Small Panther

[cla2806]

I've been wanting to ask this question to see what people think. I recieved Urkel my now 10 month old Nosy be I'm Feb when he was about 2.5 to 3 months old from a reputable breeder. I recently found out thanks to the forum I had mixed up my supplements and had been overdosing him on d3 since I had him! He just started making a recovery and never has been a big eater eating about 4 crickets or so a day and maybe a butterworm or roach. I gutload crickets with fresh veggies and flukers cricket high calcium dry gutload. I give the roaches oats and some calcium mixed in and some veggies which they don't really seem to enjoy as much as the oats.Urkel never liked waxworms and has only ate mealworms a few times which I no longer feed and he hasnt had in months. He loves crickets. He is only about 4 inches from snout to vent and about 7 including his tail. Pictures can be found at this link. He is shedding and isn't very happy. He has shed about 5 times in my care. Is he a runt or a late bloomer? Did I stunt his growth? Any opinions are welcome!
http://m1165.photobucket.com/albums/cla2806?newest=1
Just wanted to add the first three pics are from today the others were from when he wasn't doing so well.

 

[Zach Valois]

This is interesting, might we have a evident case of too much D3 causing decreased appetite and stunted growth? I have reservations about pinpointing actual causes without professional clinical examination.

A lot of people seem to discount the Fluker's feed, what veggies are you using?
I am personally undecided on the Fluker's feed and other dry mixes, but have an un-researched inclination that a dry mix as such does have a part (however small) in insect diets. On the contrary, I [and others] place heavy emphasis on dark leaf greens such as collards, and vitamin rich veggies such as carrot and sweet potato.

What was the evolution of his feeding pattern? That is, how did he feed when you first got him, a month later, six months later, now?

Nevertheless, please fill out the help questionnaire, and I think many would agree with me in confiding with a vet visit. It IS worth the money.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[cla2806]

Well I did hear that too much d3 can effect the way they absorb calcium. He has never been a big eater as much as I could tell. He was supposed to be eating 10-15 crickets or so when he was 3 months old but I never saw him eat that many. I assumed he was eating because the crickets wohld dissapear.

Currently he is housed in a 18x18x36 screen cage. 5.0 reptisun uvb a basking lamp temps between 85-90 ambient temp in room stays around 75 can drop to 70 at night . I hand mist him at least 3 times a day for 3 minutes or so most of the time he drinks no problem. Lights are on 5 to 5 on an automatic timer. He is located in a spare room not near any vents on a wooden stand. Shefflera plant, and two other live plants I cant remember the names but are cham safe. was over supplementing as I mentioned got my powders mixed up was dusting with d3 4 days a week and multivitamin once a week!! Was way off with that reptivite and herptivite products. Around 7 months old his eyes started closing and so began my struggle to get him back on track. He has been to the vet numerous times. First vet prescribed eye drops that didn't help. she did mention he looked slightly small for his age. Took him to a different vet when it didn't get better and he seemed very knowledgeable. Made no mention of his size other then they never
Stop growing and he will get bigger.

After a month or so of struggling with different antibiotics and tons of water he finally had interest in food again and started to eat again! He is doing great now just finished shedding and looks so bright and happy. The only problem I have been experiencing with him is missing his prey items when he eats. Even at close distances. I lightly dust with calcium NO d3 every feeding.. he goes outside almost everyday which he loves amd seems to stimulate his appetite. I have yet to continue with the d3 since I was told he needs to detox for a little while. He eats crickets, butterworms and occasional roach and silkie he does not.like to cup feed which is somehwat frustrating because id really like to keep track of how much hes eating. As of now the most I've seen him eat is again 4 to 5 crickets and a butterworm or roach. I will try dusting my feeders with some vit A to see if that might help with his accuracy issue.

I mostly gutloaded with carrots and celery and oranges in the beginning. Usually.never gave a dry gutload. Last couple months I have tried the collards, kale,zuchinni and carrot as well. I would hope that I didn't gorever ruin his chances of being a big healthy panther but I have heard that there fan be runts and slow growers. Is it possible to stunt them? When do they stop growing? Is it never like the vet said?

 

[cla2806]

And has been tested for parasites was negative. Urates are normal pure white with the brown poop to go with it.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Where are you located in the world? It looks like cham is outside in photo. I know natural sunlight does wonders, but not so great in combo with D3 use.

 

[cla2806]

I am currently in Norfolk va I'm in the navy so i move around a bit.. i gets pretty hot out but he loves the sunshine.