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RESCUED IGUANA-ACTING WEIRD

STEVES_KIKI Mar 22, 2008 08:32 PM

we just rescued a 3 1/2- 4 foot iguana female and she would rather hide in a box than under her hot area and lights. we've had her about 3 days and i was wondering if its because she isnt used to us yet... she'll eat her pellet food, but not the kale(she was fed kale strictly for 3 months), mustard greens or collard greens. As for it being warm enough, i even have my floor heater on....our house just has wall floor heaters for heat in each room. I gave her a bath tonight hoping she would potty since she hasnt yet and it was a yellowiish white and thickish looking... but not much. i have snakes and i KNOW thats not a good sign. i'm putting calcium and d3 on her veggies.. i'm going to try some carrots tonight. any advise would help.
~kin
-----
~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn(Just A Pet), A Bearded dragon, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping turtle, and a white cheeked mud turtle

Our rescue:
0.1 green iguana about 3 1/2 feet (Spikey)

Replies (2)

laurarfl Mar 23, 2008 08:12 AM

I would hold off on the carrots. They really aren't a great food item for igs. Some people have found a fruit that igs like...bananas for instance...and smeared that onto the greens to encourage them to eat. Fresh greens are better than pelleted food, but it can be a slow process switching them over to a proper diet if they prefer something else. Usually it involves feeding the preferred diet (unless it is something harmful like spinach or iceberg). Hold out and the iguana will get hungry enough to eat. If she's hiding and not getting as warm as she should, this will slow her metabolism and decrease her appetite.

Here's what I would do if it were my ig...your mileage may vary.

First, I would offer a fresh salad every day comprised of 50% dark leafy greens (collards, dandelions, mustards, escarole, with occasional kale, bok choy, endive) and 50% vegetables (raw green beans, snap peas, snow peas, squash, sweet potatoes, and occasionally carrots and parsnips). I would top it off with a small quantity of colorful fruits (apple, mango, papaya, plum, strawberry, blueberry, and occasionally grapes and banana). I have a lot of these foods around either because I eat them or I feed them to my beardies and tegus. I wouldn't make a large salad until she was eating readily and that way you're not wasting so much. I would also provide a small sample of the pelleted food to make sure she is eating something, but I would also begin decreasing it with the idea of removing it from the diet except for occasional use.

Hmm...the hide box is an interesting issue. You've only had her for 3 days or so, so I'm sure she's stressed. I would keep her in an area where she sees people and by a window where she can see the world, but not in the main traffic area where she's overwhelmed. Give her another week and she is if she starts to come out more. In the meantime, make sure the hide box is on the warm side of the cage so she is at a proper temp for digestion and overall health. Does she have any health issues? I have a 10yo beardie who likes his hide a little too much. When I noticed some decrease in appetite and face changes, I took away his hide for a time, forcing him to bask in UV. I don't think your situation is that drastic, but maybe you could put her outside for a time in basking cage.

Lastly, I would also bathe her every day in a lukewarm bath for 15-20 min to rehydrate her and keep her skin in good health.

The stool sounds like it was just some urates and liquid. You can get a fecal check done for parasites and give her some Nutribac probiotics for good digestive health.

There's another great message board at the green iguana society. Sorry, I don't have a link.

STEVES_KIKI Mar 23, 2008 10:54 AM

She looks healthy... when we got her she was snotting salt... i think i read it called snalting... maybe not. anyways. i'll try to post a pic... its the pic i got from ther person i rescued her from.... she was just going to let her out side and run away.... in Va!!!
here you go...

~kin
-----
~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn(Just A Pet), A Bearded dragon, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping turtle, and a white cheeked mud turtle

Our rescue:
0.1 green iguana about 3 1/2 feet (Spikey)

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