A beginner’s guide

to reptile obesity

Turtle eating a strawberry, illustrating feeding and diet considerations to prevent reptile obesity

Reptile obesity is a common problem so what can we do to keep our animals healthy? As responsible reptile keepers we all want the best for our animals and to make sure they are happy and healthy. But is it possible we are keeping our reptiles ‘too well’?

by Courtney Comer

Summary (TL;DR)

Reptile obesity is a common welfare problem caused by overfeeding and reptiles’ unique metabolism. Some species are more prone than others. This guide shows how owners can prevent and manage obesity with regular weighing, veterinary checkups, enrichment, exercise, and species-specific feeding strategies. Following these steps helps your reptile maintain a healthy weight and live a longer, healthier life.

Obesity is a common problem in all pets

Whether it be cats, dogs, birds or small mammals, reptiles are no exception. According to data from the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, the world’s largest reptile rehoming facility, reptile obesity is now the most prolific problem they see by far. And specialist exotics veterinarian, Dr. Tariq Abou-Zhar, estimates around 15 to 20 percent of pet reptiles he sees at his UK-based surgery are obese.

Thankfully, there is plenty we can do to prevent reptile obesity.

Which reptiles are most affected?

Predictably, the most commonly kept reptile species are worst affected by obesity. This could be because these ‘beginner’ species are often acquired by new and inexperienced keepers who are more likely to make husbandry errors, but that doesn’t mean we don’t see obesity in advanced species. Larger reptiles, such as Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, monitor lizards and tegus, are often afflicted.

The most commonly observed overweight reptile species

corn snakes

bearded dragons
leopard geckos
crested geckos
Burmese pythons
reticulated pythons
commons boas
tegus
savannah monitors

While there’s no harm in offering the occasional treat, too many isn’t good

Courtney Comer

Five reasons why reptiles become obese

Before we can solve the issue of reptile obesity, we first need to understand how and why it happens. Being aware of what’s causing the problem is the first step to fixing it.

1. It’s human nature

As humans, offering food is a sign of kindness and good manners. And as keepers we want to make our reptiles happy, but it’s important to remember that reptiles don’t need to eat as frequently as we do. While there’s no harm in offering the occasional treat, too many treats isn’t good. We are ultimately responsible for our reptile’s diet and well-being, so it’s up to us to offer the right amount of food to prevent obesity. Don’t worry – your reptile won’t think you’re rude if you go easy on the treats and goodies.

2. It’s fascinating

Feeding time is one of the most exciting parts of owning a reptile. It’s when they are more active which is fascinating to watch. Sadly, some keepers get carried away with feedings because they want to see their reptiles in action more often.

There’s also the excitement of growing reptiles to an impressive size in a short period of time – or ‘power feeding’ – as it is often called. Feeding reptiles and watching them grow is fascinating but this should not be done at the expense of your animal’s health.

3. It’s a habit

Young reptiles need to eat frequently to ensure they have enough calories to grow, but when the animal reaches adulthood they don’t’ need to eat as often. Many keepers stick to the ‘feed once a week’ habit and this causes their animal to store the excess calories as fat. Most species are programmed to eat food at every available opportunity but aren’t able to regulate their calorific intake. So it’s up to us, the keepers, to be responsible for feeding schedules and serving sizes.

4. It’s a metabolism thing

Keepers often forget that reptiles metabolisms are different from ours. Mammals, such as dogs, cats and humans, use some of the calories consumed to generate body heat, which is why they need to eat so frequently. Reptiles, however, are exothermic. This means they depend on external sources, such as the sun or a heat lamp, to generate body heat. The calories reptiles consume are used for energy and, due to their slower metabolism, reptiles can go far longer between meals. Pretty amazing, right?

5. It’s so common

Some keepers simply won’t realise their reptile is obese. Many of the reptiles we see on social media are overweight so it might seem as though your chubby reptile is a normal size. To make matters worse, there is little data for keepers to refer to if they want to check their animal is healthy.

Tackling obesity

Although reptile obesity is a common problem it can be easily fixed with a few simple changes:

Logging your reptile’s weight is an important part of ensuring they’re in good shape. Weigh them at least once a month. If your reptile is fully grown and their weight is increasing, you’ll know there’s potentially a problem.
Take your reptile for a checkup. A good specialist reptile store will be able to tell you if your reptile is getting chubby, and a regular checkup with your specialist vet is even better. They’ll be thankful (and probably impressed) if you show them your reptile’s weight records, and they’ll advise you on how you can adapt your animal’s diet if necessary.

It’s much easier to address a weight issue when it’s only a small problem. That’s why checkups are vital. It’s all about prevention.
Exercise and enrichment are more to do with health and welfare than weight loss, but anything that burns calories will help so mimicking your reptile’s natural habitat is greatly encouraged. Building an enclosure which enables your animal to exhibit natural behaviours such as climbing, jumping and digging, is an essential part of good husbandry and will help keep your animal fit and healthy.

You can also make your animal work for its food by using puzzle feeders, target training, or simply placing food items around the enclosure to encourage foraging behaviours. Providing your reptiles with plenty of space and enrichment is an excellent way to give them exercise, thereby lowering the risk of obesity.
Different animals from differing parts of the world will have varying metabolisms and individual calorific needs at different times of the year. And metabolisms often vary between members of the same species.

Manage your reptile’s food and calories based on the needs of that species and consider each individual’s metabolism and body condition. Try using different sizes of prey and offer a wide variety of food options. You can also slightly increase the time between feeds. Remember that reptiles in the wild don’t have a strict feeding schedule or prey size. Sometimes food won’t be available at all so missing the odd meal can be a good idea. It doesn’t hurt to mix it up.
If your reptile is already obese, don’t worry as there’s plenty we can do. Assuming you’ve taken your animal to see a vet to rule out other health issues, getting your reptile back to a healthy weight is completely in your control. Weight loss should be a gradual process and you can start by offering smaller portions of food and increasing the time between meals. A good reptile store will be able to recommend suitable food items for your animal – which likely means avoiding some of the treats your reptile loves so much. It can take time and perseverance, but rest assured, you’ll be doing the right thing.
However, it’s important to continue feeding your animal regularly, even if you do so less often with smaller meals. It’s not a good idea to stop feeding them completely as this can lead to several other serious health conditions. Little and less often is usually the best way.

Let’s spread

the word

Being aware of the obesity problem is the first step to fixing it. The more keepers who know about the issue, the more successful we as a community will be at preventing it.

Reptile obesity may be a common problem but there are simple solutions.

Spreading awareness will help our fellow keepers avoid the common mistakes and provide better welfare for our animals, helping us all to become more responsible reptile keepers.