In this article, I will go over how to tell if your bearded dragon is overweight and needs to lose weight the causes of weight gain, and how to help the lizard lose weight easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can a bearded dragon become overweight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Overweight](\"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Overweight-Bearded-Dragons.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBearded dragons can become overweight if overfed with fatty treats or too much food at close intervals. The ideal weight of a fully grown lizard that is 22-24 inches long should be between 400-800 grams. Mature bearded dragons that weigh over 800g are likely to be obese or fat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nObesity in bearded dragons is a growing problem because these pets are some of the reptiles that don’t necessarily show good self-control with their dietary habits. If you continue feeding them, they’ll keep eating as much as they can, which will eventually show with signs of overgrown fat pads and other symptoms I’ve listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signs of obesity in bearded dragons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are a few pointers that will hint if your beardie is growing too fat for its good health. While looking at the reptile should clearly show signs of obesity, there are a few places to check to help determine if they’re overweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you gently run your finger along the spine and the rib cage, you’ll be able to tell if the lizard is overweight. If you cannot feel the spine or the ribs, then there’s a big fat layer that’s an indication of weight problems. Alternatively, checking the fat pads on the head of the bearded dragon as well as its belly will indicate if there are weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the signs of an overweight bearded dragon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Large fat pads on the head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first sign of overweight beardies is an enlarged fat pad on their heads. This can happen for a number of reasons, but it’s usually attributed to consuming too many fatty treats or getting overfed probably with fatty foods and treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fat pads on a healthy bearded dragon<\/a> are usually soft and fleshy but not too big, making the head curve gradually. However, a fat pad that is too big will show an exaggerated curve on the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Sluggishness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A sluggish bearded dragon is a sure sign of obesity. This sluggishness can be seen in the overall lethargy, and difficulty moving around due to excess weight. A sluggish lizard will also start slowing down when moving about its enclosure. Low energy levels may also be seen in these reptiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The increased fat content makes puts too much strain on the legs, making it unusually difficult for them to move around quickly or even eat food easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Distended belly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The belly of your beardie should be fairly flat and just slightly distended on the sides. For a lizard with weight problems, the first thing you should look at is your dragon’s abdomen or abdominal fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- For a healthy bearded dragon: if you look at the stomach flab of the dragon, it should be very lean and squishes a little bit. You’ll not see loose hanging blobs of fat.<\/li>
- For an obese dragon: there will be so much loose material in the belly of the dragon. Big globs and chunks of fat can be felt in the belly that makes it appear distended on the sides.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In fact, a fat bearded dragon will simply appear as though it is dragging the sagging fat pockets across the surface as it moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Big jowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Big jowls will be sure telltale signs of weight problems. Jowls are the loose hanging skin and a sort of tissue matter that hangs underneath the chin right below the section that’s usually known as the beard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Big, fat jowls occur because too much fatty tissue compresses into one area giving it a big bulge that hangs down from the lower jaw. The problem with this is when excess fat starts to accumulate around these areas and put pressure onto them; you can see it in their drooping lower lip or even loose skin under their chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The jowls of a healthy bearded dragon should be fairly flat, showing a slight downward curve. However, when your dragon is obese, these jowls might appear noticeably big and hanging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might want to check the lizard to make sure the jowls are actually a sign of obesity and not a swelling that’s caused by irritation in the throat area, injury, or even an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Difficulty climbing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Overweight](\"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Overweight-Bearded-Dragon-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMany obese bearded dragons will have difficulty climbing vertical surfaces, walls, or even jumping onto logs because of the difficulty of carrying their excess weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obesity can make it difficult for a lizard to move around due to their sluggishness, and this is even more pronounced when they try and climb up something like branches or rocks. When your beardie doesn’t want to climb anymore because of the difficulty in doing so, then there’s likely a problem with supporting its own weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A healthy dragon should be able to easily scale any type of object without much difficulty at all; though if you notice that they’re having trouble getting from one area to another while moving about normally, then this could be an indication that there may be weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Excess skin folds on the neck, abdomen, and limbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If excess skin is one of the earlier indicators that your dragon might be obese, then you need to pay attention to these folds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Skin creases on a healthy bearded dragon are usually very thin and only barely noticeable on the neck, abdomen, or limbs; though if they’re too big or have excess fat in-between them then this could also signify weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The amount of excess skin can vary from lizard to lizard but when it starts becoming obvious with more pronounced fold lines, ballooning around certain areas like under their chin or between their legs where there’s extra weight hanging off the body then this is likely an indication of obesity issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A note<\/strong>: don’t confuse excess skin on an otherwise healthy beardie as being something related to excess weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, if the dragon is about to shed its skin and there are excess folds of skin that are coming off because it doesn’t fit anymore, then this could be a sign that your beardie is just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Fat tail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take a look at the tail of a healthy bearded dragon, it is s just a dense compact structure. It won’t be like the tail of a leopard gecko or African fat-tailed gecko<\/a> where the tail it’s literally a fat store. There should not be too much mobility of the scales; they’re very fixed in place and the tail as a whole just feels very dense and solid.