Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a little of one year iguana, i got him about this time last year and did all the research on him befor i got him. He came from a pet store that was only feeding him carrots no heat and no uvb the only thing in his cage was a heating rock. So i took him home with me and he has grown but he is not the size that he should be now....this worries me......i feed him all the right foods (collards,kale,turnips, and his treats like watermelon,strawberries or tamatos and he also gets squash or another type of vegitable) he is in a 5 foot cage has a heat lamp and 2 uvb lights that he can get as close as he wants to but he is no farther than a foot from both of them....he is just not getting bigger...he should be a pretty good size now and i just don't see him being there....he dosn't have the signs of mbd, he has two fingers that were broken or looked to have grown wrong but he has no other signs...he eats good and is full of energy...what can i do?????
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Keana Lynch

Have him checked by a vet.
Does he eat willingly and regularly?
How tall and deep is the enclosure?
Do you gve him weekly supplements?

A vet will help u a great deal.
Let us know!

-IJ

>>Have him checked by a vet.
>>Does he eat willingly and regularly?
>>How tall and deep is the enclosure?
>>Do you gve him weekly supplements?
>>
>>A vet will help u a great deal.
>>Let us know!
>>
>>-IJ

He eats a whole big plate of food a day...his cage is 4 foot tall,2 foot deep and wide....he want eat any of the food if it has supplements on it... and right now i really can't afford a vet it cost $70 just for the check up here and if they take blood or anything than its more.

I really don't know what is wrong with him. He doesn't act sick or anything and is full of energy.... i just don't know why he isn't growing as fast as he/she should!!!
That is a pic from a year ago!

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Keana Lynch

he really needs the supplements to grow properly. Try mixing them in with his favorite treat foods, and make sure you arent using too much, even just a sprinkle is enough.

If you cant afford a vet visit then you should at least bring a fecal in to check for parasites. Parasites will cause stunted growth, even in otherwise healthy looking igs. Also, its a good idea to set up a stash account of money for emergency vet funds. That is what i do with my guys, i try to have a few hundred on hand for them at all times. What would you do if your iggy was really sick and needed immediate attention?

Do you have a recent pic of him? Iguanas take a while to get full grown, if he is only a year maybe he isnt as small as you think he is. If you post a pic people should be able to let you know if he is too small.
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
1.1.2 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo, Louise, Orion, Jeffrey Nothing)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

I will post a new pic of him asap...i got to find out how to get one on here...(don't have a digi can)...
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Keana Lynch

The pic is a tad fuzzy, but judging from that crest, it looks like an Asian Water Dragon! Being omnivorous, it would explain his stunted growth due to lack of protein, and since they are not that large, it also explains his size.

I can be wrong, but the round head and crest look more Water Dragon than Iguana.

-IJ

>>The pic is a tad fuzzy, but judging from that crest, it looks like an Asian Water Dragon! Being omnivorous, it would explain his stunted growth due to lack of protein, and since they are not that large, it also explains his size.
>>
>>I can be wrong, but the round head and crest look more Water Dragon than Iguana.
>>
>>-IJ

I'm almost positive that he is an iguana...i work at a pet store and he looks completely different then the water dragons...he also has the colors of and iguana with the stripes on his tale...he was a baby in that pic to...but thank you for your help that pic was a little fuzzy and hard to see.

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Keana Lynch

Hey,

the second pic is almost worse! hahaha
setting it on a contrasting backround without so much glare would be better.

However, the second pic does seem to be an iguana, not a water dragon.

Juvenile iguanas and water dragons have similarities, such as stripes on the tail, crests, and of course, the bright green coloration. However, Water Dragons have rounder heads, and no spikes along the back like iguanas have.

I find it hard to understand why the animal has not grown much after one year, especially if its eating habits are regular and healthy.

As long as it is healthy, you're fine, it is possible his growth has been affected by something prior of your purchase.

-IJ

Yeah...he eats good and has so much energy...he has been latley getting more aggressive with tail wipping and opening his mouth and when he gets agitated he turns a dark brown orange color....he is very active...i have to chase him around my room everyday befor holding him.....
I have taken new pics that should be on here soon, my computer is a pain and wont let me download them...but they should be on here by tommorrow....
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Keana Lynch

>>The pic is a tad fuzzy, but judging from that crest, it looks like an Asian Water Dragon! Being omnivorous, it would explain his stunted growth due to lack of protein, and since they are not that large, it also explains his size.
>>
>>I can be wrong, but the round head and crest look more Water Dragon than Iguana.
>>
>>-IJ

Do the asian water dragons look really close to an ig?
He looks just like an ig..
?????
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Keana Lynch

If your lizard has the large subtympanic scale, it is an iguana. That's the big, light colored scale under the ear. Water dragons don't have this single enlarged scale.

I suspect the slow groth is due to a rough start in life.

When was the last time you had a fecal done? JN

>>When was the last time you had a fecal done? JN

He has never had one done...the vet here that i took him to the first time he went suced and didn't know anything...he didn't take blood or any samples...i'm saving money now to take him.
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Keana Lynch

That's good. They aren't very expensive. Only about $15 bucks. J

PS...what kind of UVB light are you using? JN

>>PS...what kind of UVB light are you using? JN

He has 2 uvb lights 1 is repti sun 5.0 uvb and the other is repti glo exo terra uvb.
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Keana Lynch

That sounds good. There are better lights out there but the reptisun 5.0 isn't bad. JN

>>That sounds good. There are better lights out there but the reptisun 5.0 isn't bad. JN

What would be a better light to get...he gets a new cage for his "birthday" so i'm going to put all new lights and things in there for him. (his new cage is 6foot, it is a wire bird cage but with only 1/2 in bar spacing..it has three doors and a whole open front with a pull out tray..we are making new ramps that clamp to the bars and three diffrent levels for him to lounge ,eat and play on..would that be a good cage? we are also putting a mister that would automatically mist at the same time each day)
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Keana Lynch

I use the "Mega-Ray" merc vapor lamp put out by Reptile UV. The lamp is awesome!!! It puts out ten times the UVB that Reptisun 5.0 does. It comes with a ballast box. I HIGHLY recommend it. They are $75 and last 1 year. They also come with a good warranty. Mine went out after 4 months and was replaced immediately. The website is www.reptileuv.com or you can call them directly. I'm sure the number is on the site, but if not let me know. I had one rescue that came in a brownish grey color and now he is a brilliant green and eats like a horse. JN