Reptile and Amphibian Obesity

Reptiles and amphibians kept in captivity may become obese due to inactivity or overfeeding. Pets like the white's tree frog are prone to obesity, but some animals are just far overfed and will eat as much as you give them. You may have obtained an already obese animal or have overfed your own. Either way obesity is not good and you need to take action as it could lead to serious health problems.

To get your pet back in shape, first take a look at its current diet. Is what you are feeding the ideal foods or is the staple of their diet very fatty and high in calories like waxworms or pinky mice? If so, change their main food to crickets, pellets, or veggies depending on the species. Research your specific animal and find out which foods are ideal.

If you're already feeding them a proper diet or if changing their diet doesn't help them lose weight then they are eating too much and need to slowly start making your pet's feedings smaller. Do not stop feeding them entirely, just cut it back and offer lots of water. Also give them exercise. If it is an animal such as a bearded dragon, take them out and let them run around. Also make sure their terrarium is large enough for them to move around and interesting enough that they will want to explore it. A full grown bearded dragon, for example, should have at least a 20 gallon long terrarium. Pet should slowly lose their excess weight.

Keep in mind that some species may just look fat and not be overweight. Make sure you know what a healthy specimen of your type of pet should look like before you put it on a diet. For example, leopard geckos are supposed to have fat tails (as wide if not wider than their stomachs) and you don't want to starve a perfectly healthy animal!