Symptoms
- fat folds/rolls
- “pudgy” appearance (disproportionately large compared to length)
Cause
- too many insects
- too many fatty worms
- too small enclosure
Treatment
Reducing insect feedings and using lower fat feeders typically halts and reverses concerning weight gain. Moving the gecko into a larger gecko can also encourage them to get more exercise, especially if it has lots of branches and vines for climbing and leaping. Reducing prepared diet feedings may be needed for more stubbornly obese crested geckos.
Using a kitchen scale to weigh your gecko weekly is an easy way to keep tabs on your gecko’s health. Rapid, unexplained weight gain can signal a deeper problem. When in doubt, call an exotic vet.
Obese female from SuperFly Geckos. Breeder females are especially susceptible to obesity. Fortunately, the owner caught the problem and is working to resolve it. Photo used with permission.