Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I am new here- and need some suggestions. I am a veterinary technician who now owns an iguana- a hatchling, dumped at the vet clinic that I work at. We found it in a box outside, next to our backdoor. (This is common with other animals, however it is the first iguana we have gotten. The vet I work for is an exotic/small animal vet who recently ran an iguana article in our local paper).
Twice, he was almost euthanized because we cannot keep an iguana at a vet hospital indefinitely, and some of the workers are nervous to care for him as a hatchling- can't imagine them caring for anything larger. So I agreed to take him.I have kept the iguana at work while I have been researching and gathering needed supplies. Yesterday I received a call that they needed to use the incubator where the iguana was at- so they put him in a cardboard box. While an incubator is less than ideal, a cardboard box is a death sentence- so I need to bring him home now.

Yesterday I set up his temporary home- a 3.5 ft long by 2.5 ft deep by 3 foot high enclosure: wooden on three sides, wire mesh on the front. The solid top lifts off and the entire front opens for easy access. I purchased a ceramic heat emitter, a UVB light (5.0), and a purple night light. I set everything up- minus basking shelves. I just checked my temperatures and want to scream. The ceramic heater provides temperatures in range of 98 to 85 top to bottom, but the other end of the enclosure is too cold. RIght now, my weather is insane- it is minus four without the windchill, but I am managing my house at 68 degrees with my home thermometer set at 74. The cool end of the enclosure is 70. This is what I need help with. Should I add another CHE or should I try a heating pad against the wooden side or under the enclosure? I also have a large pig blanket that is the same size as the enclosure- I could place that under the entire area (it would not be touching -the enclosure is on legs, a foot off the ground.)
I realize that this is not an ideal size cage- trying to get a good gradient in this size is tough enough, I cant imagine how anyone could do it with a small tank. For right now however, this is what I have to work with (better than a cardboard box). I could also use suggestions on what to use as basking areas- branches/shelves etc. Unfortunately, I am going to have to pick these up after work today, and set it up after I have already brought the iguana home. I have selected to use "pee pads" as my substrate. They are so much easier to pull out and replace than anything else I have thought about- I will see if this works out (his claws) if it isnt working, I will switch to the artificial turf.
I have a warm mist humidifier running in the same room, went out yesterday and purchased a plethora of dark green leafies, and veggies. I have a shallow pan for water. Am I missing anything needed immediately?
I realize that this is a very long post, and I apologize for that but I really want to do this right.

Kudos to you for rescuing the little thing.

For having improvised you're not doing a bad job at all! Just a few pointers...

First off, get rid of the black-light. If you want 'night vision warmth', get a RED bulb. Red's wavelengths are not as penetrating (long) as blue/violet emitted from the black light. Black lights seem ok for us humans, but are not so soothing for animals. Hence why film-makers for documentaries often use red lights, to avoid disturbing nocturnal animals.

70 is a bit cool, but it's not exactly 'cold'. Remember you want the animal to thermoregulate as much as possible. The cool end can help preserve water longer, and keep it cooler. I don't think an animal enjoys warm water so much. If you can, you can slightly tilt the ceramic bulb to somewhat cover a wider area, but I wouldn't be too worried about it, since this is after all, a temporary enclosure...
So do not add another ceramic because you might risk cooking the poor thing, however, do buy a spare.

However, if you're feeling brave enough, you could set up two ceramics, and put them on a timer each. When one's off, the other is on, and vice-versa, that way the animal is 'forced' to move around to bask and thermoregulate.

Use a mix for basking and climbing. Shelves are great and easy cleanup, branches are more natural and 'eye-candy'. Branches must be sterilized (i.e., a quick boil just in case they harbor unwanted organisms). Make sure the animal won't stay too close to both the heat source and the UV, to avoid thermal and retinal burns, therefore, also make sure there is a bit of shading (plastic foliage) and a hide-box.

