Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy from a new board member and my little friend Bob, she's about a year old or so, but we just met two months ago. I've been feeding her twice a day, a bowl with fruit, skinned and minced beans and whichever vitamin/calcium supp for brunch, and veggie & salad stuff for linner. She hardly takes a bite of brunch, but licks the salad plate clean almost every day. In order to make sure she's getting protein and her vitamin/calcium stuff, I'm thinking she might rather have one meal in between when 'brunch' and 'linner' would be, a 'lupper' with all the stuff she's supposed to be eating. It's not a major worry, she's quite healthy, but Bob's my first lizard, I'm terrified of doing anything to hurt her. How do your lizards prefer to dine? Do they eat the whole smorgasboard at once, or do they like having a multi-course feast?

Green Iguana
The Ultimate Owner's Manual
by Jammes W. Hatfiels 3rd
I got this out of a book i bought its the best info i ever got it has everthing you could want to know about your iggy the books around 20 bucks and 650 pages its wounderful. Thats the name of the book above i got mine at Border's But he has had so much expericance w iggys of this own and studied them and has talk to so many peep including vets owners a club it realy a great book im so glad i've got it i dont have to look online for hrs anymore but he sugest to feed them in the late morning. they realy dont eat much fruit not so good for them might be filling her up. But heres what he has learned about feeding below its pretty deatiled but much more detailed in the book. lol. Ever want to talk write to jammie at tkenna8901@aol or to jammie_carter@yahoo.com ever have a question !

Iguana Feeding Finaly a Great and Safe list of Food to the Detail!!!

Feeding
Leafy Greens 30-40% of the Diets
Collard Greens Parsley
Mustard Greens Leeks
Carrot Tops Kale*
Escarole Spinach*
Turnip Greens Swiss Chard*
Dandelion Greens and Flowers Beet Greens*
Hibiscus Leaves and Flowers Chinese Cabbage*
Nasturtium Greens and Flowers Bok Choy*
Mix 2 or 3 or more of these items in every meal . This is the main category for feeding ur iggy don't be afraid of these EXCEPT the greens with * next to them. These foods are not in protion to the ratio of Ca which is 2:1 calcium being 2 and phosphorus 1
Also they contain Oxalates and Phytates which is know for blocking the absortion of calcium in the blood which is needed expecialy in iggys having so many Ca problems.

Other Vegetables 30-40%
Green Beans Peas
Yellow Wax Beans Okra
Zucchini Carrot(grated or finely chopped)
Yellow or Crookneck Squash Celery
Sweet Bell Pepper Rabbit Pellets(i.e.., Alfalfa)
Sprouts(e.g..,alfalfa,sunflower,clover)
Legumes(cooked--e.g..,black beans,garbanzos, pinto beans)
Frozen mixed vegetables(thawed to room temperature--carrots, peas, green beans, corn, lima beans)
When using Rabbit pellets make sure to read the back there mostly alfalfa with the ratio of 2:1 that's good Ca. PELLETS MUST BE MOISTEN. Make sure to take out any uneatting pellets this is useed to add variety not as a main source of food. Make sure to keep pellets cool and dry moldy or old pellets can make your iggy very sick or lead to death.

FRUITS 10-15% of Diet
Blackberries Blueberries Cherries
Mango Apple Grapes
Papaya Pear Figs
Kiwi Banana Plum
Peach Apricot Strawberries
Melon(e.g..,Cantaloupe, Honeydew)
This is not a regular food tem just to be feed occasionally the calcium is low and phosphorus is low its not in ratio to 2:1
( Make sure to remove any pits seeds or tough skins from such as an apple or peach )
Grain-Based Foods 0-4%
Pasta you may throw this in once or twice in small amounts COOKED
they can not chew or digest pasta uncooked. You could use variety loike (spinach) green (carrot) orange or (beet) red.No sauce. Make sure to cut up the pasta in small amounts.
Rice
Try any kinds of cooked rice including(long or short grain),Brown, or Basmati. You may want to chop or blend the rice up finaly to prevent the cernals from passing right throught the system as a solid.
BREADS no more than 10% once or twice a week
(Whole grains only no white) Adds vitamins minerals and texture
Cream of Wheat R
Hot cereal Wheat- baised (wheat farina and wheat germ) has a 2:1 ratio Offers protein, carbs,and other vitamins
Cook smallest amount let set in refrigrator till firm no more than 15% of meal
Supplementmental Protein 1-3%
Monkey biscuit
Tofu
Commercial iguana food
A low fat, meat free dog food formulated for older dog
Feed 1 every 3 to 6 weeks make sure to add water to monkey biscuit and juveniles require high amounts of protein
Supplement is to be added 2 or 3 times a week not too much but depending on what u feed ur iggy remeber the 2:1 ratio meaning double calcium than phosphorus. So take in mind that some foods many not have the 2:1 ratio and others many contain oxalates and phytates that block absorbtion of Calcium. So take this in mind when adding supplement what types of food u are using and if they need the supplment. A proper lighting is need to digest and absorbs calcium correctly There temputer should be around 95 to 100 F no higher at the hottest spot of the tank a 10 degree drop at night is healthy for ur iggy.
And a uva and uvb light is needed to absorb calcium very important u can buy this light or use natrul light from the sun that is un filtered be screen or glass. Be careful not to let them over heat.

To make sure your iggy is getting good nutrision from foods cutting food up in small pieces can help ur iggys digest food since they cant chew there food. Alost make sure water is availble
Make sure to read the lables of all supplements and pre-made iggy food or rabbit pellets to check the dosage of D3 to make sure u are not overdosing ur iggy on the vitamin D most supplements do contain D3 along with pre-made foods so watch out.
Its hard to say what exactly to feed you iguana and how much but the best thing you an o is use varity that's the best advise you can get.
Lot of this is common since in opionoin use the info you are giving to make your choices. Varity will also help your iggy accept new foods.
I could go in much more detail if you would like this is just the beginning.
Leattuse is not a good food source for iggys its mostly water and can become adictive to your iggy. Maintain at least 85 F
NO MEAT OR BUGS IGGYS DO NOT DIGEST THESE TYPES OF PROTIENS.
Feed iggys everyday in late morning.

Iguanas are foragers.
Understanding their natural behavior helps replicate it as best as possible in captivity. However, a meal should always be balanced and well mixed, not separate into sections.

By the way, gotta ask...
... what's with "linner" and "lupper"?

-IJ