Re: I bought some honeydew melon, spinach, and apples. Is this better? n/p

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Natalie on September 26, 1999 at 17:56:21:

In Reply to: I bought some honeydew melon, spinach, and apples. Is this better? n/p posted by Jeff on September 26, 1999 at 16:42:47:

The above mentioned diet is still pretty nutrient
poor. Like xta mentioned, you need some better
quality greens and some 'hard' veggies that have
been grated. Check out the sites below for indepth
information.

The short version is, spinach alone isn't good
because it has rather high levels of oxalates, which
have been found to inhibit calcium absorption. Fruit
is mainly water and fiber, and not much in the way of
real nutrition.

Also, on your site, you don't mention having a
UVB producing fluorescent tube light. The incadescent
bulbs do NOT produce enough UVB to allow your ig to
make Vit D3, which allows it to use the calcium it gets.
You need something like a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or ZooMed
Iguanalight 5.0 (same thing), or a Duro-Test Vita-Lite.
They cost around 20-25 bucks (vita-lite is a bit cheaper)
and should be replaced every 6 mmonths or so because the
the UVB production declines. The sites below discuss
this in more detail.

And finally, iguanas need a calcium supplement that
does NOT have Vit. D3 or Phosphorus in it. The reason is
that iguanas have not been shown to use any D3 that they eat
(plants only have Vitamin D2), and instead make what they need
with the help of UVB exposure. There is evidence that too much
D3 can be toxic, but no one knows just how much is toxic.
This means it is safer for your ig to make what it needs,
instead of giving it to the ig, since the ig will never make
too much. Phosphorus can inhibit calcium absorption, and
since with a balanced diet the ig will eat all it needs, you
don't need to add more.

*whew* of course, there is lots more info, but it
just would be easier if you read the sites and came
back with questions!

Follow Ups:

There is a post up there ^^ and forgot the urls natalie 9/26/99 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: The above mentioned diet is still pretty nutrient : poor. Like xta mentioned, you need some better : quality greens and some 'hard' veggies that have : been grated. Check out the sites below for indepth : information. : : The short version is, spinach alone isn't good : because it has rather high levels of oxalates, which : have been found to inhibit calcium absorption. Fruit : is mainly water and fiber, and not much in the way of : real nutrition. : : Also, on your site, you don't mention having a : UVB producing fluorescent tube light. The incadescent : bulbs do NOT produce enough UVB to allow your ig to : make Vit D3, which allows it to use the calcium it gets. : You need something like a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or ZooMed : Iguanalight 5.0 (same thing), or a Duro-Test Vita-Lite. : They cost around 20-25 bucks (vita-lite is a bit cheaper) : and should be replaced every 6 mmonths or so because the : the UVB production declines. The sites below discuss : this in more detail. : And finally, iguanas need a calcium supplement that : does NOT have Vit. D3 or Phosphorus in it. The reason is : that iguanas have not been shown to use any D3 that they eat : (plants only have Vitamin D2), and instead make what they need : with the help of UVB exposure. There is evidence that too much : D3 can be toxic, but no one knows just how much is toxic. : This means it is safer for your ig to make what it needs, : instead of giving it to the ig, since the ig will never make : too much. Phosphorus can inhibit calcium absorption, and : since with a balanced diet the ig will eat all it needs, you : don't need to add more. : : *whew* of course, there is lots more info, but it : just would be easier if you read the sites and came : back with questions!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]