Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I am New Here and New to Iguanas. I have several questions reguarding my new 6 month old baby iggy.

When purchased 2 baby iggys a little over a week
ago.

Unfornately,one of them has already died. We believe he died from Overheating. We have a Ceramic Heat CHE Light,and a Blue Light for Day and Infra Red for Night.

The person at the store that sold us for babies told us to leave the Ceramic CHE Light on all Day and Night. I had this feeling that it was way to Hot for them,and when I touched their glass cage,it almost burned my hand! I believe the person at the store gave us the WRONG information!

Both of the Iggy's were panting,I immediatly sprayed luke warm water on both of them,but by then it was too late for the smaller baby!

I have turned Off this Ceramic Heat Light after this. It's seems warm and good without it. It's a 60 watt Blue Light. It's also very hot where I live too(Greece).

My first question is. Is it ok, to leave the Ceramic CHE Heat Light Off from now on and Only use it for Winter Time??

My second question is,my iggy is very lazy,seems to sleep all the time,only when I pick him up,he runs around and gets a little bit wild and swings his tail and tries to bite.
Is this normal for him at his age?? I want to make sure he is a Healthy Baby.

My last question is,that he isn't eating anything lately,yesterday he ate some really small and sliced grated cherries and carrots bits out of my hand. It was only a little bit.

Is this normal as well??

What's the proper diet for us to start feeding him both fruits and vegtables??? Is there a certain diet for him so he can live with us for many many years??

Every little bit of info is Well Appreciated!
We want this New Baby Iggy to Have the Best Life Possible!!

Thanks Again,

Iggy Girl

Hi,

This is the website you should go to for the proper information to get your Ig healthy.

Melissa Kaplan's website: anapsid.com

Your Ig should be taken to a reptile vet as soon as possible, he does not sound healthy, especially if the other has died already.

Iguanas need UVB lighing, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and friuts, plus alfalfa. I hpoe you have fresh water in for him?
-----
Sheryl

Touch passion when it comes your way, it's hard enough to find as it is. Don't turn away when it calls you by name......B5

Happily Enslaved to Green Iguana Master G'Kar ~~24/7~~

Hi Astral Dragoness,

Thank You for your advise. We will take him to a vet right here in the area that helps Iguanas.We will also get him Alfalfa.
We will also go to a bigger store that we know of,they sell more reptiles and have more things for Iguanas.

Yes,I give him fresh water everyday,give him fresh veggies everyday. So far,he has eaten Lettuce,Cabage,Cucumber and Carrot.

As you know that last few days,he has eaten Nothing.

But Thankfully a few hours before he has eaten some grated cabage and cucumber.When I perpare his food in the morning,I put a mixture of 3 vitamin powders in his food. This is what I was told,they also told us it's prevents worms??
As far as I know you have to go to a vet for worms if he has any? Hopefully Not!!!!!!

The vitamin powders are,Mineralstoffe Vitamin D3, and then from Herba Med,Mineral Powder and then also from Herba Med Calcium powder.The man at the pet store told us,us a finger full like salt on food.

At this store where we purchased the Iggy's they were Only Feeding them Just Lettuce,and also had No UVB Lights whatsoever!! Also there's about 10 little iggy's insdie that little glass cage. I wonder if the reason for the other baby dying is because of the way they were treated at the store??
They just used a Ceramic Heat Light.

I also have another question about our Ceramic Heat Light?
Should it be Only used for the Winter Time?
I never used a Ceramic Heat Light before for the Savannah's.
What's the purpose of this light besides heat??

Also,is T Rex Dry Iguana Formula good for our baby iggy?

Our Baby Iggy my even be younger than 6 months old.

We also keep his home clean and I clean his poop as soon as he does it.
I used to have Savannah Monitors,before moving to Greece.
Savannah's are a little different from Iguanas. I had no problems with the Savannah's in the past.
I want this little guy to be strong just like them!

I will keep you posted on what happens! If I have anymore questions I will write more again.

Thanks Again,

IggyGirl

Well, i am so happy that you want to give this iggy the best life possible... but here's the thing.. you really cant trust all of the pet stores info. Im not saying every pet store is bad and has bad info.. just saying sometimes they have inaccurate info. All i have to say is.. if you want your iggy to have the best life possible, buy the book " iguanas for dummies. " That tells you everything you need to know! I mean if you dont have 20 bucks to spend go to ebay or something...

First off you should go buy a good thermometer, a digital one with a probe or a temp gun from www.proexotics.com, you should never just feel the cage to see if it feels "warm" their temps need to be pretty specific. A basking spot of 95-110degrees, and an ambient temp of the mid 80's. A large water contaner should be provided for swimming and drinking. A variety of vines, perches, and pretty much anything sterile and stury should be provided to allow your iggy to climb. He needs to be able to get within 12inches of the UVB bulb. I cant remember which kinds of lights you are using but i believe you mentioned a ceramic heater, these work fine but you MAY see an improvement in his attitude (moving around more, more alert etc) if you provide him with light as well as heat. I know in beardies they can actually get MBD even with uvb if they dont have a bright light shining on them that acts like the suns light and stimulates their bodies to absorb calcium and be active. A regular household bulb will work for heat and light.

The cage needs to be big enough to allow him to really move around..and as he grows...(and he will!) so will the cage...you may want to start brainstorming where you are going to get/how you are going to build an 8ftLx5ftWx6ftH (roughly) enclsoure for him! You dont want to have to rush to get him into a bigger cage when he is too big for the one you have him on.

Im not sure what all those supplements were but you need one straight calicum supplement, something where the only ingredient is calcium carbonate (jurrasi-cal is a good one) you should dust his food every day or every other day with this. You also want a good multivitamin (jurrasi-vite is a good one) to use once or twice a week. Supplements will not stop worms.

As far as feeding, avoid lettuce and cucmber as they are too watery. Try dark leafy calcium enriched veggies such as collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, endive and escarole for staples. You can add shredded carrots, shredded purple cabbage, edibl;e flowers (such as rose petals), various colors of peppers, clover, pod peas, squash, banana's, etc etc into the meal as well. The idea is that variety is the best, never feed only one thing as you will likely get a deficiency that way. The majority of the diet should be veggies and a small percent can be fruits.

Definately get your iggy to a good reptile vet, while you are there you can discuss husbandry and the vet can likely give you some good pointers. Bring a fecal sample with you as well to test for parasites.

I wouldn't trust anything you hear at the petstore, its pretty risky business. Buy a good book like Iguana's for dummies and do some serious research!

One more thing, if you havent already, stop trying to hold your ig, and stop even looking at him for too long as this can really stress him out. Avoid handling at least until he is settled into his new home and eating well.

good luck!

~Mim
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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

Hi and welcome to the board. Definatly go check out Melissa Kaplans site, it is a wealth of information. You had ask about the CHE, my understanding is that these only provide heat, no other real benefit. Just keep an eye on the tempatures in the cage, and this will only be needed when they drop too low. As far as the vitamins i cant say since i do not use these. Mostly because my iggy refuses to eat his food if i put it in. Tried numerous times. He eats a wide variety of foods and seems to be very healthy without these supliments. His main diet consist of Collard, Mustard, turnip and dandelion greens, butternut squash, parsnips, green beans, snow peas, and some cantalope, or berries. Thats his basic diet then there are the occasionals that i throw in for variety. As one of the other posters mentioned variety is the key. One of the best food charts i have found is at www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm this will show you what are Staple foods, occasionals and food to give rarely. Hope that helps and good luck with your iggy. Tami