Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to iguanas. I bought Fido at the Tampa Retile Show a few weeks ago. Both my cousins have had one so I have gotten advise from them but here's my question...I bought a calcium suppliment to sprinkle on Fido's food but he seems to smell or taste it & will pass up the food that is supplimented. He does not like it. I'm tempted to put it on every day to get him to eat it. What should I do?

Other than that, he's perfect. He seems to love living in my front window. He had a huge glass tank but I always brought him out to the window in the morning anyway, so he basically lives there now. He has his food twice a day, a bowl of water, a hot rock if it gets chilly in the window sill (and before anyone has a hissy-fit, it does NOT get very hot. Trust me, I have CHECKED) and he climbs the screens everyday & seems to attract a green anolie on the outside of the screen. (We live in Florida so we have great weather & tons of sun.)

He sits on my shoulder at least a few hours everyday & he loves his baths. Never bites or raises his tail. Loves to sit outside in the hibiscus bushes when I'm working outside. He's not a runner either although he bolted once when he got a blast of the water hose. LOL.

Basically, perfect except for the suppliment. I don't think he'd over eat it if offered everyday because he'd rather not eat at all than eat food supplimented with it.

Any idea???

Thanks, Terri

One more of Sleeping Beauty himself...

The problem with hot rocks... is their purported tendency to short out, thus getting very hot in a short amount of time. They also don't heat the surrounding air. The best way to check a heating element is with a very good thermometer, your fingers can lie a bit. I'll let the other more experienced posters make sure that you have proper UVB lighting.
(with the calcium powder, my guess would be that you would need to get him used to it a bit at a time, a little is better than none. At any rate there are high calcium veggies he can eat so large amounts of supplement aren't as crucial)
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Here's an idea: Take a Tums or Rolaids tablet with added Calcium, crunch it down to powder, and sprinkle just a little of it on some greens (collards are best). If you can get the tablets that have tropical fruit flavors, so much the better. Start with just a little (barely enough for him to notice), then increase the "dosage" gradually until he grows accustomed to it. I don't think you really need a brand-name calcium supplement, and you may not need a supplement at all if he's getting the right veggies that already have it in them. Let me know if this works. Good luck - you got a cute one there!
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MichaelB

Tempest was the same, and he can still get very picky. Like the others suggested, try very small amounts, and I find hiding it well helps as well. Finely grated carrot and squash is a good hiding place, so is mashed banana (just a small amount or he might get the runs). Otherwise, what an adorable little iglet! He looks so sweet Congratulations on your new-found job of ig slave!

Fido had a tank that was 5 feet by 2 feet by 2 deep with heat strip in the bottom, light on top for added heat and tons of limbs for climbing however I always found him on a limb in the shade & never on the warm bottom of the tank. He worried me becuase although we live in Florida our nights have been in the 40s & 50's here this week and his tank was in the Florida room (not heated) with our 3 Kingsnakes (each with their own heating pad). I didn't think he was staying warm. He loves the sun in the window, loves climbing the screen & the hot rock is a warm spot in case he wants it. He was kindy slow moving (from being cold) but now that he stays in with me he is warmer & quicker moving. Now I need a vita-light.

The tums thing sounds great. I'll have to try that. I found that he loves pureed pumpkin & even tried to hide the calcium in that. One bite & he was done. Grrr.

We've only ever had our 3 Kingsnakes so it was great to find that a reptile can have such a personality. My cousin, who also had an ig for years, watched the tank at the Reptile Show for 5-6 minutes before he picked Fido out from all the rest of the iguanas & Fido has such a GREAT disposition!

I didn't realize when we got him that all his food would have to be chopped TINY but now when he hears that chopper he comes running across the counter cause he knows it's chow time. LMAO.

All in all, Fido's great & I appreciate all your help. Thanks again.....Terri

I think iguanas would rather be high up off the ground than warm on the floor of the tank any day. Is your light now over the branch? Might help.

There were braches ALL over his tank and most of them reached the top but he always seemed to go for one not under the light.

I gave up & he now stays in the house (free roamer) where it's warm & he basically lives in my front window...BIG window. He climbs the screen, has his food & water & hot rock there & when it's warm, I open the window so he has the sounds of the outside. He has even attracted true green & mixed brown anolies on the other side of the screen.

I just need to figure out how to put a vita-light there for him.

Seems better than the tank even though it was a huge tank for the little guy. I should say he's a baby at just 13 inches long.

Seems to like his window. 6 foot tall screens to climb & it's warm. It just seemed like the best deal. I was affraid he'd get too cold out in the FL room.

Thanks!!

Hello TerriBerri;
Try just lightly dusting the greens with calcium powder, then mix in the veggies. Then, mist the whole plate down with water, to dissolve the powder.

I think that for iguanas, human heating pads are more controllable, and safer. Our ig is a free roamer, so we have 4 of them in various places she basks or sleeps.

I think you are on the right track for taming your ig. Here is our Iggi back when she was small, and this year. She is 3 years old now, and 8.2 pounds.

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Thanks for the info, I'll try misting the powder & see if that works. BTW, I dusted his food tonight (I do it 3 times a week) & he refused EVERYTHING on his plate. Figures I'd get a hardheaded iguana. LOL

Your pictures were GREAT. What a beautiful iguana! Fido has a lot of bright blue streaks around his head & I'm hoping they come out more as he (?) grows.

I'm always referring to "him" as a "him." Fido may be a "her" for all I know. I may have to change my pronouns in the future.

Great pics! Thanks!