Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I never heard that this where not suitable for Iguanas. I just got this computer so I didn't really research th whole Iguana thing. My Iguana has a heat rock we feed it mainly roman lettuce (Since I read a couple of days ago the proper feeding he/she has been feed correctly) and it has no uv lighting and it never had vitamin suplement. I did NOT buy this Iguana we found it in my back yard and it was in pretty bad shape. His/her tail was missing and it was bleeding it was really cold outside (we found it in the middle of winter) and he just looked sick. We grabbed it and made a cage for it we bought the rock and it has been living with us for about 3 years. I whant to know how do I know if it has metabolic bone disease??? I am now feeding it correctly it now has a heat lamp and hopefully today we will buy the UV light. I hope I don't get attaked for treating this Iguana incorrectly but understand that I din't know what to do but I am correcting all of my mistakes now. I will try and post some pics ASAP. By the way my Iguana's name is Matilda her tail has grown back and she is really active. By the way is their a way to tell if it'a a male or female??? How big should it be it has to be about 3.5 to 4 years old.

Ok the heat rock isnt good for him, cover it with a towl so he doesent burn himself. romane lettis isnt good for him. He should have turnip greens, collard greens, musterd greens,dandalian greens to make up 80% of his diet. the rest should be fruits and vegies like squash and bell pepers and sweet patato,. a 4 to 5year old iguana is a full grown adult. should be over 4 1/2 foot long STL and over 18" long svl. SO get the uv lights, put a towl over the heat rock, keep the basking temp at 95* and change the diet. I think its great that you saved that little guy

My Iguana is about 1.5 feet Could that have been as a result of haveing to re-grow the tail? She has no deformaties never had a fracture and looks healthy I feel really guilty. Where do I found dandalian greens???

What's STl and svl?

Ok. SVL meens "snout vent lenght", the snout is the nose and vent is her but, literly. STL meens "snout tail lenght"
That is seriousley under sized. how big is he SVL?

About 13"

Ok I just remember we found it two years ago and when we found it it was about 7" svl (and no tail) so it must be like I dunno 2.5 y/o???

hummmmmmmmmmm, so he only has like 2 inches of tail? ok that wasnt as bad as I was thinking. but if you had him for 3 years without UV light, he probley has MBD. witch weekens the bones, and he might have kidney failer too. Is there any way you can go to the vet? Also I will refer you to this site. www.greenigsociety.org it will anser any ? you have. there is also a message board full of wonder full people. Im on there all the time.

Thanks,
Greg

What are simptoms of MBD other than deformaties and broken bones? Oh by the way he does receive direct sun for about 5 hours a day in the bottom of the cage (Most of the cage is in shade but there is a direct sun area) couldn't he get the UV light from the sun???? Should i still get the UV light even if he does get sun baths??? ( She really likes sun bathing Lol) Oh and what about the sex is their a way to tell what it is???? Matilda has a Vet apointment in a week and a half. It's hard to take her cause she is not domesticated at all she doesn't let us touch her.

wow, you already have a vet appt. that is very good.sympthoms include, not moveing very good, shakeing, small apitite. well the doc will let you know. are her urian orange? that is a sighn of kidneyt failer. has she ever been gravid befor that you know of?you can detirmain sex by lookin at the femal pores, the are located in the iner thies. they look like circule scales. if they have a waxy fill its a male. feel free to e-mail me KDXman5@motocross.com

No urine is not Orange. I will check the sex when we go to the vet since it is pretty hard to grab her in that big cage she is really fast lol.

well good luck at t he vet

If he is getting unfiltered sunlight everyday which it sounds like he is, then a UV light is not necessary. The sun is the best source of UVB light. I would say that if he has always had access to the sun, then he does not have UVB. It's still a good idea to take him to the vet for a check up. Good luck.

"I would say that if he has always had access to the sun, then he does not have UVB"

What I meant to say was if he has always had access to the sun then he does not have MBD.

No, he still needs the bulb. What if there is no sun that day? or a week in a row? I doubt it is unfilted, Its winter time. But I guess it depends on where he lives. and if it isnt unfilterd he very well could hav MBD.

Hi,

To answer a few of your questions, you can find dandelion greens at the grocery store, although they are not necessarily available all year round. Other good greens are escarole and curly escarole, along with all the other greens mentioned in one of the former posts. Also look for spring mixes, mesclun mixes, baby green mixes... they are usually found in the packaged pre-washed lettuces and/or at the salad bar. They have a good variety of greens and can be added to the iguana's food for extra variety.

If the sun is coming through a window, your iguana is not getting the UV he needs. The glass used in your house's windows is designed to filter UV, otherwise all your furniture upholstery, carpeting, etc. would fade.

However, if he is getting *unfiltered* sunshine, that is absolutely wonderful for your iguana and *far* better than what he could ever get from artificial lighting. In this case, he would only need an average of 20-30 minutes per day. If he is getting 5 hours, it is not necessary for him to get it every single day. They *do* store previtamin D.

I don't remember whether or not you mentioned where you're from. Did you say NY? If that is the case, then I'm assuming that you're not leaving him in front of an open window in the wintertime (LOL), so in that case, he definitely needs an artificial source of UV.

I hope this helps!

Julie

Oops, forgot to mention... dandelion greens are also available during the spring and summer in your back yard! LOL The flowers are also edible and will be relished by your ig.

Make sure the leaves/flowers haven't been treated with any sort of pesticide or herbicide and that they are growing in a good, rich soil. In other words, don't trust the weeds you find alongside a road.

Clovers and chicory (plant with blue daisy-like flowers) are also edible and very nutritious commonly-found weeds.

Julie

I am from southern California and my iguana is gettin Unfiltered light. My Iguana has an out door cage here is how it works. Half of the cage is 3 sides wood and one side plexi glass(the plexi glass has a door for cleaning but he never poops in this level but we still clean though) The first level has a homemade "doggy door" wich he can use to go to the lower level which is 3 sides wood one side chicken wire (is here where the sun hits about 5 hours a day) He prefers the lower level exept at night in which he goes to sleep in the warm upper level. Hope you can picture it,
Bluemind

I would still get a uv light just to be on the safe side. but If he has been getting that light from the sun sence you had him, than he probley doesent have MBD, or kidney failer.

Glad to here that it is unfilterd