Spikes Food Intake

[Yessabub]

As most of you know spike has been eating very little lately so i decided to keep track this week so i could see if its alright. I offer food every other day i only have crickets and dubias right now and he will only consider dubias. Starting last sunday he ate one dubia, then i offered them again on wednesday and he wasnt interested at all, then friday he ate one again and today (sunday) he ate one. So the total intake for one week is 3 dubias is this alright? The dubias are preety large nymphs so they might just be filling him up i also gutload well so thats another factor. Im waiting on my baby dubias to get big enough to feed thats why im giving him large ones right now.

 

[jannb]

That doesn't sound like enough food to me. How bid are the dubia (like one inch)? Luie would eat everything in sight when he was Spikes age BUT he doesn't like Dubia. Maybe a larger selection of feeders might be better. Try some superworms or silkworms. Brian has an excellent deal on silkworms here on the forums. https://www.chameleonforums.com/another-batch-zebra-silkworms-36274/

 

[pssh]

Well, if he's eating massive dubia then maybe. Are you monitoring weight?

 

[Yessabub]

Well, if he's eating massive dubia then maybe. Are you monitoring weight?

I dont have anything to monitor it with

 

[pssh]

It may be a good idea to get a gram scale from walmart or a head shop to make sure he isn't loosing any weight. You can get some for pretty cheap.

 

[Yessabub]

That doesn't sound like enough food to me. How bid are the dubia (like one inch)? Luie would eat everything in sight when he was Spikes age BUT he doesn't like Dubia. Maybe a larger selection of feeders might be better. Try some superworms or silkworms. Brian has an excellent deal on silkworms here on the forums. https://www.chameleonforums.com/another-batch-zebra-silkworms-36274/[/QU

There one inch+ quite fat too cause i gutload well

 

[pssh]

That's like the equivalent of 2-4 large crickets right? he could probably eat a little more, but if they're as fat as I'm imagining them (maybe I'm thinking 1 1/2 inches....) then he might just be doing the whole less-food-in-the-winter thing. A gram scale would be a good investment though

 

[Yessabub]

That's like the equivalent of 2-4 large crickets right? he could probably eat a little more, but if they're as fat as I'm imagining them (maybe I'm thinking 1 1/2 inches....) then he might just be doing the whole less-food-in-the-winter thing. A gram scale would be a good investment though

Yeh thats what i was thinking, He just ate another roach thats 2 big ones today he hasnt done that in awhile. I will definetly look into a gram scale though

 

[EazyBaKe0vEn]

One thing you may want to check is the little guys cage temperatures. If temps are a little low this can cause him to eat less. Chameleons metabolisms will slow down a bit if temps are a little low. If you try bumping up the temps a bit this may get the little guy moving more and work up an appetite. Hows has the little guy's activity been over the last few days or so? Is he moving around as normal or a little more stationary?

 

[Yessabub]

One thing you may want to check is the little guys cage temperatures. If temps are a little low this can cause him to eat less. Chameleons metabolisms will slow down a bit if temps are a little low. If you try bumping up the temps a bit this may get the little guy moving more and work up an appetite. Hows has the little guy's activity been over the last few days or so? Is he moving around as normal or a little more stationary?

active as always

 

[EazyBaKe0vEn]

active as always

Glad to hear that his activity has not changed much. What are your currents temperatures? Hot side, cool side, and basking temps?

 

[Yessabub]

Glad to hear that his activity has not changed much. What are your currents temperatures? Hot side, cool side, and basking temps?

ambient temp is 75-78 basking spot is 88-90