Thumper - Here's what Pepe eats... (long)

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

Posted by Matt Campbell on February 29, 2000 at 23:15:14:

Pepe gets greens almost exclusively. He gets the occasional bit of bananna - usually when I'm eating one I'll cut it in half and let him eat some, but not all. As far as greens, I use a pretty even mix of collards, mustard, turnip, kale (a bit less - about half of the amt. of the other proportions), occasionally a little escarole, sometimes swiss chard and or red chard. I usually buy a full pound of each (Harris Teeter sells greens by the pound, Kroger sells by the bunch). I also get one really large green pepper and usually two red peppers. I also get some carrots. When I prepare the food I just tear the leafy parts off and put them in a colander and rinse. Then I chuck them in a food processor until they're fairly well shredded. For about anywhere from 3 to 5 lbs. of greens I shred up about 3 carrots - just enough that the carrots and the red peppers a sprinkle of color. The whole lot is then frozen and I thaw out a portion each day (nuke it). I can also add at this point that Pepe has never had any vitamin supplementation and no protein whatsoever. As you can see he's the picture of health and currently weighs in around 700 or more grams. I'd also like to note he craps really regularly. It's almost odd to hear so many other instances of constipated igs or igs that only crap once a day. Pepe craps at least one good crap a day if not more. I attribute this regularity to his food being chopped up finely. As it's chopped it tends to release a lot of moisture and that gets frozen, so when his food is thawed, what he eats is essentially a very finely chopped and very moist. I suspect igs that have difficulty producing might be doing so because their gut fauna is a bit overloaded by the food being swallowed in a larger particulate size. What I've been feeding him is essentially a modified Iguana Den diet. He recieves some direct sunlight about once a week or more (depending on the weather and my schedule), and he has Vita-lite and a incandescent 150 watt basking lamp. Since he hit is puberty growth spurt I've been amazed at how awesome his muscle tone is and how strong and active he's become. His territorial displays are quite regular and basically he's an all-around perfect specimen (in my humble opinion). Well, hope this offers up some suggestions to you.

Matt Campbell

Follow Ups:

what I use Iguana03 03/01/00 (6)
- Lima beans are considered toxic to reptiles (more) xta 03/02/00 (5)
  - Re: Lima beans are considered toxic to reptiles (more) ........My Source Iguana03 03/02/00 (0)
  - Re: Lima beans are considered toxic to reptiles (more) Laura 03/02/00 (3)
    - Re: Lima beans are considered toxic to reptiles (more) BabyHerp 03/02/00 (2)
      - ahaaa! You are the one I got that info from (printed out that list you made a long time ago!) n/p xta 03/03/00 (0)
      - Re: Lima beans are considered toxic to reptiles (more) Laura 03/02/00 (0)
constipation comment .... iZ's mom 03/01/00 (0)
Re:IG pros, let me know what you think about my diet???... IG27 03/01/00 (5)
- more food ideas ........... iZ's mom 03/01/00 (0)
- Re:IG pros, let me know what you think about my diet???... xta 03/01/00 (3)
  - Re:IG pros, do I sub or just add?? IG27 03/01/00 (2)
    - Re:IG pros, do I sub or just add?? xta 03/01/00 (0)
    - i'd 'sub' ... see above post about iZ's "sprinkles" .... *grin* .......nm me again 03/01/00 (0)
Re: Shredding and more Lola, Harry and Jack's Mom 03/01/00 (1)
- agree with Lola & Harry's mom--no Kale & more variety (more) xta 03/01/00 (0)
Thanks for replying, Matt. Very interesting reading. I wondered if you have ever had Pepe's blood levels tested... ..nm Thumper 02/29/00 (1)
- Yes, I'd be very interested in knowing his blood levels too........ Harry's Dad 03/01/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Pepe gets greens almost exclusively. He gets the occasional bit of bananna - usually when I'm eating one I'll cut it in half and let him eat some, but not all. As far as greens, I use a pretty even mix of collards, mustard, turnip, kale (a bit less - about half of the amt. of the other proportions), occasionally a little escarole, sometimes swiss chard and or red chard. I usually buy a full pound of each (Harris Teeter sells greens by the pound, Kroger sells by the bunch). I also get one really large green pepper and usually two red peppers. I also get some carrots. When I prepare the food I just tear the leafy parts off and put them in a colander and rinse. Then I chuck them in a food processor until they're fairly well shredded. For about anywhere from 3 to 5 lbs. of greens I shred up about 3 carrots - just enough that the carrots and the red peppers a sprinkle of color. The whole lot is then frozen and I thaw out a portion each day (nuke it). I can also add at this point that Pepe has never had any vitamin supplementation and no protein whatsoever. As you can see he's the picture of health and currently weighs in around 700 or more grams. I'd also like to note he craps really regularly. It's almost odd to hear so many other instances of constipated igs or igs that only crap once a day. Pepe craps at least one good crap a day if not more. I attribute this regularity to his food being chopped up finely. As it's chopped it tends to release a lot of moisture and that gets frozen, so when his food is thawed, what he eats is essentially a very finely chopped and very moist. I suspect igs that have difficulty producing might be doing so because their gut fauna is a bit overloaded by the food being swallowed in a larger particulate size. What I've been feeding him is essentially a modified Iguana Den diet. He recieves some direct sunlight about once a week or more (depending on the weather and my schedule), and he has Vita-lite and a incandescent 150 watt basking lamp. Since he hit is puberty growth spurt I've been amazed at how awesome his muscle tone is and how strong and active he's become. His territorial displays are quite regular and basically he's an all-around perfect specimen (in my humble opinion). Well, hope this offers up some suggestions to you. : Matt Campbell

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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