Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. I have had different lizards for the past 6 years. I have never had any problems with them and now all of a sudden I am having a ton of problems with my by oldest iguana Samson. He is between 8 and 9 years old and always been healthy until this year when we moved into a new house. It's like he hates it here. A lot of the issues would have to be blamed on me though and I take full responsibility for it. I was letting him get too cold, even though I do run an extra heater for him and my other ig. I have a couple of questions for some of you ig experts. What watt basking lamps do you use? I have been using 50 watt and that wasn't enough, so I went out and dropped a bunch of money on some new lights and went to 150 watt basking bulbs on all my setups. (bought the newer halogen Zoo Med bulbs) Well I put them in today, and I thought it was all fine, but I believe they were heating him up way too much. I checked on him after about 4 hours and he looked good. He was basking and staying nice and warm. But then when I checked on him 4 hours later (8 hours total) he was discolored with some white blotches. (his body was pretty much darker every where else with lighter type blotches kind of scattered in different areas) (he is just getting over being in an ig ICU type environment last week at the vet for pneumonia.) Like I said, I have never had any probs with any of my lizards before and now I have been on the internet searching for answers for the last 3 hours trying to see what I need to do. I have never experienced a burn on any of the lizards, so that's what I was wondering if this was. It isn't blistered up and he can't get to the light. His skin isn't flaking anywhere. So, I have no idea what to do to help him. He seems fine, doesn't seem like he is in pain. Do you guys think the blotches are burns? If so, what is the best way to treat them? I have read anything from aloe to povidone-iodine to saline will work??? Some help would greatly be appreciated.

So, what size bulbs does everybody use for their basking and how far do they put it away from their ig? Should I switch to 100 watt bulbs instead of the 150? Or should I just get the 150 watt bulbs back farther away from him?

Hopefully everybody isn't too upset with me for his issues. I have had both igs tested at the vet every year (blood work etc.) and they have just always been healthy. These last 2 weeks have been horrible and now I am a stressed out mess over it. Again, any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks,

if you could post some pictures of the spots and your ig it might help everyone help ya better.....

"What watt basking lamps do you use?"

I personally use a 75 watt GE spot and a flouresent bulb full spectrum.

"he was discolored with some white blotches. (his body was pretty much darker every where else with lighter type blotches kind of scattered in different areas)"

Sounds like mild burns I would discontinue the use of the bulbs imediately. If you need to use the 150 then you need to raise the bulb or lower the basking area.

"It isn't blistered up and he can't get to the light."

Touching the light isn't the only way for him to get burned the radient heat from the bulb is what does the damage.

"If so, what is the best way to treat them?"

You can get burn gel from any walmart or just aloe. the burns will heal themselves if you get the light futher from him. I have recently ran into a simular problem with one of mine that never got to close to the light before then one night it got alittle colder and he laid right in front of it for awhile and got some mild burns but the damaged skin shed off with the next shed.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and good luck let us know how it turns out.

TB