What Does an Overweight LG Look Like?

**Corwin's Keeper** · 02-26-2013, 11:05 AM

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I have a decent size order of new feeders that I am trying to feed off. With all this food, I was getting concerned about potentially over feeding my gecko. Can anyone share a photo (whether a personal photo or from Google) of an overweight leopard gecko and a picture of a leopard gecko of healthy weight? I would just like to know what I should look out for. Thanks for anyone that can help!

**XoVictoryXo** · 02-26-2013, 11:13 AM

overweight :

**Saskia** · 02-26-2013, 11:52 AM

I would also be interested in seeing pctures to compare an overweight animal with a healthy weight one, I have lately been thinking that leos in general are becoming a bit fat, mine are a bit thinner than most "show geckos" do, and sometimes I wonder what would be optimal, what do wild leos look like???

**Corwin's Keeper** · 02-26-2013, 01:03 PM

Thanks XoVictoryXo! Now to see one of a healthy weight.

**XoVictoryXo** · 02-26-2013, 01:28 PM

I think "healthy weight" might be controversial according to each expert. LOL

(hey what do you know- just like humans) I think its why it is such a broad range on the care sheet when it says 55g-85g. Also allow age and length of leo to determine proper weights.
female tails are shaped differently from males who are just overall larger.

Heres a comparison of male/female tail (my Xena on left, Rex on right)

Some may argue the female may be a little underweight (This tail could be plumper to my comfort level, so i give her a few more treats then male)
Some may argue that the male is a little overweight (he has a pretty slender body, but I personally think that is a rather large tail but Im comfortable with it- but dont want it larger- he is a monster eater)
( i am no expert - just an observer speculator)

**avsfreak13** · 02-26-2013, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by XoVictoryXo

overweight :

LOOK AT THAT TAIL!!!

Jesse

**Corwin's Keeper** · 02-26-2013, 02:33 PM

Ok, so should I focus on tail, the abdomen, or both? Ahh! Lol.

**Duster** · 02-26-2013, 02:51 PM

Leopard geckos carry their fat stores in their tail. Typically that is a good indicator of health. It is very easy to tell if a gecko has been properly cared for by the thickness of their tail.

From what I've read, and in my past experience, a healthy leopard gecko will have a tail that ranges in thickness of approximately the width of their neck to the width of their head.

So anything outside of that range might be an indicator of a skinny gecko, or an overweight gecko.

Now keep in mind this only works for adult geckos who haven't dropped their tail. A lot of times if the gecko has dropped their tail it will be thicker than their head...

Edit: I should clarify, the thickness should be taken at the widest part of the tail, not the base.

**Saskia** · 02-26-2013, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Duster

a healthy leopard gecko will have a tail that ranges in thickness of approximately the width of their neck to the width of their head.

I believe this could be considered a good indicator! I had never put it that way, but will for sure start doing so from now on...

**Corwin's Keeper** · 02-26-2013, 03:11 PM

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Originally Posted by Duster

From what I've read, and in my past experience, a healthy leopard gecko will have a tail that ranges in thickness of approximately the width of their neck to the width of their head.

So anything outside of that range might be an indicator of a skinny gecko, or an overweight gecko.

Thanks for that quick rule of thumb; easy enough to use that as a guideline!

Oops, Saskia beat me to it! Haha.