Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ive had my little iguana for about a week now and I have a few questions.
The UVB light i have for him is an exoterra 8.0UVB and The Basking Lamp I have is a Exoterra Sun Glo. My question is that after he has been basking for some time he will start to turn black in color...Is he too close to the light? Am I burning him? The problem is that I have only a 20 gallon long tank
This black color that he is turning, what is this?

Do you have any tips to offer for this new owner?

You would need to check the temps directly under the
basking light and in the cool end. You didn't mention
what the wattage was on your heat light but I would imagine
that in a 20 gallon you would need somewhere around 30-40
watts. The only way to know for sure is to check the temps.
You want to make sure you don't overheat him. Remember
too, as seasons change you will constantly need to monitor
the temps. Make sure you don't have in directly in front
of a window were the sun could come in

Hope this helps
Linda

In the cool end it is about 80 degrees and in the basking spot it is about 95 degrees.

How big is your ig? Just a hatchling?

Does he spend time more in the basking spot or more on the cool end of his enclosure?
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

he spends more time in the basking area.

What color do they turn when they are getting ready to shed? I notice that some of his skin is starting to shed so I was curious.

They don't really change color when they shed. Their skin just starts to get irradescent white. Also, I think 95 degrees might be a bit on the hot side for basking. I normally don't go above 85.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

they dont even digest food effectively till there core temp is 88. 85 is aleast 20 too low.

His skin is getting darker because he is absorbing the heat from the lamp. It is nothing to worry about. But you should be worried about the size of his enclouser. A 20 gallon tank should be used as a "temporary" house for a hatchiling. Temporary because the ig will overgrow it soon. Talking about couple of months. So, you will need to buy/built him a new enclouser. Remember, these lizards can get huge, about 6 feet with proper care, so you want an enclouser that is at least 5X5X5. I prefer 6x6x6, but people usely think "OMG, I don´t have room in my house to put something that big!!!" I would tell these people not to get a Ig then. So, the larger the enclouser is, the happiest and healthiest your ig will be.
About his colors, igs tend to darker in color when they are basking, to absorb more heat. So you shouldn´t worry about it. And your temps are fine.
Well, the best tip I can give to you is: Start working on a new enclouser.
Any questions, please post. You are in the right place.
Take care,
Later,
Dan

a

so wouldnt it start to turn back to the normal color when he isnt basking?

And yes I already have plans to build a cage, me and my dad are working on a sketch right now.

If I can get my hands on a digital camera then I will take a picture of my tobey to show you guys the color

Just an idea for you. They sell these giant collapseable cages for iguanas at Petco and Petsmart. They are made from screen and plastic that locks into place. I've been using them quite a bit, and they are very economical and easier to clean.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

I have personally seen an Iguana with a sunburn, it wasn't pretty. They can sunburn, and their scales will actually peal, and will be very sore looking. I personally keep the basking spot at, about 90-100 degrees. As long as you keep the basking spot at that temp you should be fine.

While my girlfriend was taking care of my King Arthur she accidentaly had the light too close to his basking spot and burnt the top of his head, i'm seeing what the temp where he basks is right now. His head is kind of black but when i rub it he closes his eyes and when i try to take my finger away he goes right back to it for me to rub his head again =-) I'm gonna try those collapseable cages from PetCo, i need a bigger one, i just don't like him being in such a small place.
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Savannah Monitor - Artimus
Emerald Swift - Jesus
Baby veiled Cham - Sir August De Winter 1-20-05 RIP
Green Iguana - King Arthur
Rose-hair tarantula - Bill
Basilisk - Adam Used to be Adam and Eve but there was a food competition because my girlfriend was taking care of them and she didn't know what was wrong until it was too late.