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Not eating like usual. Possible problems

Mattman Jan 22, 2004 08:11 AM

OK, we had a problem recently with our heater in the house. The day/night it went off we were away for the whole night so we are not sure just how long she was exposed to temps in the low 40's. As soon as we came home we took her fast into a small bedroom and used a space heater and extra lights to heat the room and her. When we got home she was very sleepy so I think it was possible it went out the day we left and overnight she was exposed to the very cold temps. She had lights for the day hours which might have kept her enclosure a bit warmer but at 9pm her lights go out, and it was very cold outside. Freezing temperatures. She seems to have recovered. Well, she looks fine and healthy, but is not eating like herself. Usually she can eat, and eat, and now she is leaving her plates of greens and veggies untouched for the day. A few days after the heater incident she was also moved into a much larger enclosure. So she also has a new cage that she has been in for 2 1/2 weeks now. Could the one really cold day cause her to stop eating or maybe she is just taking the time to settle into the much larger enclosure 6 x 6 x 5??? I saw her pick on her greens here and there, but yesterday it was totally untouched, and usually she cleans the plates throughout the day. I'm a bit worried for her. Any help or suggestions is appreciated. Thank you.
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Replies (4)

Solaris16 Jan 22, 2004 04:11 PM

It's possible that she's just mad at you for leaving, as opposed to her being hurt from the low temperatures. Iguanas can be pretty tough like that, but DO get upset when their owners leave!
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"It's not a matter of IF...but WHEN" ~Bill Haast~

"Joy unspeakable...to be holding death in your hands..."

Sam-N-Ella Jan 22, 2004 08:20 PM

Was it before she was moved to the new cage when she stopped eating as much? If so she probably was upset, but moving into a new cage could have had a big affect on eating also. I changed a lot of things in my Iggys enclosure over a week ago and finally they're eating like they used to. I was getting worried because usually they eat like cows. It's hard to tell if the cold for 1 day and night would have an effect like that.

oasisbeyond Jan 23, 2004 08:07 PM

Well I had the same problem, for me it was really cold a week ago, like -30 here in Montreal Canada.

And since then she or he stoped eating, so I put it downstairs where the furness is, so it's nice and hot.

Hopefully it will start eating again, but from experiance iguanas tend to stop eating during winter months, the eat a lot less.

My iguana is really healty, this is my second iguana, and I've now had it for 2 1/2 years.

I hope yours is ok, if she doesn't eat, go to the vet next week, they'll probably give her vitamines.

PHFaust Jan 23, 2004 07:47 PM

Iguanas are very routined animals and tend to take stress on the general whole badly. You leaving, low temps and the cage move may have been a little too much. I cant remember how big your iguana is, however a small one can go a week safely with out food before a vet visit is needed. A larger one can go like 2 weeks before needing a vet. Try offering treat foods like wheat bread, strawberries, kiwi and banana along with the greens and see if you get a nibble at all.
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Cindy
PHFaust

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