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New iguana

Kicksome123 Jul 15, 2006 08:44 PM

Hi, my new iguana stewie seems to like leafy veges, but he wont drink anything. Any time he eats is when I am from the room for some reason I personally havent seen him eat. He always eats when im out of the room for long periods of time and he is in my room so its kinda hard for him to eat. He doesnt let me pick him up out of his cage very easily he will run around and jump and etc... I havent seen him drink, Anything... no water when bathing just a little swimming thats it. There is a water bowl in his cage and it is very visible. When I am in the room he is CONSTANTLY staring at me and he wont take his eyes off me, I guess he thinks I am the enemy but when I take him out and sit down and put him on my stomach he is as sweet as he can be he will lay down and sleep on my stomach. Someone please help me with the drinking at all and tell me a good way to make him eat while im in the room.

Thanks,

Travis
Image

Replies (6)

IGUANA JOE Jul 15, 2006 11:48 PM

First thing first: next time you post a picture, make it smaller, it's a pain in the rear reading your post left-to right.

A few topics down someone asked a question much similar to yours. This is why it is important to skim through this forum, because you'll find tons of info and answers to your questions.
Also, buy a book or do as much research on iguanas as possible.

Moving on. Iguanas get most of their water from vegetation, frutis, and rain-water dripping from the leaves. In captivity, the same is applied. Some do drink from water bowls, others do not. As long as the animal is healthy, don't worry too much, and keep water available at all times. Letting a couple of ice-cubes melt and drip can help stimulate drinking.

Since the iguana is new, it is only natural to view you as a potential predator. Also, when you're holding it, it may not be so "cute and sweet" as it seems. Iguanas, like many animals, close their eyes when scared, to sort of "block" the threat. But it is good to know it falls asleep in your arms... that's a good sign that it is slowly understanding you're not a predator.

However, keep in mind iguanas are not like puppies. You can't expect to take one home, and immediately have a perfect exotic pet that will eat, drink and socialize when wanted to. Nearly all exotic pets are somewhat difficult and problematic. It is also wrong to assume all iguanas can be turned into the cuddly ones seen in books or read from Reptiles Magazine (a great mag to subscribe to).

Patience and positive reinforcement are the key. And, don't force it to like you so soon. Let it adjust, eat regurarly etc. Further down you can find topics on the subject.

How big is the enclosure? It is properly warm and lighted?

Anything else, feel free to ask. But do your research!

- IJ

p.s. Stewie is a k!ck-@$$ name for an ig!

Kicksome123 Jul 16, 2006 12:15 PM

Hi, thanks for replying and I will size my image down some next time, Yes he has the UVB 10.0 light but it is going through a screen top so it should be the equivalent of a 5.0 and I have a household light for heat it stays around 100 degrees in there most of the time and I am checking the temp with a digital thrmometer. He is in a 20 gallon tank right now but as soon as I can get some chicken wire he will be moved into a bigger ferret cage or my old bird cage. The bird cage is not small I had a severe macaw so it cant be small well thats it thanks for the replies..

IGUANA JOE Jul 16, 2006 04:13 PM

...that better be just the basking spot. Temperatures are best in the mid-80's - mid 90's. Reptiles need to thermoregulate, so one end should be in the mid-70's, the other end in the 90's.

Make sure you check out all the stuff empoyner gave you, that way you'll also know the proper measurements for an enxlosure. Keep in mind wire enclosures do not hold up heat nor humidity, so careful when you transfer the iguana in one of them.

-IJ

Kicksome123 Jul 16, 2006 04:16 PM

Yes, sorry I meant the basking spot the other places in the tank are 87 mostly. He is going through his first shed and I have given him 2 baths today and hopefully he will be finished in like 2 days he was just shedding on his head today he looks real good ^_^ and I will soon get, well what kind of cage to you recommend??? Reptarium or like glass or one of those plywood home built ones?

Paradon Jul 16, 2006 09:14 PM

First, my iguanas does the same thing. He will only eat when noone is watching, and I'm in the process of getting him use to me. This one is wild...running around everywhere when I try to pick him up, but luckily he is still small and young. And I've never seen my ig drink either. Iguanajoe is right, they get most of the water they need from the food they eat.

Now, to answer you question about the cage for the iguana. Personally, it is much easier to build one to accomadate your iguana since no cage sold in the store are every big enough to house even the smallest of iguana. I use a converted dog kennel to house my baby ig. I have to say it holds in heat and humidity pretty well. I have climbing branches in there for him and UVB bulb and basking spot. He is a very healthy ig. Pretty soon I'm gonna build a room size enclosure for him when he gets bigger. It's gonna be the size of a small room, though. Melissa Kaplan's site is good to get information about building an enclosure for you ig. Here is the link.
Melissa Kaplan's site

empoyner Jul 16, 2006 12:40 AM

General Care

Link: Green Iguana Society
Link: Melissa Kaplan's Green Iguana Care Collection
Link: Iguana Den

UVB Lighting (Critical)

Link: Cyber-Ig-Info: UVB Lighting
Link: UV Guide UK

Good books

Link: Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owners Manual by James W Hatfield III
Link: Iguana for Dummies by Melissa Kaplan

I recommend to study all the above. Read. Read. and Reread.
-----
Marie
Poyner Corner

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