weight charts is that there really is not a one size fits all approach. It really depends on the species, their length and how they are holding weight. I have seen large male Veileds show no signs of extra weight but sit at 155 grams.

In my opinion you really have to base it on the individual chameleon and the physical signs they are displaying. Once they get to the point of showing the extra weight in the cheeks and casque you know it is too much. Trying to keep them in that healthy range becomes the ideal.

Everyone has their own opinion on size.... I tend to be more cautious giving advice on weight because I have helped people and then they do not listen and end up getting their cham far too thin.

I agree with @nightanole your boy is not obese at all as I said before but he is on the heavy side of healthy too. Issue with this is if you do not work to find his sweet spot on food intake without weight going up or down then he will continue to gain. Happens pretty easily and quickly once they start approaching the 1.5 to 2 year old mark. They simply are not growing anymore so it all converts to excess.

I appreciate your insight very much.
It definitely seems like the chubby casque and cheeks is a typical indicator, but knowing there's an outlier that didn't show anything but was still rather heavy is interesting.
Seems most of all, it's very important to have a kitchen scale on hand and observe your individual chameleon as much as possible.
Seems Spooble is just a bit below the average expected length, so maybe that makes the weight distribute more obviously.
I am relieved to know he's not obese yet, and I will be mindful if he's getting too thin as well.