Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:52 am Post subject: Growth Rate Questions Please

My 1.2 yemens are still young. But their growth rate is phenominal! Quite amazing I swear they grow bigger by the minute!

Is such growth rate common amongst all chameleons?

Can Yems be over fed? Will they overeat or just stop when the've had the right ammount. As they are still young, approx: 4 / 5months, I am still feeding them everyday. They look wonderfull and still continue to amaze me.

I can and do waste hours just watching them! Very Happy

Thanks Rick
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jim_radley · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject:

Chameleons in general grow at a unusually fast rate, for lizards. This is part of the reason they don't live as long as other lizards of a equal size, because they burn themselves out by growing so fast. It also helpsthe species survive if the Hatchlings mature and reach adult size in 25% of the time of say a beardie.

Chameleons cannot overfeed, they are unable to store fat. For this reason they will eat loads of crickets a day.

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks Jim

Glad to hear they can't overeat, thats a relief they go through loads a day!

Never knew they could not store fat.

I assume then that in part, the importance of correct calcium vit / min suplementation is partially to do with the rapid growth rate.

Cheers
Rick
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jim_radley · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

Yeah, they need more calcium suppliment than other reptiles due to their rapid growth rate.

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:35 pm Post subject:

Ditto for females re; egg development.

Rick
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk