Adult bearded dragon obese on just salad?

[ghr15]

For some reason my bearded dragon has suddenly been packing on the pounds. He used to eat bugs then suddenly would not eat them. Not knowing why he was not eating for a month I brought him a plate of salad. He devoured a whole plate. Every time I do that he devours all of it. But since doing this his belly is huge. His belly literally drags a bit when he walks.

I don't mean he can not hold his weight he can but his belly is so big his legs are not long enough to get his gut completely off the ground. I am getting concerned with his weight. He poops fine and shows all the signs of health except for his beer belly.

What can I do to get him to get his weight down? I cut him down allot on feedings to one dish full of salad a week and he is still fat. I am posting because I am wondering if just not feeding him for a while would be a good idea. Or should I just leave my beardie fat? He even has a noticeable weight difference he is kind of heavy if I have him sitting on my shoulder.

He is a older bearded dragon so is it natural for them to get fat later on in life? I am really starting to worry about him. PS cant take a pic sadly my camera is busted. I kind of accidentally sat on my camera

 

[christywoowoo]

I think you should restrict how much of it he is eating, beardie diet
He seems to be finding it hard to turn down food in front of him maybe?

Ps. Love your Spore profile picture xD))

 

[nursejones813]

How big is he? Length/weight. You shouldn't just not feed a creature. Beardies kind of have big bellies in general. While it's true you don't want him to be obese, you still want him to be healthy. What veggies are you feeding?

 

[christywoowoo]

I didn't mean to stop feeding him, maybe just a smaller serving size. Pictures definitely would help

 

[ghr15]

Don't have a scale to weigh him but he is heavy. Well heavy for a beardie any way. I do feed him but am wondering if just feeding him less is enough. He always goes right for his salad. He seems to like strawberries and kale the most out of anything else. I know since if either of those 2 things are on his plate its the first to go.

His gut is really huge. I have this little staircase I made him.He used to climb up it fine. Now he bottoms out a bit when he walks up it. Is having a huge belly an issue for a beardie? I would not know since none of my beardies ever ate food like this. That lizard will eat a plate of food a day if I let him.

Still I am worried he is going to have a heart attack from being too fat or something. I have had him for 8 years he was never this big around the middle. For 8 years he refused to eat greens and fruit. Now its all he wants and he refuses to eat bugs. Since being on a all vegetarian diet his gut has grown. His gut is literally twice the size it was. I know they should be chubby but this is ridiculous.

MY beardie eats practically any vegetable or fruit I put in front of him. He eats carrots, beats, squash, even potatoes. The only vegetable I don't feed him is spinach. I typically buy a romaine lettuce salad then add vegetables and fruit to it.

 

[christywoowoo]

Definitely you should monitor his serving sizes, by that description I'm pretty sure he's overweight.
Not sure about beardie heartattacks, but that can't be healthy.