Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone been keeping, or have access to CB DHL growth rate data? Specifically I'm referring to weight. I'm currently collecting the data for my CB DHL's on an "antless" diet. Wondering how it compares to CB DHL's on an ant diet.

Thanks,
Roger

I have a friend that may have this data.
Are you CB's from this season?
-----
Phrynosoma.Com

The 2004 hatchlings are now at the approximate weight and size of adults I've seen in the wild. Not sure if this growth rate is to be expected or not. Only way to be sure is to compare my data against others tracking CB weights. Also, do you know of any data documenting the weight of wild DHL's? I'm really not sure what to expect as far as the standard weight scale for DHL's. I've got a couple that are getting rather big & rather heavy....I'm just not sure what "big & heavy" really means with respect to DHL's.

BTW...I don't know if you remember me or not, but I'm conducting an experiment on raising DHL's on an "antless" (cricket) diet. I now have a years worth of growth rate data and I'm curious how it compares with the growth rate experienced by others, especially those feeding them an ant based diet.

Any chance you are periodically weighing your hatchlings?

Roger

I do have one platyrhinos that is 13 months old that I've been raising completely on ants. She is 5.1 cm snout to vent and weighs 10 g.

I am very curious about your ant less diet. Do you have pictures and the sizes of the yearlings?

I tried to feed a strict ant diet this year with the 20 plus HLs I have and they all lost weight except for the P. solare. A varied diet with 50 % ants seems best for most species but to settle this cable and I are currently working on a study to see if ants truly are a requirement. All groups will be kept in the same room under identical lighting, temperatures and terrariums. All are hatching at the same time and will be grouped with equal number of males and females and each group will be arranged to have an equal total weight at the start. Your data would be a welcome addition.

2004 Clutch = 7 hatchlings

#7 died within days of hatching....cat broke into the cage and...well you figure it out.

#6 died in 12/04, ate alot but never grew...assuming Darwin syndrom (runt @ < 5g).

#5 died in 5/04, ate alot but never grew...assuming Darwin syndrom (runt @ < 5g).

Here's the 2005 Growth Rate (wt in grams) for the other 4:

ID Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
2004.1 6.6 11.8 10.8 11.5 12.0 12.0
2004.2 10.1 12.2 11.2 11.8 12.0 12.0
2004.3 13.2 15.3 16.0 18.5 19.0 19.0
2004.4 11.0 13.3 13.0 13.9 18.0 18.0

ID Jul Aug Sep
2004.1 12.2 15.9 19.1
2004.2 13.8 15.4 14.0
2004.3 19.8 18.4 19.6
2004.4 17.8 24.6 28.7

There's some interesting numbers here...funny how they can not be progressing and suddenly "kick in". Been fun to watch.