Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

BELIAL · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

sorry but i feel like i have to post..i'm sorry for your loss but to stop such things happening in the future i thought i would point out a few things:

1.)The lumps on the nose between the eyes are abscesses caused by a sinus infection. This is the result of lack of adequate ventilation and sadly is far too common with Yemen's.
Yemen's need a high ventilation level and mesh doors are highly recommended.

2.) There is a swelling around the neck which is an edema. This is caused by a vitamin a excess. Vitamin a in excess can cause damage to the livers and kidneys (which is why it is not good practice to dust too much).

3.)The lumps on the side of the cham are not a deficiency in calcium but rather an excess. The calcium has no where to go and so forms lumps on the ribs.

Supplementation is important but gut loading the feeder food is much better for the chams...i hardly ever 'dust' my feeder food but rely on treating the crickets/locusts/waxies as pets which need feeding well. I only supplement with calcium nothing else.

Yemen's are a great species, i love em and they can be very easy to keep. Unfortunately in the world of chams you only learn from your mistakes. Is a tragic fact.

Once again sorry for your loss.

kroakykaren · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

Good post, thankyou very informative Very Happy

and welcome to the forum Very Happy

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BELIAL · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject:

thank you and hello!

Rickeezee · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:12 pm Post subject:

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Isn't that the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything?
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Rickeezee · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:

Chameleons, yes it is, keeping on topic, chameleons.
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

BELIAL · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject:

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:19 am Post subject:

As regards supplementation; this topic has been raised a few times with the various pros and cons discussed.

My view is its all about balance, yes all insects should be well gutloaded and even kept at correct tempretures else they can not digest their food correctly and this produces a useless feeder insect that is of no value to the herp. In my view never leave your feeder insects in the pre pack tubs house them and feed them correctly and keep them at correct temps.

As for supplementation, again in my view, use with caution and be careful of preformed vitamins etc. But as in all things look for a healthy balance. Vary the regime of supplementation as required, e.g. young babies, sub adults, gravid females etc etc.

I have allways used vitamins and minerals with much caution as I have mentioned on various threads before. I use pure calcium more liberally but I never over do it.

Somewhere I have some interesting research papers on the subject, but thing is if you saw my office you would realise things are not that easy to find Laughing

I shall put on an NBC suit and look for them!
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

BELIAL · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:17 am Post subject:

It is sadly very easy to over supplement. This can lead to liver and kidney damage and even to calcification of the organs...

Much better to get a proper feeding regime for the feeder food rather than rely on supplement. Give the feeder food the best and in turn this will be passed on to your chams..is the 'circle of life' Smile

I tend to use fish flakes as the stable food source as they are high in protein and contain a suitable level of vit D3 which is so important for good bone growth. This is then supplemented with various vegetables and fruit, carrot,sweet potato,cabbage,watercress,apple,grapes, are all good. If this veg/fruit is dusted with calcium the crickets will also eat that.

This method means i supplement with calcium x2 a week only and a multivit every two weeks. The vitamins are already in the feeeder food.

I would say though that it is important to vary the feeder food if the crickets/roaches are gutloaded on fish flakes. Otherwise the high protein level in fish flakes can lead to obesity and liver damage.

But a varied diet is just good practice. Smile

Rick: your paperwork probably got eaten by crickets! found some munching on the tv aeriel the other night!

callumcat · I'm new here... Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 13

so do you think i should get a 8.0 strip light instead of a 5.0

i had recently got a new Viv with a mesh top and drilled holes in wooden sides and glass front its 37wx30dx50h inches and a 100w basking light with bendable vines and branches and a live plant in my viv so do you think that is good

thanks for all the info and anymore would be great