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powerfeeding, good or bad?

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geckogirl3

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I want some opinions on this subject. I believe that a lot of breeders overfeed their geckos to get them huge fast so they will sell for more money. I think this detrimental to their health, even if properly supplemented. I recently bought a couple of female Rainwaters for breeding purposes, and both have goofed up front legs that make them look like Popeye. They are bent inward at a weird angle and bowed out, and they have some difficulty walking on them, although they are able to get around. I personally believe in feeding at a more moderate rate, and letting my geckos grow slowly. I think it is healthier. Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated. And for instance, what should a 6 month old leopard gecko really weigh?
 
feeding

Ok, I can only say what feeding regimen I utilize for my leos.
From hatchling to juvenile (15 grams) I feed them mealworms daily. From Juvenile to subadult (30 grams) I feed them mealworms every other day. From about 30 grams on they are able to take superworms. From here on out they are fed about 3 times a week.

Not sure what is wrong with your Rainwater albinos but I do not feel that the leg problem is from overfeeding. Sounds more like a calcium defeciency from when they were younger, but I would have to see them to be more certain.

As far as what a healthy 6 month old leo should weigh? It really depends on the feeding schedule and of course the individual gecko. They are all different, with differing body shapes and types. I would say anything from 25 grams on up to 50 grams, or even a bit larger.
 
Yep, sounds like your girls had and/or have MBD, check them for it. You can usally tell by gently pressing on the geckos lips and see if they easily "bend". Make sure to suppliment your feeders with calcium and offer a small dish of calcium as well. As for "power feedin" leos, I have not heard of any adverse effects with leopard geckos.
 
Some reptiles can have massive ill health effects from "power feeding" whereas others simply can't be powerfed, as it's nearly impossible to give them more food than their body is able to handle.

Generally speaking, these two groups can be distinguished by looking at the seasonal avaliability of food. If food is unavaliable, or not as readily avaliable during certain seasons, the animals have adapted to form a healthy and normal supply of fat tissue to deal with this. Animals where food is avaliable year round will often end up obese if overfed.

Natural feeding frequency and prey size/digestability is another issue here too... There are plenty of obese boids (as an example) and monitors because many people fail to realize the amount of time these animals spend in the wild looking (or waiting) unsuccessfully for food. Ambush predators don't eat a meal exactly every seven days, nor is it always the "perfect" size when they get one... The prey items are often inappropriate as well (like savs eating three mice a day... they rarely eat mammals in the wild, the insects are just a lot bigger).

Leopard geckos are one of those species where obesity is a rarity, if it happens at all... The bigger and fatter that tail is, the healthier the animal.
 
I have to agree that your Rainwaters, are not fat but have/had MBD. The only leopards I have ever seen with bowed legs have had MBD and if this is the case, they can't be bred. They have already had calcium problems and breeding them would only tax them further.
 
I'm not implying that my Rainwaters are fat. I believe they were powerfed and grew at an unhealthy rate that resulted in a bone deformity that no amount of calcium supplementation could prevent.
 
I've had a male tremper albino who was 50 grams at 4 months of age, he grew up fine, no MBD. I had several other hatchlings grow up to 40 grams in 3 months, they all grew up fine, and on a diet of mealworms. MBD is cased by not providing your geckow ith enough calcium, not by overfeeding. what I am trying to say is that with leopard geckos, they have not found "power feeding" to cause any problems. Your gecko has or had MBD, it is not growing too fast!!!
 
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