Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a one year old Cuban Rock iguana that is experiencing feeding issues. He has always been an excellent eater. About two weeks ago, I began to notice a decrease in the amount of food that was being consumed. Now, he is barely picking at his food. A fecal exam has revealed nothing unusual. His activity level and general demeanor remain unaltered. I have made an appointment take him to the vet, but the earliest that I can have him seen is 10 days from now (we presently have only one veterinarian in town who specializes in herps, so his schedule is usually quite full). Can anyone offer any suggestions for tempting him to eat in the meantime?

As a side note, nothing in his environment has been altered. He is housed in a 60"x 30"x 30" enclosure (wood with sliding glass front doors) with the following temperature specs:

Daytime Gradient: 88F on cool end, 95F warm end
Basking site: 105F
Night temp: 82F
UV lights: 2x48" Zoomed Reptisun 10.0

Heat is provided by a combination of halogen basking lights and a radiant heat panel controlled by a Herpstat Pro thermostat.

mine periodically go off feed. I expect it especially when the season changes and mating season( with or without a mate). Where do you live? If he is healthy he can last for awhile and be fine. Try two things, first raise your basking temp to about 120 yours is just a bit low, second, offer foods that are brightly colored, grapes, strawberries, carrots, hibiscus flowers if available, stuff like that. My guess he will start feeding again when he is ready. just keep offering the usual, he will come back to it. 'see what the vet says...

jf

I live in Zigzag, Oregon, which is near Portland. I added a higher wattage bulb to one end of his basking area to bring the temperature up to 115-F, but he avoids it. According to my temperature gun, he likes to maintain his body temperature at 99-100F.

When I fill his food bowl, he approaches it and acts like he wants to eat, but then just pokes at the food, maybe takes a nibble, and then ignores it. Even treat foods such as banana no longer seem to entice him. He still goes nuts over insects (he goes into a frenzy when he sees me feeding the Bearded Dragons) but since I am careful to only offer them sparingly as an occasional treat, that doesn't help much. I tried a few brightly colored foods, but so far he seems immune to temptation. I have noticed that he's been digging in his substrate more than usual.

Thank you for your suggestions. I'll try some more of the items that you listed and see what happens. He still has good weight on his tail base, so hopefully I can get this figured out before he starts to noticeably lose any of it.

Mine can choose to be whatever temp they want to be because their outside year round. Mine CHOOSE to be 108-118 degrees for most of the day....thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Here's a pic of one of my het albino Green Iguanas basking @ 112 degrees and not yet even opening it's mouth which they do at around 120 degrees. My Cyclura even like to stay warmer than the Greens do on average temps...

It may be because your heat source is a small bulb and what happens is their skin will BURN and SCAR because of the small surface area covered. That would be my bet on why it avoids the light at higher temps. Place 2-3 bulbs that cover the WHOLE LIZARD and NOT just a small spot and watch the change in behaviour...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Hello Tom,

I currently have three basking lights arranged in a configuration that creates a basking area that covers 24" x 30". The basking platform gradually slopes upward so that he has a basking gradient that ranges from 105-F to 115-F. I use large, wide angle flood bulbs rather than spot bulbs, so that the heat is evenly distributed and there are no "hot spots". I use this multi-light arrangement for most of my herps, and it does work quite well.

Well you're doing it exactly right. Most folks have one small intense hot light and that lends itself to creating a small burn scar on the back. I have seen this many times. The worse was a GORGEOUS Lace Monitor that actually had a bleeding scar and the keeper didn't even know what caused it. Sounds like you've got it together so I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts to lose weight. Your sharp enough to know when the not feeding becomes problematical..Thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com