Want to know how much to feed your animal?

[Alexl]

My only question is where the exact need of 5.6 kcal per kg is taken from. Which study, which paper, which book or whatever? Is it's an average amount for "every animal" or just for reptiles or especially for chameleons - and who has published it?

 

[ataraxia]

My only question is where the exact need of 5.6 kcal per kg is taken from. Which study, which paper, which book or whatever?

It is not exact. It is a base for you to determine what the "exact" kcal per kg formula is for your animal specifically.

Is it's an average amount for "every animal" or just for reptiles or especially for chameleons

It is a generic formula for reptiles in general.

who has published it?

Maurice Pudlo, is who i got this from.

 

[Alexl]

Thank you. Confirms what I thought about it.

 

[DanSB]

I'm not an expert here but my assumption would be that every animal will slightly different requirements depending on age, gender, activity, conditions, and likely several other variables I can't think of.

Because of this it would be important to first determine what the current Kcal per kg is and adjust as needed. 5.6 Kcal/kg might be a good starting point if someone has no idea, but I think we can find a better starting point if enough of us can begin recording kcal/kg and monitoring.

 

[ataraxia]

I'm not an expert here but my assumption would be that every animal will slightly different requirements depending on age, gender, activity, conditions, and likely several other variables I can't think of.

Because of this it would be important to first determine what the current Kcal per kg is and adjust as needed. 5.6 Kcal/kg might be a good starting point if someone has no idea, but I think we can find a better starting point if enough of us can begin recording kcal/kg and monitoring.

I do agree. If we can get a collection of data with chameleons in general we could get more of an average
.

 

[ataraxia]

Who all is interested in contributing some data? This tool would be beneficial to raising the level of care for chameleons.

I would also like to know what factors you guys and gales think are necessary to document? Over what period of time should this be conducted?

This can be added to or taken away from but a general list to document?

Age
Gender
Locale
SVL
Weight
Feeders type used at feeding, quantities, weights

Additionally should everyone participating submit there husbandry parameters including gut load ingredients.

 

[DanSB]

I will participate but will need to dig my scale out of storage or buy another one.

I will also organize the data if you want.

 

[ataraxia]

That would be awesome. How could we make it easiest on you?

 

[lausnordah]

Hi guys,

I am interested in creating the chameleon calculator. I make my living working as a web programmer and I'm quite confident I could produce this if you guys think it would be a worthwhile endeavor.

I have a server/database/etc already set up that I could use to host it...

I also have a gram scale so I could assist with contributing data as well.

Whatcha think?

 

[lausnordah]

P.S. I would *probably* be writing the calculator in a mobile/touch-based javascript framework so you could use it with a webkit browser (safari/chrome) which includes the popular phones like android/idevices

That rules out Internet Explorer which is an Internet Destroyer.