Pass iZ an extra bite of orange tonight!

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Posted by Iguanamomma on August 23, 1999 at 18:33:29:

I know some of us have batted around here the question as to whether or not feeding citrus is good or bad...and how much is good and how much is too much...yadayadayada The following is clipped from this weekend's Iguana Mailing List and I thought it would be of interest to folks here who aren't on it:

Message: 13 Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 09:34:34 -0700 From: "Anne Marsden"
Subject: RE:Citric acid question

"The quote is from XXXXX and said, "Oranges, lemons, and limes are common to the terrain that iguana's inhabit. The citric acid in them help with joint problems that iguana's have." Is this true about citric acid? So, this person states that "Oranges, lemons and limes are common to the terrain that iguana's inhabit." Okay, if the citric acid statement is true...fine, but what the heck is that supposed to mean?! Okay, those fruits grow where iguanas live in the wild, but there is no way an iguana in its natural terrain could eat any of these fruits! Anyway, just wanted to get some information...because I had never heard of "that one" before. XXXX"

ANNE'S ANSWER:

Citric acid is sometimes recommended as a prevention for calcium oxalate kidney stones. By forming the very soluble calcium citrate, the calcium is excreted in the urine and the oxalate has to combine with something more soluble such as potassium (I think). By the same token, I suppose it would help prevent oxalate build up in the joints, but I haven't heard of anyone doing that. However, I'm with you on the eating thing. The iguana habitat isn't really littered with citrus trees,and even if it were, I don't know if iguanas would regularly try to eat fruit with so much bitter peel.Anne M
***********
FROM MELISSA KAPLAN ON THE SUBJECT:

"As Anne indicated, there isn't much to indicate any use in articular or periarticular gout. Low levels of citric acid help with calcium metabolism, so one can always use some citrus fruit (peeled, seeded) as treats or in the salad. Citrus, from what I've been able to determine (and confirmed by Anne) are native to the Old World - the Far East - and introduced around the world by various world travelers/explorers. Thus they aren't native to the iguanas habitat but introduced only within the past several hundred years at the outside. As Anne said, it is unlikely that the igs would even attempt to bite or claw their way through the thick, bitter skin to get at the inside. You can always check it out for your self by offering a whole orange, lime or tangerine and see how well (not!) they do. ;)--Melissa KaplanAnapsid.org
**********

The end! And I hope a lot of us feel a whole lot better with ourselves for having fed a bit of orange now and then to our green friends :o)

Follow Ups:

A little poop talk to make this conversation *REALLY* complete! (And about Anne) [Longer than I intended] Jamie/JBug 8/23/99 (2)
- Thanks! Re Anne Iguanamomma 8/23/99 (1)
  - LOLOL and a BWahahahahaah about the poop story! Thanks! :D n/p Jamie/JBug 8/24/99 (0)
the grouch sends head bobs of thanks iZ's mom 8/23/99 (0)
Re: Pass iZ an extra bite of orange tonight! BabyHerp 8/23/99 (5)
- A follow up on this Iguanamomma 8/23/99 (4)
  - Re: A follow up on this BabyHerp 8/23/99 (3)
    - Re: A follow up on this Jamie/JBug 8/24/99 (0)
    - Re: Im wrong BabyHerp 8/24/99 (0)
    - Did it hurt much? Iguanamomma 8/23/99 (0)
no worries here anyhow.... Desiree 8/23/99 (3)
- Re: G.G. won't eat any citurs, either. Also doesn't like plums, etc. filthy 8/23/99 (2)
  - Ours would tailwhip you nekkid...... Iguanamomma 8/23/99 (1)
    - A sight to see is..... Desiree 8/24/99 (0)

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: I know some of us have batted around here the question as to whether or not feeding citrus is good or bad...and how much is good and how much is too much...yadayadayada The following is clipped from this weekend's Iguana Mailing List and I thought it would be of interest to folks here who aren't on it: : Message: 13 Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 09:34:34 -0700 From: "Anne Marsden" <amarsden@home.com> : Subject: RE:Citric acid question : "The quote is from XXXXX and said, "Oranges, lemons, and limes are common to the terrain that iguana's inhabit. The citric acid in them help with joint problems that iguana's have." Is this true about citric acid? So, this person states that "Oranges, lemons and limes are common to the terrain that iguana's inhabit." Okay, if the citric acid statement is true...fine, but what the heck is that supposed to mean?! Okay, those fruits grow where iguanas live in the wild, but there is no way an iguana in its natural terrain could eat any of these fruits! Anyway, just wanted to get some information...because I had never heard of "that one" before. XXXX" : ANNE'S ANSWER: : Citric acid is sometimes recommended as a prevention for calcium oxalate kidney stones. By forming the very soluble calcium citrate, the calcium is excreted in the urine and the oxalate has to combine with something more soluble such as potassium (I think). By the same token, I suppose it would help prevent oxalate build up in the joints, but I haven't heard of anyone doing that. However, I'm with you on the eating thing. The iguana habitat isn't really littered with citrus trees,and even if it were, I don't know if iguanas would regularly try to eat fruit with so much bitter peel.Anne M : *********** : FROM MELISSA KAPLAN ON THE SUBJECT: : "As Anne indicated, there isn't much to indicate any use in articular or periarticular gout. Low levels of citric acid help with calcium metabolism, so one can always use some citrus fruit (peeled, seeded) as treats or in the salad. Citrus, from what I've been able to determine (and confirmed by Anne) are native to the Old World - the Far East - and introduced around the world by various world travelers/explorers. Thus they aren't native to the iguanas habitat but introduced only within the past several hundred years at the outside. As Anne said, it is unlikely that the igs would even attempt to bite or claw their way through the thick, bitter skin to get at the inside. You can always check it out for your self by offering a whole orange, lime or tangerine and see how well (not!) they do. ;)--Melissa KaplanAnapsid.org : ********** : The end! And I hope a lot of us feel a whole lot better with ourselves for having fed a bit of orange now and then to our green friends :o)

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