Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone, I've posted before concerning that my ig is not growing. Now he has gain some weight and grow a little bigger, but still kinda small compare to the "baby iguana" i saw out there. he should be 5 month old now and he's 12" long. Is this the normal size for his age? The iguana i saw out there all claim to be "baby" but they are so much bigger and have thicker limbs and body. I know some of them feed them animal protein to make them grow bigger which is bad, but I really want to know if my ig is growing at a normal rate or not. he's eating well and doesn't have parasite. just somehow i thought he maybe growing a little too slow~ (or maybe I'm blinded by my bearded dragon since he grow too fast...)

Does the food provide a complete diet?
Does it get supplements?
Do not overdo with with Calcium/Vitamin D supplements.
Are the UV lights working properly? Are they too old?
Does it have enough room to move about and "excercise" its limbs?

Stay away from protein, and don't try to force it to grow.
As long as it's healthy and good weight, it's fine.

Enjoy it while it is still "small". Once they reach over 3 feet, you're in for a handful!

-IJ

Generally, IG will not be very big until they hit two years old. Just wait and see how big she'll get in her second year...that's when she'll get real big. You want to handle it now because it's much easier handling a hatchlings than a wild adult. One time I saw this really sweet 7 months old IG; he was really tame and just sat there to be petted on the head...abosolutely adorable!

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/agesize.html

go there.. lots of good information on size and age : )

what do you mean by "overdo" the calcium? I sprinkle a little bit everyday, is that too much? should i cut down to maybe three times a week instead? it is about 12" in total now, and I have a 35 gallon tall tank, is it too small for it to move? I don't think it move very much except for going from basking to eating, and when he try to get away from me when i stuck my hand in...is there a good way to make him excercise?

I think you're doing fine with the calcium. If you sprinkle calcium on the food and mix it in, and you still can see it; then you put too much. I generally sprinkle calcium on his food everyday and multivitamin 5 times a week. And mine don't move that much either, at least when I'm looking; he tends to move around when nobody is looking at him. Mine is still very shy. You need to tame it for it to become relax around people!

alright, thanks for all the help, I'm taking him out and handling him everyday, hope he'll become a tamed family member and grow big and tall~