Re: Skinny Iguana, just old or is he sick?

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Posted by Dark on August 31, 1998 at 13:52:43:

In Reply to: Skinny Iguana, just old or is he sick? posted by MH on August 31, 1998 at 09:04:11:

: Hi!

: My name's Mattias and I live in Sweden. I have a very large green iguana about 10 1/2 years old.
: He lives in a large naturalistic terrarium and until July this year his cage has always been open.
: The reason I've started to keep his cage closed is that before he used to leave his droppings on
: old newspapers placed on the floor, but in June/July he started to drop those "landmines" all over
: the floor instead.
: He has always been very robust and muscular, like a healthy Iguana should be, but now he has become
: very skinny and he is not feeding well. I wasn't very concerned in the beginning when he refused to eat,
: because sometimes he stops feeding for a month or so (without becoming skinny). But now I'm very concerned
: He doesn't look or behave like a sick animal and I have allways provided him with UV-light, good heating and
: appropriate food.

: As I see it there can only be two reasons to why he is becoming so skinny:

: 1 He doesn't like to be "locked up" (tough I let him go free-roaming 2-3 times a week)
: 2 He is old!

: He is my oldest, and the one I enjoy the most, of my Iguanas. Could it be that he have stopped eating simply
: because of old age? Is there anyone out there who has had an Iguana that died of old age?
: And does anyone know how old Iguanas usually become in captivity?

: I would be very happy if someone could give me some answers or ideas and opinions.

: Mattias

hi mattias,
did you check for internal paresites ?/
it sounds a bit od that a trained iguana should start pooping outside hist usual spot
and becoming very skinny,are his droppings okay ?
if it's stress did he change his colour ? say from greenish to brownish ??
if there is a vet near you i would go and see him and let the vet check for internal paristes.
also is he less active ?? (i guess he would but its a sympton i gotta ask) is the ig the dominate male ?? or is there another dominate ig in the terrarium ?
now i dont know how old but ig's seem to live longer and longer today the manual that i read said 12.5 years but that book is a bit outdated if i can finaly get a money order
i can buy that book by james hatfield the III. seems to be very thorough
best wishes for youre ig
Dark

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: : Hi! : : My name's Mattias and I live in Sweden. I have a very large green iguana about 10 1/2 years old. : : He lives in a large naturalistic terrarium and until July this year his cage has always been open. : : The reason I've started to keep his cage closed is that before he used to leave his droppings on : : old newspapers placed on the floor, but in June/July he started to drop those "landmines" all over : : the floor instead. : : He has always been very robust and muscular, like a healthy Iguana should be, but now he has become : : very skinny and he is not feeding well. I wasn't very concerned in the beginning when he refused to eat, : : because sometimes he stops feeding for a month or so (without becoming skinny). But now I'm very concerned : : He doesn't look or behave like a sick animal and I have allways provided him with UV-light, good heating and : : appropriate food. : : As I see it there can only be two reasons to why he is becoming so skinny: : : 1 He doesn't like to be "locked up" (tough I let him go free-roaming 2-3 times a week) : : 2 He is old! : : He is my oldest, and the one I enjoy the most, of my Iguanas. Could it be that he have stopped eating simply : : because of old age? Is there anyone out there who has had an Iguana that died of old age? : : And does anyone know how old Iguanas usually become in captivity? : : I would be very happy if someone could give me some answers or ideas and opinions. : : Mattias : hi mattias, : did you check for internal paresites ?/ : it sounds a bit od that a trained iguana should start pooping outside hist usual spot : and becoming very skinny,are his droppings okay ? : if it's stress did he change his colour ? say from greenish to brownish ?? : if there is a vet near you i would go and see him and let the vet check for internal paristes. : also is he less active ?? (i guess he would but its a sympton i gotta ask) is the ig the dominate male ?? or is there another dominate ig in the terrarium ? : now i dont know how old but ig's seem to live longer and longer today the manual that i read said 12.5 years but that book is a bit outdated if i can finaly get a money order : i can buy that book by james hatfield the III. seems to be very thorough : best wishes for youre ig : Dark

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