Re: Hatfield (long post)

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Posted by Joan on August 25, 1999 at 10:22:15:

In Reply to: Hatfield name made me think......Joan, HD, someone? posted by Iguanamomma on August 24, 1999 at 23:15:18:

This section of Hatfield's book goes on for about 10 pages. I have picked out some sentences to quote from his book. Green Iguana, The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W. Hatfield III. Sorry for any typos that might happen.

He says that are two trains of thought (only 2?). lol "One group says that if you eat the right foods you don't need any addtional vitamins or minerals. The other side says that foods nowadays are nutritionally incomplete because because they're grown in soil deficient in the proper balance of nutrients (caused by not rotating crops, using chemical fertilizers, etc.) - and that to compensate, we need to add vitamin and mineral supplements to our diet."

"For iguanas, I believe in supplementation of calcium, low amounts of vitamin D3, and some other nutrients, especially in fast-growing hatchlings or gravid females. But here's the problem: No one knows for sure how much an iguana needs on any nutrients, and that's why it's really difficult to recommend dosages."

"One very important general note on supplementing: I't better to underestimate the amounts of supplements you add than to add too much. Many of the nutrients can be harmful or even fatal in large doses."

Calcium:
Important: Calcium intake alone can't prevent calcium deficiencies and the resulting metabolic bone disease. The following elements are all crucial for calcium metabolism:
...proper ultraviolet light exposure
...proper temperature
...proper balance between calcium and phosphorus

Here are some guidelines for calcium supplements:
...Choose one with no added phosphorus
...The best calcium sources are calcium carbonate and cuttle bone (scraped to produce a powder or pulverized in a food processor).
...Avoid calcium lactate as iguanas aren't set up to handle lactose, a milk product.
...Also avoid calcium supplements that have added vitamin D3 and/or vitamin A if you plan to combine the calcium with a multivitamin supplement, which will also contain D3 and A (both these fat-soluble vitamins can be harmful in large doses).

Dosages for Supplements
Some Options:
...Call your herp veterinarian and ask his or her opinion about the specific needs of your iguana.
...Keep reading the herp magazines (articles, not ads) to find out the latest information on nutritional supplements.
...Talk to others in your herp society and try to reach consensus on the best approach (good Luck!!).
...Get an "all-in-one" calcium and vitamin/mineral product that has significant amount of calcium; choose a brand with appropriately low anounts of vitamin D3 and A.
...Purchase a powdered bird or multivitamin and mix it in equial parts with an all-calcium powder (e.g., calcium carbonate) that contains no added vitamin D3 or A.
...Choose a calcium supplement that has no added D3 (i.e, if you decide not to supplement D3).

Below is the latest semi-scientific "guess" for how much to supplement your iguana's food (in each case, sprinkle the powder over the food; you can mix it in or not, depending on what your iguana will eat). I used this system when I offered my iguana multvitamins and /or calcium. The idea of a pinch may seem archaic, but that's how everyone does it.
...Hatchlings and Juveniles: one pinch (or a barely visible dusting) once a day.
...Adults (sexually mature): one pinch per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight once or twice a week.
...Gravid females: one pinch per meal while gravid and for a few days after laying eggs. Better yet, take your female igunan to your veterinarian, who will determine the exact amount and number of days supplements should be used.

Ok, this is the highlights out of about 10 pages in the section "Feeding". I hope I didn't forget anything important. If I did, everyone just add to it. I hope that it is Ok to directly type from his book? I do recommend getting this book, it is very informative and extremely fun to read. He did an excellent job.

Joan (you asked for it)

Follow Ups:

Thanks Joan!! Very, very helpful!! Iguanamomma 8/25/99 (3)
- Pinches Joan 8/25/99 (2)
  - Re: Pinches cirsisue 8/25/99 (0)
  - ROFLMAO n/p Iguanamomma 8/25/99 (0)

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: This section of Hatfield's book goes on for about 10 pages. I have picked out some sentences to quote from his book. Green Iguana, The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W. Hatfield III. Sorry for any typos that might happen. : He says that are two trains of thought (only 2?). lol "One group says that if you eat the right foods you don't need any addtional vitamins or minerals. The other side says that foods nowadays are nutritionally incomplete because because they're grown in soil deficient in the proper balance of nutrients (caused by not rotating crops, using chemical fertilizers, etc.) - and that to compensate, we need to add vitamin and mineral supplements to our diet." : "For iguanas, I believe in supplementation of calcium, low amounts of vitamin D3, and some other nutrients, especially in fast-growing hatchlings or gravid females. But here's the problem: No one knows for sure how much an iguana needs on any nutrients, and that's why it's really difficult to recommend dosages." : "One very important general note on supplementing: I't better to underestimate the amounts of supplements you add than to add too much. Many of the nutrients can be harmful or even fatal in large doses." : Calcium: : Important: Calcium intake alone can't prevent calcium deficiencies and the resulting metabolic bone disease. The following elements are all crucial for calcium metabolism: : ...proper ultraviolet light exposure : ...proper temperature : ...proper balance between calcium and phosphorus : Here are some guidelines for calcium supplements: : ...Choose one with no added phosphorus : ...The best calcium sources are calcium carbonate and cuttle bone (scraped to produce a powder or pulverized in a food processor). : ...Avoid calcium lactate as iguanas aren't set up to handle lactose, a milk product. : ...Also avoid calcium supplements that have added vitamin D3 and/or vitamin A if you plan to combine the calcium with a multivitamin supplement, which will also contain D3 and A (both these fat-soluble vitamins can be harmful in large doses). : Dosages for Supplements : Some Options: : ...Call your herp veterinarian and ask his or her opinion about the specific needs of your iguana. : ...Keep reading the herp magazines (articles, not ads) to find out the latest information on nutritional supplements. : ...Talk to others in your herp society and try to reach consensus on the best approach (good Luck!!). : ...Get an "all-in-one" calcium and vitamin/mineral product that has significant amount of calcium; choose a brand with appropriately low anounts of vitamin D3 and A. : ...Purchase a powdered bird or multivitamin and mix it in equial parts with an all-calcium powder (e.g., calcium carbonate) that contains no added vitamin D3 or A. : ...Choose a calcium supplement that has no added D3 (i.e, if you decide not to supplement D3). : Below is the latest semi-scientific "guess" for how much to supplement your iguana's food (in each case, sprinkle the powder over the food; you can mix it in or not, depending on what your iguana will eat). I used this system when I offered my iguana multvitamins and /or calcium. The idea of a pinch may seem archaic, but that's how everyone does it. : ...Hatchlings and Juveniles: one pinch (or a barely visible dusting) once a day. : ...Adults (sexually mature): one pinch per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight once or twice a week. : ...Gravid females: one pinch per meal while gravid and for a few days after laying eggs. Better yet, take your female igunan to your veterinarian, who will determine the exact amount and number of days supplements should be used. : Ok, this is the highlights out of about 10 pages in the section "Feeding". I hope I didn't forget anything important. If I did, everyone just add to it. I hope that it is Ok to directly type from his book? I do recommend getting this book, it is very informative and extremely fun to read. He did an excellent job. : Joan (you asked for it) :

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