Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 2 year old dragon that is lets say a little on the fat side. I am worried about his health and want to slim him down a bit. Somebody suggested not giving him any live food. Just feeding him fruits and vegetables. I don't know if this is a good idea cause I wonder if he would be defiecient in protein. Can somebody Please suggest a diet plan for my fat boy. Thanks

Fruit has a lot of sugar. So feed very little (like 1/3 of a raspberry amount) once a week or cut it out. Stick with crickets or silkworms. Feed 5 or six every other day. In my opinion live food is most important for dusting to get calcium and vitamins in him. In the wild adults eat 90 % greens. There is protein in salad so continue to feed all he wants every day. Let him out of his tank as much as possible to get exercise.

Buy a weight scale so you can monitor his weight. In captivity 600 grams and under is fine.

I agree with BDlvr on everything. They still need the live prey, but it is ok to cut it down. Salads to his hearts content, but offer a wide variety of greens. We have a store called wild oats (its a health food store), and they sell all the off the wall greens that beardies really love and are full of good nutrition. Maybe do some calling around and see if you have a store that is similar. And exercise is great for them. In the wild they do not stay in a 4 ft by 2 ft space, they like to roam a bit. A kids play yard is a safe way to have them out in a larger space.
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----ALICIA ROTH----

It is hard to say if your dragon is over weight without any recent info on him. Such as, how long is he (nose to tail tip)? How much does he currently weigh? How much food to you give him each day and what type of food are you feeding (ie mostly greens, mostly insects, a mix etc). Several good pictures showing your dragon from different angles, with something to compare to (ie a ruler, dollar bill (or a $5 if you are in Canada, since our dollar bills are now coins). Pictures of how much you feed your dragon can help to, as in the size of the bowl and how much food is in it before you give it to your dragon etc.

As I don't know how experienced you are with dragons and knowing how a 'fat' dragon would look like, i rather see pictures and hear what your current feeding regiment is before I suggest ways to cut down his weight.
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PHLdyPayne

Here's a pretty simple plan: Give your dragon access to a 130+ basking spot and that should help thin your Dragon down, and give it what it needs to properly metabolize/digest. My dragons get 2 or 3 pinkies each a week with a high basking spot and they arent obese or in any way unhealthy. They will not burn themselves either, contrary to popular belief. All you have to do is give them what THEY recognize ( not you ) and they will do the rest. I'm sure alot of people will disagree, but all you have to do is try it and results will speak for themselves. Go over to the Monitor forum and read a few threads about Basking temps and how they relate to Reptiles. The same concept can be applied to any type of Agamid with much success.

Yes, increased temp. equals increased metabolism. But, hydration will suffer and be sure that the cool area remains cool. I'm not going to disagree but it wouldn't be my plan of choice.

Hydration won't suffer if your using low wattage bulbs. I use one 30 watt indoor flood per enclosure and get the 130 degree basking spot, without drying the air. Instead of using a high wattage bulb to make your basking spot, use one or two low wattage bulbs and elevate your basking spot to whatever height you need them to be. I cringe whenever I hear people using a bulb over 75 watts. All your doing is making Reptile jerky and not to mention spending too much on your electricity.

I don't see the difference. Lowers wattage closer, higher wattage farther. Temp and humidity are the same. The bulbs don't dry the air as you infer. If they did where would the water vapor go? If you increase the temperature of air you decrease relitive humidity, unless you are supplying additional moisture some how.

I can't speak for other herps. But, from my experience and observations with dragons, they will not bask at anywhere near that high a temp. In other words if I were to use a spot light to make a 130 degree basking spot, my dragons would not sit in the light but would sit far enough away to get the 105 or so they are comfortable with.

Also it is important that there be a good temperature gradient in a dragon's enviroment. In enclosed enclosures it seems unlikely you could have a basking spot of 130 and a cool side with a temp of no more than 85. The only thing I can think of is maybe if you are using a cattle trough or something that is completely open. If that is the case a low wattage bulb close up would not provide the proper background temp.

Maybe you can explain your setup better and what reptiles you are housing.