Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I 'adopted' an ig on saturday and I need some advice. When I got him he was in an 'enclosure' approx. 3.5'x3'x3'. The ig at this point is about 2' nose to bum. He was only being fed broccoli, strawberries, and grapes. Now he has an entire bedroom (approx. 11'wx11.5'lx8'h)for himself and is being fed properly. My one big concern now is that he won't go near the UV light. He spends a large amount of time laying on the window sill. Is there enough UVB coming in through the window to keep him healthy? There probably isn't so the next question is how do I make sure he is getting enough light? Also, are alfalfa sprouts ok for igs or should I get the pellets and grind them up? I was supposed to have another week to finish my research, but when I went to visit him for the first time Saturday, I couldn't leave him there. So there are a few holes in my knowledge.

I had a lizard for two years in my room,she stayed around the window and did fine,though I had a screen on it,so sometimes I left it open

sprouts are fine,I fed my iguana a lot of spinach,anytime she got something juicy,such as watermelon,I dusted it with mineral powder they can eat pretty much any fruit or vegetable,just switch it around a bit,and make sure they get some calcium(thats what I used powder for,as I'm not quite as nutritionally educated as I could be)mine liked hot peppers and bananas,but each iguana has thier own tastes

I am sprinkling every meal at the moment because I don't think his previous owners (and I use that term loosely) ever used vitamins. I think I will open the window as well, since it has a screen. That will allow more UVB in.

http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm

Very good ig feeding chart, good luck.
-----
1.0 Savannah Monitor - Artimus
1.0 Emerald Swift - Jesus
1.1 Green Iguana - King Arthur, Lady Guenivere
1.0 Basilisk - Adam
2.2 Cats - Psycho(radiation), Moses, Satan, Bandy.
3.3 Dogs - Romeo, Falon, Baby Girl, Scooter, Whiskers, R.I.P. Juliet
1.3 feeder mice I've seen hunchin, let's see if they still got it in em'!

Glass filters out 99% of UVB so unless you can leave the window open for a few hours a day i would try and get him to have more artifical UVB. You may have better luck with a mercury vapor UVB bulb that also gives off heat.

As far as feeding, keep to dark leafy greens. Someone above mentioned spinach but i would avoid it as im poretty sure it contains a lot of oxalates.

Congratulations on your new rescue!
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i'm not sure what oxalates are, but i've heard that spinach contains something that binds to calcium in the lizard's intestines and prevents them from being able to absorb it. as for watermellon, i dont really see the point in feeding it to an iggy, unless used as a treat, b/c, well, its mainly water. i doubt it has any nutritional value.
my iggies get kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, green beans, celery, zuchini and pears. they also get carrots and brocoli on occasion.
deffinately get a bulb to provide some "artificial" UVB, just in case. also, go easy on the suppliments; i've read that it can be just as easy to overdose a reptile on calcium as it is to give them too little.

Thanks Guys! I mounted the UV above the window. It seems to be working ok.

Oxolates are the technical name for those calcium binders
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Ooooooh...nifty. a new word to make me sound smart! Woo-hoo!

UV, or UVB? There is a big difference.

How is your new lil ig doing now that he's getting settled in? I brought home a new lil boy about 5 days ago, and he is quite a bitter little thing. He finally started eating yesterday, i was so proud of him. I guess he was so freaked out about coming to a new place that food was the last thing on his mind.

Much better. He has settled very well. We just added some large branches to the room for climbing (We have been sterlizing them since sunday) and will be hanging the rope coverede trellises from the ceiling tonight. Although now he won't eat if the food has been sprinkled with vits. Any ideas. I think it is the powdery feel and taste. I am going to try smaller doses and work up to full strength. And thank you all for the help, I really want to make sure the poor little guy gets the best treatment. I have 3 other "children" but they were all pretty healthy when I got them. So this is a challenge.

You could try putting the vitimins on the veggies in the middle of the bowl instead of on top. Maybe the iggy will start to eat and by the time he gets to the vits he will be enjoying himself so much he wont care that they have vits on them!!
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

I have been mixing it in with the veg. I think she just isn't used to getting vitamins. Maybe I am adding too much.