Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Saturday my wife and daughter went to Orlando to a pet store, Petland. They came back with a story that was hard for me to believe. They said they saw a baby Desert Iguana in one of the cages. I couldn't investigate their story till Monday. Sure enough it was a baby about 3-4 months old. He was very active trying to get out. His tail was quite fat but his sides sunk in. Petland had no idea he was a DI. I felt sorry for the little guy so I brought him home. I have (3) other DI two juveniles and one adult. Purchased them last year at Tampa reptile show. I had one in Arizona when I was a teen, moved to Florida. He lived 16 years. He went blind. Soon after I got him home I fed him some Omnivore from Walkabout Farms. It is excellent for DI's I fed my other guys when they wouldn't eat well over the Winter. It is full of vitamins and minerals. They gain weight when I give it to them. The little baby has now become inactive sleeping most of the day. I feed him small amounts of omnivore every 3-4 hours. He has 3 wounds on him I am guessing he got from the collard lizards he was with. Monday he was with baby bearded dragons. So the collards must of been hurting him! Anyway one wound is fresh, I am concerned about. The next day he deficated for the first time we got him. After that he became very active for a while. Wednesday he did an even bigger one. I collected a sample. Yesterday took him to the vet. They checked him over. He weighed 10 grams gained 2 grams since Monday Checked him for worms. No worms. And mouth rot, all good there. The Dr pulled off the fresh scab and got a blood sample. The white blood cell count should be 23%, she said it was like 55%-60%. She gave him Batryl by injection. His poor leg was stiff for several hours. Took him outside in the sun for awhile, he became active and looked around. But in Florida as usual in the afternoon the sun went away. I am suppose to give him 4 more injections. I called the Vet and asked her if I could give it to him orally. She said that can be done, so that is what I will do from now on. Where is the infection coming from? The wound? I don't know! At night I keep him about 85 degrees. The day 95 to 100 degrees. He has spurts of activity. He even jumped on my shirt today. Anyone else have simular problems with baby DI's Please let me know! Thanks! Bill.

Could he have an internal compression wound that has become infected? Just a thought. I've had some great success packing a foot wound with honey. It saved my chucks foot after repeated treatments with antibiotics. My great aunt used to pack bed sores with sugar when she ran a nursing home and it cleared them up within 24 hrs. Might help and probably wouldn't hurt, but check with your vet first.

including seeing a vet. My 2 cents is if he is "inactive " he may be wanting to brumate. If he dosn't brumate and its too cold out in the coming months
to take him outside for sunshine you may consider getting a strong uv bulb like active uvheat mercury vapor.

I remember talking to you on the phone and you definatly have plenty of experience with DIs

Good luck and keeps us posted
John Styner