Re: Niece given a male iguana that just laid 5 eggs! Help!

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Posted by Morgan on April 20, 2000 at 09:04:59:

In Reply to: Niece given a male iguana that just laid 5 eggs! Help! posted by Ralphine on April 20, 2000 at 08:10:03:

You are correct that pregnancy for reptiles not in optimum condition can be fatal - particularly for iguanas.

5 eggs is nothing. Clutches are usually a dozen or more - sometimes up to 30! Because of their calcium requirements this is really tough on females. Harley will need a trip to the vet to make sure she's not impacted - an X-ray will do the trick.

The eggs are not fertile, so no worries there. Your niece shouldn't consider breeding anyway - there are more than enough iguanas out there.

In the short term, make sure Harley's diet is optimal - lots of dark leafy greens, and have your niece use a calcium supplement every day - RepCal is the one I recommend.

Harley SHOULD lay more eggs, but that's why a trip to the vet should be done ASAP. Impaction without treatment will kill her.

As your niece is finding out, iguanas are NOT low-maintenance reptiles!

: My niece was given an iguana 8 months ago and told Harley was a male. Well, in the last week Harley's laid 5 eggs. There's no chance they're fertile, he/she hasn't been anywhere near another iggy for YEARS. Is there anything she should do? She doesn't know much about iguanas and my experience is with corn snakes and now recently a leopard gecko. Will laying infertile eggs hurt Harley, as in deplete her body of nutrients etc.? Should she be on a special diet? Will Harley keep laying eggs? I've been getting my niece some info via the Internet, particularly kingsnake.com, my favorite place. I am also at this point discouraging her from thinking of breeding Harley; I think Harley's husbandry leaves a lot to be desired at times, and have told her that pregnancy for reptiles NOT in optimum condition can be fatal. Thanks in advance for any help.

Little Lizard

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: You are correct that pregnancy for reptiles not in optimum condition can be fatal - particularly for iguanas. : 5 eggs is nothing. Clutches are usually a dozen or more - sometimes up to 30! Because of their calcium requirements this is really tough on females. Harley will need a trip to the vet to make sure she's not impacted - an X-ray will do the trick. : The eggs are not fertile, so no worries there. Your niece shouldn't consider breeding anyway - there are more than enough iguanas out there. : In the short term, make sure Harley's diet is optimal - lots of dark leafy greens, and have your niece use a calcium supplement every day - RepCal is the one I recommend. : Harley SHOULD lay more eggs, but that's why a trip to the vet should be done ASAP. Impaction without treatment will kill her. : As your niece is finding out, iguanas are NOT low-maintenance reptiles! : : My niece was given an iguana 8 months ago and told Harley was a male. Well, in the last week Harley's laid 5 eggs. There's no chance they're fertile, he/she hasn't been anywhere near another iggy for YEARS. Is there anything she should do? She doesn't know much about iguanas and my experience is with corn snakes and now recently a leopard gecko. Will laying infertile eggs hurt Harley, as in deplete her body of nutrients etc.? Should she be on a special diet? Will Harley keep laying eggs? I've been getting my niece some info via the Internet, particularly kingsnake.com, my favorite place. I am also at this point discouraging her from thinking of breeding Harley; I think Harley's husbandry leaves a lot to be desired at times, and have told her that pregnancy for reptiles NOT in optimum condition can be fatal. Thanks in advance for any help.

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