Need help

[staylor]

I was looking at Slyder today, really looking at her. When we were at the vet today, he said she was fat and I was not wanting to hear it and got a little annoyed. I was not wanting to think she is fat because of how skinny she was when I got her but I am not doing her any favors by letting her stay fat. Here is a picture of her the second day I had her and one I took tonight of her sleeping on her blanket. She is 15.5 inches and 190g. She gained 30g in 2 weeks!!!

5 months old

now at 9 months old

Should she be put on a diet or should I continue to feed her as normal? In my mind she is still that starved little thing I rescued and I don't want her to ever feel hungry again. If she really needs to loose weight I will slowly decrease her food a little for her own good but if she is ok like that I will be more than happy to keep feeding her like I am.

 

[Pogie]

She looks fine to me. Same stiry with Pogie, she was also scary thin when I got her at 5 months and now at 8.5 months shes FAT, but not go on a diet FAT.

On the "overfeeding" post under DIET theres a answer from Francis stating

Thick tail base, I mean at least 2.5 -3cm wide (inch and quarter for the yanks Wink) is what you want for a well nourished dragon. Skinny tail fat belly, then there may be problems.

and

Lean body, fat tail = perfect healthy dragon.

So I measured P's tail base and it was 3cm plus fat body = healthy to me. So Slyder looks fine

Heres 3 pics of P. One when I got her at 5 mnths, 11 inches, 71 gramms. And 2 more of her at taken at 8 months , 18.1 inches and 200gramms

 

[renich]

Sandra, I tend to listen to the expert. She looks fine, but if the vet thinks she is overweight or starting to get overweight, I would change her diet. If feeding wax worms - cut them out. Use leaner proteins and start offering more salads. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[pscaulkins]

I don't think 190 grams for a 15.5" beardie is that much. She is still growing. If you look sideways at her, what does her fat pads on her head look like? Does she have fat pads under her arms? My vet told me as long as the fat pads under the arms are not huge, I don't have to worry. Granted Semi is 5 y/o now but he is only 15" due to only having 1/2 a tail and he weighs 600-610 grams and he is not obese. He has huge legs, nice fat pads on his head and tail base. No fat pads under his arms. He only eats 2 supers a day with lots of salad. He is very hyperactive all day long.

I agree with Renee, in that waxies should be cut out of her diet if only due to the fact that they are really fatty. Crickets and roaches are okay.

 

[staylor]

The fat pads on her head are big and squishy and the ones under her arms are not to big but deff squishy. She is 15.5 inches but most is tail. She has a very long tail and short body. Her tail base is finally good. She does not like worms and is down to eating about 80-90 crickets/day and one medium collard leaf/day. 3-4 times a weeks she gets a small amount of fruit mixed in as a treat and ingested water.

 

[staylor]

I think I will give her another month or so then see what happens to her big belly but she seems to be eating more now that she has been dewormed. I did not know it was possible for her to eat more but she is.

 

[li]

What do you feed besided worms...any crix or roaches?

 

[staylor]

she will only eat crickets...she runs away from worms

 

[li]

If she is only eating crix, then you can't feed her too much. If you are giving worms, then you can because many have a very high fat content. Just stick with crix and you will be good. You feeding 2 or 3x a day?

 

[staylor]

she eats her salad all day and she eats her crickets around 6. Don't know why she will not touch them any sooner.

 

[li]

If you are only feeding crix one time a day there is no way at 8.5 months that she is eating too much protein. Keep up the schedule you are feeding. What greens?

 

[staylor]

she eats about 80 crix in one sitting, she was eating 120 in one sitting but she does not seem interested in that many anymore. I try from time to time to drop some in earlier in the day but she just looks at them and will not eat them and I have to pick them out. her greens are collard most days and bok choy every 3rd day to change things up...but she seems to like her collard much more.

I will keep feeding her the way I am. Her belly is almost dragging until it does I will feed her till her heart is content.

 

[Pogie]

If you look sideways at her, what does her fat pads on her head look like? Does she have fat pads under her arms? My vet told me as long as the fat pads under the arms are not huge, I don't have to worry.

nice fat pads on his head and tail base. No fat pads under his arms.

Sorry to butt in here AGAIN, but where exactly are the FAT PADS ???
Does anyone have a pic showing the different ones on the head / tail base and under arms ???

 

[li]

Top of the head.

Is that amount in 10 minutes?

 

[staylor]

Yes it is, she eats till she is full then goes back to her stick. It sounds crazy and I would not believe it if I did not see it myself.

 

[pscaulkins]

Sorry to butt in here AGAIN, but where exactly are the FAT PADS ???
Does anyone have a pic showing the different ones on the head / tail base and under arms ???

I am lousy at drawing with a mouse but here is a pic of Semi showing where fat pads are.

 

[Pogie]

I am lousy at drawing with a mouse but here is a pic of Semi showing where fat pads are.

Thanx a MIL, thats exactly what I needed. ;D ;D ;D

 

[pscaulkins]

Your welcome. Glad I could help you. You can also tell if they are hydrated by the fat pads on the head. Whenever one of mine is a bit dehydrated their fat pads on the head sinks in a bit.

 

[li]

You could try only letting her eat 1/2 that amount one evening and see if she will eat in the earlier part of the day also. I am thinking that possibly since she is eating all her protein at night, it is putting more weight on her. Kind of like us eating before bed.

 

[staylor]

I did not feed her till she was full last night and I was able to get her to eat about 50 crickets at noon today. I guess I just had to make her hungry first. Most days she will not touch them before 6pm