Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a new iguana owner (juvie ig) and have a few questions. Actually, I feel a bit like a overprotective parent who is afraid to make a mistake so hopefully you can put some of my fears at rest.

Questions...

1)I'm using a 260 Gallon Reptarium with mesh sides (in a vertical position, not on it's side) as it was suggested by a vet at the Virginia Tech reptile lab. I'm currently using 2 100 watt heat lamps to heat the enclosure along with a UVB light but I'm worried that it's just not enough heat. The house is generally kept at around 70 degrees (slightly higher during the day. The space directly under the lamp is warm (I'd think 90 degrees or more)but since the sides of the enclosure are mesh the other parts of the reptarium (especially the floor where the ig's food is) are a slightly higher temp. than the house. I'd think about 75 degrees or slightly higher. Do I need to add more heat lamps? Should I get some lamps for the bottom part of the cage or buy a heating pad?

Honestly, heating is my biggest worry as you can probably tell. I go from being afraid the the enclosure is too cold to thinking that if I add more lamps it will be too hot.

2) Anyone have any experience with a Reptarium (www.reptarium.com)? Once the iguana gets used to it's new home I'm going to build some platforms for it but for right now it has some wood and nice vines so it can reach the top of the cage. Any suggestions for platforms for this type of enclosure?

3) What are your thoughts on nighttime heating? Are the "black" lights I see available at Petco/Petsmart a good idea or should I go with something else?

4) We brought the iguana home on Sunday and so far he seems healthy. It's Spent most of it's time sitting on vines near the top of the cage (near the heat lamps and UVB light)and it moves around from time to time. However, it hasn't eaten or gone to the bathroom yet. We've put out lots of leafy greens and some food that the pet store suggested (what they were feeding it) but it doesn't seem to be interested. Is this normal for an iguana that has just been introduced to it's new home? How long should I let it not eat before I start to get worried.

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated. Especially stuff that may not be obvious to me as a first time iguana owner.

Thanks for the help...

1) I suck at volumes, if you could give the actual measurements (height;width;depth) it would really help.
Do you have a thermometer?
The enclosure has to have 3 temperature zones: a basking 90-something; a medium 80's; and low-high 70's (usually that's where people also keep the water).
If you make the entire enclosure "warm" the animal cannot properly thermoregulate. Forcing the animal to move around to control its temperature stiumaltes natural behavior and encourages excercise/movement.
Heating pads are a popular choice to keep the bottom warm, but not hot.

2) The only Reptarium I see suitable for an iguana is the R-260, but even that is not exactly a perfect fit. While the height is pretty good, the other measurements are ridiculously tight. A foot or two per side extra would be better.

3) For night-time lighting... Black lights are a no-no. It's all about the visible wavelengths. The best lighting used to observe wildlife at night is Red light, because the wavelength of red is not a penetrating, and most animals can barely see it. Black lights emit violet-blue light, which is more penetrating and therefore more visible to the animal. For night-time warmth, ceramic lamps are very popular.

4) Iguanas detest change, so expect it to be a pain in the *** for a while longer. Warm baths help stimulate bowel movement. If the room (or the house in general) is fairly quiet, and the animal is generally undisturbed (which is difficult, since everyone always wants to group around the new little godzilla), it should eventually eat.

Because the enclosure is meshed, mist the animal to give it its necessary humidity. You may put a few cubes of ice on top of the mesh (watch the wires and lights!) to simulate rain droplets and encourage drinking etc.

There have been numerous 'newbie' posts here, scan a few pages of this forum and you'll find a ton of useful information.
Also pick up a good book (Hatfield or Kaplan) and do as much research as possible.
There are no stupid questions, so don't be intimidated to ask more.

-IJ

Thanks for the info.

As for the Reptarium, I have the R260. I realize that it's not going to be the iguana's home forever but it should last until he gets bigger.

I've been misting him a couple of times a day and he's very alert. His eyes follow me whenever I come close to the cage and he tends to move around a bit on his vines. Normally from directly under the heat/UVB lamps in the morning and then elsewhere in the afternoon/night but he's never come down from the highest part of the cage so he's never used his water pan or his food. Do you think it would be worth it to put his food up higher?

Is there anything I can do to stimulate eating or will he just eat when he gets hungry enough?

I read about giving him a warm bath to stimulate poo but wasn't sure if I should do that since the pet store suggested not really handling him for a week. Do you suggest giving him a good soak in the next day or two? Keep in mind that I got him Sunday...

Ahhh... you just got him... Definately should keep interaction to a minimum... but the $#! 's gotta come out, hahahaha.
You can do two things:
1) put a bowl of lukewarm water in the cage big enough for it to soak.
2) try your luck and put it yourself in the tub and let mother nature do its thing.

Try to place the food higher, or if possible, place some here and there to stmulate foraging. If it used to eat at the store, it will eventually eat.

Does it have a hiding spot? Is there enough foliage for it to feel safe and not overexposed?

Good luck!

-IJ

He started to eat when I placed the food up higher. However, I don't think he's had anything to drink yet which worries me.

We have a medium pan (cat litter pan) full of room temp. water at the bottom of his enclosure but so far he hasn't ventured down there to use it. Any suggestions or will he just drink when he needs to.

FYI the pan is large enough for him to drink out of and soak in...

Iguanas get the majority of their water from fruits and vegetation, so unless the food was dry to a crisp, you don't have much to worry about.
Like I said, misting the animal and the "accessories" (foliage etc) encourages sapping.
If by the weekend it has not yet defecated, you have to soak the animal yourself in lukewarm water in the bath-tub (make sure the water is off by the time you intriduce it in the bathroom). If it still won't poop, go to vet.

Offer it some prunes, you can mix it with the food, or see if it will sap some prune juice. Cooked/canned red or black beans mixed in the food can help too.

Good luck,

- IJ