Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just brought my adult female to the vet, and she has stomatitis, round worms, and a 1:1 Ca blood level. The reason being is the fact that I had a bad iguana care book. The book I have, unknown to me, is out-dated and mentions nothing about uva/uvb lighting. I have a bulb now, 300 dollars later... Anybody new to owning iggys MAKE SURE you get a uva/uvb bulb. They're about $30. A $30 bulb could have saved my iggy a stressful vet visit with injections, and me $270!!
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3.1.0 crested geckos (Speckles, Sunshine, Soldier, Sandy)
0.1.0 Striped Cal. Kingsnake (Snuggles)
1.1.0 Green Iguanas (Sisco,Speedy)
1.1.0 Emperor Scorpions (Strongbad,Serenity)
1.0.0 Rose Hair Tanrantula (Star)
1.0.0 Pink Toe Tarantula (Sal)

I was just reading Melissa Kaplan's website (anapsid.org), where she tells Wally story, and how she used to take care of him.. feeding him lettuce, spinach, broccoli, monkey chips, all because of a book. I can't understand the people who write those books. I would understand if igs were new as pets, if people were just getting to know them, but that's not the case... There are tons of books about iguanas that teach you how to kill your ig. How can a person write something that they aren't sure of. I mean, if they don't know what they're talking about, just don't talk about it. I know lots and lots and lots of people that have igs living in a 40 gallon tank with aquarium rocks as substrate, a hot rock as heat source, been fed with tomato and lettuce. And those people are all proud of their grey, thin, sick, dehydrated lizard.
Sorry about my messed up english, I go crazy when I think that there are lots and lots of unlucky igs that have to live in such conditions.
Please, if there's anyone reading this post that wants to buy an iguana, or any other reptile, PLEASE BUY A BOOK ABOUT THE SPECIES AND READ IT FIRST!!! Not just once, but read twice! There's always something new to learn.
Sorry about the long post but I needed to write it.
Later,
Dan