Hope to help but I'm long-winded...

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Posted by Iguanamomma on June 26, 1999 at 13:54:40:

In Reply to: Just Adopted First Iguana. Help! posted by SeanB on June 26, 1999 at 13:03:41:

Hi Sean and welcome....You didn't say how you came about adopting this iguana. It was my assumption that if adopted from a herp society or rescue unit that the iguana would have been screened by a vet and treatment begun, etc. But that's just an assumption! You are most likely correct about its old situation causing it to be small and it does most likely have at least the beginnings of MBD. If this iguana was not seen by a herp vet prior to you getting him, you might need to go ahead and have him evaluated for parasites, MBD, deficiencies, etc. This will give you what you need to start turning this iguana around and bringing him back to good health.

Most important things to do: correct food and use a calcium supplement (kind with no phosphorous added; suggest plain calcium carbonate)(normally for an adult I'd suggest weekly sprinkling on food); correct lighting (HAS TO HAVE UVB); correct temps. with a cool side (use temp gauges don't guess); and most important and useful to him right now is getting outside in real sunshine. (If you are worried about him escaping off of you, our old trick was to use a large bird cage but also stay with him. He'll need to have access to shade to keep from overheating. If you can get in 20 minutes at a time, that's great.)

I'd really check out those temperatures. I don't know where you are or what your household temperatures stay at but I can tell you that where I am in Texas with a house kept around 78, I don't need any higher than a 75W to keep basking areas at 90-95. There are many types of temp gauges for sale at pet stores. Get 2 that are designed for reptiles. Put one under where the basking light or heater is just under the lip probably of the tank. Then put one on the other side of the tank which should be used as the cool side so the iguana can self-regulate. You CAN just scotchtape these gauges on so that you can move them around, let them sit for a while and get readings of all areas of the tank....also by just taping them on you can easily remove them for use in a bigger enclosure :o)

If you need help finding a herp vet experienced with iguanas, leave a note here and someone will help you. If you haven't found M. Kaplan's site yet, I think you should spend any free time you have reading thru it. There is also a good book on the market by J. Hatfield. I'll leave the website for you. You can use the search index there to call up things like vitamins, MBD, etc. and be able to go right to the area and read up quickly. It is a vast site to try to get through.

After you get a chance to read thru what you are curious about or need to know about, feel free to come here and post any questions, etc. that you might have about things. Things are constantly changing it seems on caring/feeding these reptiles. There may be more up-to-date info available via "forum folk" since not all websites are updated frequently.

P.S. If you don't know if you have a boy or girl, say so and someone can point you to some sites with pix to help you decide.

MK website

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: Hi Sean and welcome....You didn't say how you came about adopting this iguana. It was my assumption that if adopted from a herp society or rescue unit that the iguana would have been screened by a vet and treatment begun, etc. But that's just an assumption! You are most likely correct about its old situation causing it to be small and it does most likely have at least the beginnings of MBD. If this iguana was not seen by a herp vet prior to you getting him, you might need to go ahead and have him evaluated for parasites, MBD, deficiencies, etc. This will give you what you need to start turning this iguana around and bringing him back to good health. : Most important things to do: correct food and use a calcium supplement (kind with no phosphorous added; suggest plain calcium carbonate)(normally for an adult I'd suggest weekly sprinkling on food); correct lighting (HAS TO HAVE UVB); correct temps. with a cool side (use temp gauges don't guess); and most important and useful to him right now is getting outside in real sunshine. (If you are worried about him escaping off of you, our old trick was to use a large bird cage but also stay with him. He'll need to have access to shade to keep from overheating. If you can get in 20 minutes at a time, that's great.) : I'd really check out those temperatures. I don't know where you are or what your household temperatures stay at but I can tell you that where I am in Texas with a house kept around 78, I don't need any higher than a 75W to keep basking areas at 90-95. There are many types of temp gauges for sale at pet stores. Get 2 that are designed for reptiles. Put one under where the basking light or heater is just under the lip probably of the tank. Then put one on the other side of the tank which should be used as the cool side so the iguana can self-regulate. You CAN just scotchtape these gauges on so that you can move them around, let them sit for a while and get readings of all areas of the tank....also by just taping them on you can easily remove them for use in a bigger enclosure :o) : If you need help finding a herp vet experienced with iguanas, leave a note here and someone will help you. If you haven't found M. Kaplan's site yet, I think you should spend any free time you have reading thru it. There is also a good book on the market by J. Hatfield. I'll leave the website for you. You can use the search index there to call up things like vitamins, MBD, etc. and be able to go right to the area and read up quickly. It is a vast site to try to get through. : After you get a chance to read thru what you are curious about or need to know about, feel free to come here and post any questions, etc. that you might have about things. Things are constantly changing it seems on caring/feeding these reptiles. There may be more up-to-date info available via "forum folk" since not all websites are updated frequently. : P.S. If you don't know if you have a boy or girl, say so and someone can point you to some sites with pix to help you decide.

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