How much is too much food??

[Batdad]

The first leopard I got had been severely under fed when I got her (5 to 6 Crix every 2 weeks between two geckos). When a little research revealed this and I started feeding her more she eats everything in sight. I have also switched from crix to meal worms as the worms are easier to breed and I will be able to asure a goood food supply year round. The question I have centers around the other six leopards I have since aquired (like Princles, can't have just one), how many worms each should they be eating or should I be feeding. They are nowhere near the pigs that the first one is, I guess that a starvation diet of a few years will do that to you. I guess what it comes down to is can you over feed a young gecko??

Thanks
Bruce

[peregrinefalcon]

I do not believe you can overfeed a young leo, they are putting all those nutrients into growing. Adult leos you can overfeed, so don't let them have as much as they want everyday (every 2-3 days is ok).
Adam

[reptilesalonica]

If it's for babies, must be fed every day, only soft bodied insects.
When they are too young don't give them mealworms, they have hard exoskeleton. They will eat what they want. Count the quantity and then you will know.
If it is for adult, every 3 days. I fed mine only pinkies.
~Greg~

[Bartman]

i wouldnt think so only because there are some lizards that will eat until they die. I have never heard of leopards doing that and my leopard will eat until its full. I would think that about most leopards so it probably still is in the brains when there babies. I dont think they would eat more than they could IMO.

[reptilesalonica]

leos are not snakes my friend. They will eat what they can without any worries of overfeeding.
They have very high metabolism and also they storage food on the tail.
Obesity could occurs when the space is too small or when you fed them with faty food. (waxworms or too many pinkies-for adults only)
i feed my adult leos 2 pinkies every 3 days and i see that their tail is not thick at all.
They eat like pigs but none of my leos (i own leos 3 years now) is fat.
The key is looking at the tail. If it's thick then fed them normaly.
If it's a bit thin, then feed a little more.
Feeding schedule with herps likie those is very easy because there's always something to remind you to stop overfeeding (tail).

~Greg~

[Tim and Julie B]

Baby leos can eat any insect provided it is of the correct size. You should keep the diet varied and feed them every day, as much as they like. Adults should be fed every other day, enough to fill them up. If they stop hunting down food, or walk away from the dish of mealies, remove any extras. Obesity is common in leos, and over-feeding is one factor. Another is the kind of food being offered. Adults do well on crix, mealies, supers, silkworms, and the occassional pinkie during the breeding season. Butterworms and waxworms should be used ONLY as treats. They are high in fat with little else to offer. Be sure to use a good calcium D3 supplement at each feeding for babies, and every second feeding for adults. A multi-vitamin should be used aonce a week, perhaps more if you aren't providing adequate gut-load for your insects.

It's very difficult to overfeed leos, they stop when full, just watch that you provide the right kind of insects at the right time

Julie B.