Pee-pads are pretty cool, I never thought about them! Check if the claws don't get caught or rip away the absorbent cotton. Good job on the room humidifier, but do mist the iguana in the morning (and don't forget a warm soaking).

What I found fantastic is that your vet is specialized in exotics. This gives you a big advantage over others who often cannot find one in their area.

You seem to be on the right track. The only major change to do is the enclosure, but otherwise keep up the good work. As you may already know, there are two good books often mentioned here, one by Kaplan, the other by Hatfield, on iguana husbandry.

Keep us posted on your progress!

-IJ

And when I removed him from the box, he promptly whipped me and bit me my hand and wouldn't let go. heh heh heh. Its enough to make you thankful that they start out so small.
I will pick up a red light tonite- funny how you can be swayed and confused by all the products at a pet supply store. This stupid purple light won't be disturbing to him, its so dark that I can't even tell it is on unless I look real hard- that alone defeats the purpose of being a night light.

Know what I found to use as temporary basking/climbing areas? Small Wicker storage baskets turned upside down. Beautiful- easy to climb, flat surfaces to bask on. Wonder how long it will take for him to become too heavy to jump on them without flipping them. I will never know because I will remodel way before then.

I added a human wet/dry heat pad to the bottom of the cage on one side. So far so good. I turned his day lights on an hour ago (morning starts at 4:00 a.m. here) and I just warm water misted him. That is when I was very glad that I opted for the wet/dry heating pad for an extra five dollars instead of the regular one. He hasnt moved from the wicker basket where I put him yesterday. Not even an inch. Poor stressed out iggy. Late yesterday evening, I put some greens in for him, and I just now replaced them. I carefully placed one scrumptious bite near him on the basket. Temptation. lol.

Working for an exotic vet does have its perks. I have the opportunity to handle and help a wide variety of birds and reptiles and pocket pets. The most memorable was an egg-bound ball python. Also, a painted turtle that a dog had used as a chew-toy. We gave it a cast over the missing shell areas.

I have the Iguanas for Dummies book by Melissa Kaplan. I haven't read all of it yet, but I did refer to it when I was trying to correct my temperatures. Also when I was trying to decide if I was able to take in the iguana in the first place. The posts here on the forum frequently refer to "MK salad" - would that be Melissa Kaplan salad? I was very proud of myself when I figured that out this morning.

Yup, that'll be the one.
The MK salad is for iguanas what the San Diego Zoo meal is for monitors.
Good work!

-IJ

yesterday to add to the greens I have here. He hasnt eaten at all- however, yesterday morning- I used a food processor and pulverized carrots broccoli snow peas and dandelion greens to make a nice nasty looking mess. I added that to his cage, in his bowl. Then I took a tiny bit of applesauce and scooped a bit of my processed mess and put a little bite next to him on his basking area. When I was spying on him from the other room, he smelled that little blob- just didn't eat any. I think I can call that progress, however.

Yesterday morning, when I opened his cage to mist him, he launched himself directly onto my face in full BONZAI mode, puffed up dewlap extended. Very comical, however I hope hope hope he gets over that before he becomes a dinosaur- or I will be disfigured and probably blind.

This morning, I will be tempting him with a small bite of banana. If he would just eat a tiny bit I would have something to work with.

So, then i mixed banana with greens, and he has ignored it all. *sigh*

So... wait, did it work, or did it not?
Takes time with juvies, the change of environment is stressful and takes time for them to get used to things and regain an appetite.
If he starts looking very thin, try hand-feeding some baby food (vegetables of course), and them keep mixing fruit or baby formula with the veggies. Eventually he'll eat.

-IJ

of banana. Once I added some more banana on top of some greens, he didnt eat it.
He isnt eating still, but he is active, and he spends a bit of time soaking and defecating in his water dish, and basking and climbing- so I am not worried yet. The defecating makes me think he is grabbing a leaf or two when I am not looking.