Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi I just rescued a green iguana which i believe to be a male about maybe 3 ft or so I would guess it is about 4 in from the end of a 55 gallon tank when stretched out . I work at a pet store and this lady came in the other day and wanted to get rid of her iguana said she had to many children to take care of it she would give me the tank and all so i was like ok so they brought him here he is in a 55 gallon tank and can barely turn around he was kept in this on straight glass with one peice of drift wood a small heat rock and 2 60 watt regular light bulbs to say the least he is in very bad condition his nails are so over grown that they curl around and touch the top of his feet , he is skinny and is not shedding properly . once she brought him here she explained that the iguana was in a since department at a school or something and that kids just sat and tapped on the glass allot so that he did not like people near the glass so i was like ok and told them good bye this iguana is fairly aggressive in a out of the tank (my poor finger is proof ) we are hoping to get him a little better by working with him . also i can't get him to eat i have tried fruits i have tried kale and he will not take and of it . i tried to call the person to ask them but they have not answered . I have an appointment with a herp vet on sunday ( closest app i could get ) to make sure it is not parisites or something keeping him from eating but i guess my questions are
1) from a reccomendation of some colleages i have him on pine shavings is this ok ? or do i need something different .
2) what are some different things for him to eat that may make him want to eat more ?
3) I am getting him a basking bulb and a uva uvb light is this good dose he need any thing different then that ?
4) he has a heating rock in his tank with him is this ok or should i take it out?
and last but not least one of the most important questions i deffinately think the tank is to small any reccomendations on a different cage for him and where i could get it ?
thank you in advance

Good thing for the Ig, that you took it in.
First, get it out of that small tank. You might wanna consider building a custom cage for him. If there is a spare room that you can confine him to, temporarily until you can get a cage made.
Just make sue he gets proper heating, and some natural sunlight would be very beneficial.
Taking him to the vet is the best thing you could do for him right now. That way you can take care of any vitamin deficiencies he has, and any parasites. If they are in poor shape, their appetitie usually is too. Ask your vet about feeding him, perhaps using a syringe for a while to get food down him until his appetite increases. Watch your fingers!!!
Give hims LOTS of TLC
-----
My Babies:
Sherry - 18yr old Mustang Horse
Rosemary - 7yr old Pit/Sharpei mix
New Baby Green Iguana - Marshall

I would not use the bark chips. Iguanas constantly smell with thier tongue and he could potentially ingest it. I would use newspaper or butcher paper.

Fruit and Kale are not the best diet. Try to get some turnip greens, mustard greens, etc. He may be highly stressed right now and that is why he isn't eating. You may end up force feeding with a syringe. I had to do that with a sick iguana and it was not fun but necessary.

If he has to stay in the enclusure for now make sure he is up off the floor in a private area. That will help him relax some.

Good luck!