Weight gain

[OrangeJuice]

Forgive me if this is suppose to be posted in the Health Clinic section, but Ashi (my female) is gaining sooooo many grams since her impregnating. She was bred about 3 weeks ago, and I only recently started weighing her. I weighed her about a week and a half ago and she weighed 120 grams. I weighed her again a week before at 124 grams. Now today, she's an astounding 134! I stick her in a cricket carrier to weigh her (I zero out the cricket carrier before I stick her in). I'll post a picture of the most recent weighing (couldn't use the carrier this time because it's full of yummy dubias)

 

[Andee]

How much are you feeding her?

 

[OrangeJuice]

I always leave food for her in a cup, but I for sure see her eat at least 3 dubias/supers/small hornworms. She eats out her cup and i fill it to about 15 roaches every 3 days

 

[OrangeJuice]

Currently I'm giving her some waxies as treats with them just got some 2 days ago, she's only had about 10

 

[Andee]

That is why she is gaining so much weight, that is wayyy too much food, and she is going to have a huge clutch because of it... I worry about that... it's going to be hard on her. What are her basking temps?

 

[OrangeJuice]

Oh I was reading the number of eggs is already set and to feed them as much as they want so they eggs she produces are healthy. Her basking temps are 85 on the hot side and the cool bottom is 80

 

[OrangeJuice]

At what point should I be worried about her weight and see a vet? She's been preggers for almost 3 weeks, I've read it takes 3-5 weeks to lay eggs. Also, I haven't seen her digging in her bin but I have seen her at the bottom of her cage though.

 

[Andee]

What size is her bin?

And it's shown that their egg numbers can be reduced by the amount we feed, you temps are ok from the sounds of it. I think most people increase feedings around the last week or two, but not the amount you are. That's a dangerous amount. And most people only increase feedings afterwards for around 5 days if I am right?

 

[OrangeJuice]

Well, shoot. To what amount should I decrease her feedings? Also, what food is best for her right now? I want her to have healthy babies, but I've read too much protein can cause gout, so which feeders should I stick with and how many? I don't want her having any complications

 

[OrangeJuice]

Oh, her bin is a lowes 5ish gallon bucket filled with moist sand and perlite. Should I also move her basking light close to the bucket so she hangs out next to it and gets the hint?

 

[OrangeJuice]

She's pretty active and drinks a lot. Here's her right now

 

[Andee]

No she will get the idea, though she may want a soil combo no perlite. Decrease her feeders to every other day currently and about 3-4 low fat feeders.

but lemme tag some people who have more experience with laying females. @jannb @kinyonga

 

[OrangeJuice]

Heh, I feel so awkward since I'm more used to endotherms. Shall I keep the dusting the same? I don't dust with D3 because I've been taking her out for natural sunlight every day for about 3 hours at least. I'm hoping natural sunlight is better than dusting with d3

 

[Zephalia]

I never limit my gravid females in regards to diet as they need all the nutrition they can get, including a daily dusting of plain calcium, to produce healthy eggs and not leech vitamins and nutrients from their own bodies.

The restrictions on food are done on a regular basis when they are NOT gravid and help to produce smaller fertile clutches - or, to prevent laying infertile clutches at all. Once she is gravid, she should be fed as much as she wants as stated above. After she has laid, she should also be fed her fill of dusted feeders for the first couple days. Then I resume the routine schedule of feeding every 2 to 3 days.

I'm not familiar with normal weight ranges for veiled chameleons as I work solely with panthers but I've had my females gain a good 40-50 grams over the course of 4 to 5 weeks during egg production and leading up to laying. Some females will also retain fluids and have minor edema during this period as well which can add to weight gain.

Natural sunlight is WAY better than supplemental d3 and I never give d3 while they are getting regular sunlight.

I don't see anything here to be particularly alarming other than sticking to healthy feeders for her. Best of luck!

 

[Andee]

Ok I feel better now XD I think it's a bit different if they are fetilized eggs but don't know for sure

No need for supplemental d3 I totally agree there, wonderful she's get shunshine so much, it will make super healthy babies and would be great for her in the long run <3

Don't give the waxies though at least not that much I don't recommend that much even for males or underweight rescues.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Okay I was just giving her them since I picked up some for my beardie. I figured since she's pregnant she can have whatever she wants lol. But if they're unhealthy she's gonna have to deal with it! It's really hard not to spoil her heheh, she gets so excited when she sees me bring her feeding cup in the cage

 

[OrangeJuice]

She LOVES hornworms and I've heard they good with calcium and really watery, how are those for treats a day or two out of the week?

 

[Andee]

I love hornworms for a good hydrator, feed one good sized about once a day with another hard shelled feeder usually. If they are smaller sometimes two. Since you can feed everyday? From the sounds of it once or twice a week is good.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Okay I mean I buy hornworms a lot, since they're cheap where I get em. Her poop is always hydrated looking so I don't think hydration is too much of an issue

 

[Andee]

Yeah but extra hydration is always welcome with these guys. Trust me, kidney issues are easy to stop from appearing before it becomes an actual issue so keep ahead of it <3