🍽️ Pet Food Calculator
Turn your pet's weight and life stage into a daily portion — calories, grams of food, and meals per day — using the same RER/DER energy model vets use.
🍽️ Daily feeding
Based on RER 234 kcal and a ×1.6 (neutered adult) activity factor. Portions are a starting estimate — adjust to body condition and confirm with your exotic vet.
Feed to body condition, not just the bag
Generic feeding charts assume an average animal on an average diet. This calculator instead builds the amount from first principles — your pet's resting energy need, an activity multiplier, and the actual calorie density of the food you feed — so the portion fits the animal in front of you.
Use the Pet Calorie Calculator to see the underlying resting and daily calorie figures, and the Pet Weight Tracker to check whether the amount is keeping your pet in a healthy range over time.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does the calculator work out the daily amount?
It uses the standard veterinary energy model. First it finds the Resting Energy Requirement, RER = 70 × (body weight in kg) raised to the power 0.75. Then it multiplies by a life-stage or activity factor to get the Daily Energy Requirement (DER). Finally it divides those calories by your food's energy density in kcal per gram to convert the daily calories into grams of food.
What energy density should I enter for the food?
Use the figure on your product's label. Dry diets are commonly around 3.5 kcal per gram, while wet or fresh foods are far lower because of their water content. Live insects, forage, and formulated exotic diets vary widely, so always check the specific product.
Does this work for reptiles, birds, and small mammals?
The RER/DER model is a useful starting point across many species, but exotic animals differ hugely in metabolism, and some (like snakes) eat whole prey on a very different cadence. Treat the result as a general estimate and tailor it to your species.
Is this a substitute for veterinary advice?
No. These are general estimates only. Feeding amounts should be adjusted to body condition, breeding status, and health, and every exotic species has its own needs — always consult a qualified exotic or wildlife veterinarian.