Panther not eating, growing but still looks healthy?

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

I have a Female Panther chameleon and she just seems like she is growing super slow. I got her when she was 6 or 7 months and now she is like 9 or 10 months but it doesn't seem like she has grown at all?! When I first got her and her boyfriend, she was bigger than him but he has now doubled her size. She has proper heat and uvb and i offer enough food but i berely ever see her eat and there is always crickets running around the top of her cage. I know she isnt growing because she has not shed oncce since I got her. I just want my little girl to grow up!! Help??

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

I plan to breed her after she grows up n beefs up n she lays an infertile clutch

 

[Solid Snake]

Other than the lack of shedding, and being small, is there anything else wrong with her? Do you have a recent picture? It sounds like shes just a runt.

 

[Olimpia]

Sorry if I sound like I'm stating the obvious, but it's better not to assume what people know. Are you aware that females are generally half the size of males? So she's never going to be as big as he is, in case you expect her to get that large.

 

[Solid Snake]

Sorry if I sound like I'm stating the obvious, but it's better not to assume what people know. Are you aware that females are generally half the size of males? So she's never going to be as big as he is, in case you expect her to get that large.

So what your trying to say is, females are smaller than males, and its normal?

 

[Elizadolots]

Could you post pictures?

 

[Olimpia]

So what your trying to say is, females are smaller than males, and its normal?

Yep, both my panthers are over a year old, and he's 130g and she's 50g. So she's about half as big as he is, maybe a little bigger. Now though, if she's abnormally small for females then we'll have to see why that is. But I'm just wondering if the OP is comparing her to their male, in which case, I'd be alarmed as well! lol But yes, in general females are quite a bit smaller.

Like in this photo, for example: http://www.bluechameleon.org/2009 Tour Promotion Pics/Panther chameleons - M + F Ambanja.jpg

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

Yes, I forgot to mention that she is dark colors a lot. mostly black. But yes she is perfectly healthy looking. Im pretty sure its just a combo of her being a runt and a female. Im not worried anymore after seeing that picture. lol. just wish id see her eat more.

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

Here is a picture of her when she is less black. It was from a few days ago.

 

[Olimpia]

She looks good, very lovely! Could she be a little cold now with the weather getting worse? Perhaps she spends more time trying to warm up?

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

She looks good, very lovely! Could she be a little cold now with the weather getting worse? Perhaps she spends more time trying to warm up?

She does spend a lot of time right under the heat light. its usually around 68-73 in the ambient. I would have it up a few degrees but I herd their mating season was after a cold season so I was gunna mimic the cold season so that when I turn the heat back up they may want to mate more.

 

[Elizadolots]

Is she being housed with the male?

Do you have a laying bin in for her?

 

[morhart]

its definately normal for her to be much smaller. My male panther is 22" inch long and weighs 210 grams and as for my female she is 12" inch long and weighs 73 grams. So dont be to alarmed about that. Just make sure you have an egg laying bed with moist washed play sand for her to dig in when she lays as you want an infertile clutch

 

[morhart]

also for the mating part. my pair just mated jan.3 of this year and she is showing gravid colors, hopefully be laying her clutch in the next few weeks. She will turn a different than normal color when she is wanting to mate. my female turned to a light orange, usually she is a pinky brown. male went crazy and female didnt mind him and that was that.

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

Is she being housed with the male?

Do you have a laying bin in for her?

No. she is in a 2x2x4 by herself. and yes there is already a laying bin with sand and all that lol.

 

[HerbsForMyChameleon]

also for the mating part. my pair just mated jan.3 of this year and she is showing gravid colors, hopefully be laying her clutch in the next few weeks. She will turn a different than normal color when she is wanting to mate. my female turned to a light orange, usually she is a pinky brown. male went crazy and female didnt mind him and that was that.

yea, last time i showed her to him, she was light pink like that. usually the only time the male gets pissed at all is when he sees her and shes all black, but this time she was pink and he crawled around with her so I think its getting close too time.