Our Santino is a rather rotund little boy. He is 9 inches snout to tip of tail and he usually weighs about 94 grams. The vet put him on a diet about 4 months ago and we really do stick to it. He gets 2 med sized crickets or 4 mealies every other night. The first week of this he lost 3 grams but then he gained it right back. The vet now wants to run some tests on him ( the cost will be about 150.00, she said). I am not convinced that they are necessary. He acts just fine. I hate to put him through stress for nothing. Is being some what over weight a huge health risk? He doesn't get any foods that are high in fat like wax worms so is there still a risk of fatty liver disease? I don't have an issue spending money on my gecko if it is necessary but a $150.00 is alot of money to spent if it is not something that really affecting his health or happiness.
Question about overly chubby gecko
- Thread starter rubym
- Start date
Once they get fat, it takes a long time to loose the weight.
I would continue with the diet, and feed only crix and roaches.
Both are lower in fat then mealies.
Maybe 2 crix or roaches every other day.
It may take a few months, but I would rather do it that way, then go
the vet route.
You could also let him go into a seasonal burmation.
I would continue with the diet, and feed only crix and roaches.
Both are lower in fat then mealies.
Maybe 2 crix or roaches every other day.
It may take a few months, but I would rather do it that way, then go
the vet route.
You could also let him go into a seasonal burmation.
B
Bennayboi
Guest
He sounds large, but not quite life threateningly chubby. A picture would really help. If hes not having trouble walking and his ears arent closed from excess fat, im not even sure he needs to be on a diet.
ask the vets what the tests are for and why they are necessary before you go through with them. how long has he been on his diet? leos are designed to hold on to fat so it's really tough getting them to lose it.
i've been trying to slim down my chubster with brumation. i don't think he has lost any weight yet but he's eating way less.
i've been trying to slim down my chubster with brumation. i don't think he has lost any weight yet but he's eating way less.
Right you are :main_yes: it takes a very long time for them to loose.
Why are you worried about fatty liver desease?
Can you post a pic of him?
Just because he is a little over weight, does not mean he is unhealthy.
I can't get my crappy computer to let me upload my pics. Also we measured him last night and he is 7 and 3/4 inches ( the tip of his tail is missing...we got him that way). His ear vents are fine. He walks ok....now he does have what my husband lovingly refers to as "cankles" instead of ankles. He has been on his diet for about 4 months now. He went in for a fecal and his yearly check up and the herp vet that we go to said that he needed to loose some of his weight. She had him come back in when I took several of our others in for their yearlys and she wasn't impressed with his progress.She seemed to think that if we had cut down on his food- which we have- that he should have started to loose some grams. She said that "fat" reptiles were more likely to develope fatty liver disease. The tests are supposed to be able to tell us if his liver is functioning properly ( he has no big black patch that is visible on his underside). He has normal poos. He is in a 20 gallon long with one other female. He also gets out to run around in the gecko playpen every other night for 20-30 minutes. I will get my friend to post a picture for me since my computer is being a pain.
I personally don't think 94g for a 9 inch gecko (7 3/4 inch without tail tip) is dangerously fat. I guess you can keep him on a diet, maybe feed him less often? Some of my geckos are huge too, I feed them twice a week only, but they hardly lose any weight...Honestly, if he's doing fine (eating and "excercising"), I wouldn't bother with the fatty liver test.
S
Snowy & Petra de Gecko
Guest
Ok Good Question
But, I do not have an answer.
I have read several books and book learnin ain't cutting it when it comes to the weight of a Leopard Gecko.
I can understand that you are what you eat and so a Leopard Gecko becomes what it eats. I have read that you "gutload" so that your Leopard Gecko gets the nutrion.
But, what is the weight gain of a Leopard Gecko from birth to about 18 or 24 months.
Or what is the average weight of Leopard Gecko from birth and every three months until about 24 months.
I am using 24 months because by then we know that they are adults.
Now I know that Leopard Geckos are individuals and if you read this website then you can really really understand that Leopard Geckos are individuals but, isn't there an average.
I would almost say that my Leos are fat but, I donno.
I have to look at the porportions of their body and see if the tail shape is more like a tube to determine if they are fat.
My youngest was born in July 2008 and is at 45 grams, while my eldest was born ??? sometime before. I think that she may be three months older and weighs 56 grams.
The youngest looks fine but, the eldest ... I am beginning to think that she is getting fat. But, I am not going to worry about it until I know that she is over a year old (if not 24 months old).
Now if your Leopard Gecko is fat then, you would really have to reduce the intake of food items because it will take a long time for any creature to use up the fat reserves that it has built up overtime.
Sorry for the rant but, if anyone knows of the average weight for Leopard Geckos over a period of 24 months, please let me know.
But, I do not have an answer.
I have read several books and book learnin ain't cutting it when it comes to the weight of a Leopard Gecko.
I can understand that you are what you eat and so a Leopard Gecko becomes what it eats. I have read that you "gutload" so that your Leopard Gecko gets the nutrion.
But, what is the weight gain of a Leopard Gecko from birth to about 18 or 24 months.
Or what is the average weight of Leopard Gecko from birth and every three months until about 24 months.
I am using 24 months because by then we know that they are adults.
Now I know that Leopard Geckos are individuals and if you read this website then you can really really understand that Leopard Geckos are individuals but, isn't there an average.
I would almost say that my Leos are fat but, I donno.
I have to look at the porportions of their body and see if the tail shape is more like a tube to determine if they are fat.
My youngest was born in July 2008 and is at 45 grams, while my eldest was born ??? sometime before. I think that she may be three months older and weighs 56 grams.
The youngest looks fine but, the eldest ... I am beginning to think that she is getting fat. But, I am not going to worry about it until I know that she is over a year old (if not 24 months old).
Now if your Leopard Gecko is fat then, you would really have to reduce the intake of food items because it will take a long time for any creature to use up the fat reserves that it has built up overtime.
Sorry for the rant but, if anyone knows of the average weight for Leopard Geckos over a period of 24 months, please let me know.
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