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, for an overweight bearded dragon, the base of its tail is actually a lot thicker and a lot beefier and if you feel it, it actually feels squishy. This means there’s a thin layer of fat literally surrounding the entire surface of the tail. This is really not good because it means that your bearded dragon has so much excess fat that it needs to distribute it across the surface of the tail, which really should just be a compact structure used for balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBearded dragons can become overweight if overfed with fatty treats or too much food at close intervals. The ideal weight of a fully grown lizard that is 22-24 inches long should be between 400-800 grams. Mature bearded dragons that weigh over 800g are likely to be obese or fat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Obesity in bearded dragons is a growing problem because these pets are some of the reptiles that don’t necessarily show good self-control with their dietary habits. If you continue feeding them, they’ll keep eating as much as they can, which will eventually show with signs of overgrown fat pads and other symptoms I’ve listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few pointers that will hint if your beardie is growing too fat for its good health. While looking at the reptile should clearly show signs of obesity, there are a few places to check to help determine if they’re overweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you gently run your finger along the spine and the rib cage, you’ll be able to tell if the lizard is overweight. If you cannot feel the spine or the ribs, then there’s a big fat layer that’s an indication of weight problems. Alternatively, checking the fat pads on the head of the bearded dragon as well as its belly will indicate if there are weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the signs of an overweight bearded dragon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first sign of overweight beardies is an enlarged fat pad on their heads. This can happen for a number of reasons, but it’s usually attributed to consuming too many fatty treats or getting overfed probably with fatty foods and treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fat pads on a healthy bearded dragon<\/a> are usually soft and fleshy but not too big, making the head curve gradually. However, a fat pad that is too big will show an exaggerated curve on the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sluggish bearded dragon is a sure sign of obesity. This sluggishness can be seen in the overall lethargy, and difficulty moving around due to excess weight. A sluggish lizard will also start slowing down when moving about its enclosure. Low energy levels may also be seen in these reptiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The increased fat content makes puts too much strain on the legs, making it unusually difficult for them to move around quickly or even eat food easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The belly of your beardie should be fairly flat and just slightly distended on the sides. For a lizard with weight problems, the first thing you should look at is your dragon’s abdomen or abdominal fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, a fat bearded dragon will simply appear as though it is dragging the sagging fat pockets across the surface as it moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big jowls will be sure telltale signs of weight problems. Jowls are the loose hanging skin and a sort of tissue matter that hangs underneath the chin right below the section that’s usually known as the beard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big, fat jowls occur because too much fatty tissue compresses into one area giving it a big bulge that hangs down from the lower jaw. The problem with this is when excess fat starts to accumulate around these areas and put pressure onto them; you can see it in their drooping lower lip or even loose skin under their chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The jowls of a healthy bearded dragon should be fairly flat, showing a slight downward curve. However, when your dragon is obese, these jowls might appear noticeably big and hanging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might want to check the lizard to make sure the jowls are actually a sign of obesity and not a swelling that’s caused by irritation in the throat area, injury, or even an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many obese bearded dragons will have difficulty climbing vertical surfaces, walls, or even jumping onto logs because of the difficulty of carrying their excess weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obesity can make it difficult for a lizard to move around due to their sluggishness, and this is even more pronounced when they try and climb up something like branches or rocks. When your beardie doesn’t want to climb anymore because of the difficulty in doing so, then there’s likely a problem with supporting its own weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy dragon should be able to easily scale any type of object without much difficulty at all; though if you notice that they’re having trouble getting from one area to another while moving about normally, then this could be an indication that there may be weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If excess skin is one of the earlier indicators that your dragon might be obese, then you need to pay attention to these folds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Skin creases on a healthy bearded dragon are usually very thin and only barely noticeable on the neck, abdomen, or limbs; though if they’re too big or have excess fat in-between them then this could also signify weight problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of excess skin can vary from lizard to lizard but when it starts becoming obvious with more pronounced fold lines, ballooning around certain areas like under their chin or between their legs where there’s extra weight hanging off the body then this is likely an indication of obesity issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A note<\/strong>: don’t confuse excess skin on an otherwise healthy beardie as being something related to excess weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if the dragon is about to shed its skin and there are excess folds of skin that are coming off because it doesn’t fit anymore, then this could be a sign that your beardie is just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at the tail of a healthy bearded dragon, it is s just a dense compact structure. It won’t be like the tail of a leopard gecko or African fat-tailed gecko<\/a> where the tail it’s literally a fat store. There should not be too much mobility of the scales; they’re very fixed in place and the tail as a whole just feels very dense and solid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, for an overweight bearded dragon, the base of its tail is actually a lot thicker and a lot beefier and if you feel it, it actually feels squishy. This means there’s a thin layer of fat literally surrounding the entire surface of the tail. This is really not good because it means that your bearded dragon has so much excess fat that it needs to distribute it across the surface of the tail, which really should just be a compact structure used for balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSigns of obesity in bearded dragons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Large fat pads on the head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Sluggishness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Distended belly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Big jowls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Difficulty climbing<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n6. Excess skin folds on the neck, abdomen, and limbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Fat tail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n