Re: digging IG

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Posted by Jamie/JBug on June 07, 2000 at 20:55:29:

In Reply to: digging IG posted by Debbie2 on June 07, 2000 at 12:36:17:

Hi, Debbie

I, myself, wouldn't be as worried about the carpet as I would be about the reason your iguana is digging. Usually, there are two reasons an iguana will dig, and I wouldn't ignore either of them, as it is a sign of something else.
1. Your iguana is a sexually mature female (10" svl is considered sexually mature) and she is bearing eggs and looking for a place to lay them. An female iguana who doesn't have a place to lay her eggs will often scratch at anything in hopes of finding somewhere suitable to lay her eggs. In the wild, they bury their eggs, and many females will refuse to lay their eggs if nowhere suitable is found, and will continue to carry them, and become eggbound. This is a *VERY* serious problem and an eggbound iguana usually needs her eggs to be surgically removed. If your iguana is a female 10" snout-to-vent length or over, and looks a little lumpy and/or has gone off food or cut down food intake, you should get her to a vet ASAP to determine whether or not she is carrying eggs. Gravid females need to special treatment, as well as an appropriate place to lay her eggs. If you for some reason cannot take her to the vet at all, please consider at least setting her up with an nest box to lay her eggs in. Here's what I use for a nest box:
1 BIG rubbermaid storage tub with the lid on and a hole cut in the front, large enough for the iguana to comfortably enter. I fill it up with a 50-50% mixture of sterile playsand and organic peat moss, and I keep the mixture moist but not soggy. Keep the box in a dim, secluded place and keep it warm. Introduce her to the box often but leave her alone once she is in there ~ if you keep peeking she'll most likely decide that it's not a safe place to lay egs and abandon it. Also, please realize that this is *NOT* a suitable replacement for a vet visit. I would take the iguana to a vet if at all possible if you think she may be gravid (carrying eggs).

2. If none of those things are likely, or if you take her to the vet and determine that she isn't gravid, then there is some reason why your iguana does not want to be where she is, and is therefore looking for an escape. Is the room to hot? Too cold? Too noisy? Is she hungry? Bored and looking for some new scenery? (Yes, igs do get bored with the same ol, same ol!) Is there another pet or child in the room that she feels threatened by? Does the room have a strong smell? DOes it smell like a predator? Take a good, hard look at your iguanas surroundings and notice what is happening in the room that she wants to get out of, and make some changes accordingly.

HTH! Good luck.

Best,
Jamie/JBug

: how can I keep my IG from digging at closed doors? She is starting to do damage to the Carpet. At this time she is a free romer in my bedroom so she should have plenty of room to roam. I will be moving soon and can not have her do this at the new house. We do have a cage for her but would prefer to set her up in her own room. I just can't have her ripping up the carpet. Any suggestions??? Thanks

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: Hi, Debbie : I, myself, wouldn't be as worried about the carpet as I would be about the reason your iguana is digging. Usually, there are two reasons an iguana will dig, and I wouldn't ignore either of them, as it is a sign of something else. : 1. Your iguana is a sexually mature female (10" svl is considered sexually mature) and she is bearing eggs and looking for a place to lay them. An female iguana who doesn't have a place to lay her eggs will often scratch at anything in hopes of finding somewhere suitable to lay her eggs. In the wild, they bury their eggs, and many females will refuse to lay their eggs if nowhere suitable is found, and will continue to carry them, and become eggbound. This is a *VERY* serious problem and an eggbound iguana usually needs her eggs to be surgically removed. If your iguana is a female 10" snout-to-vent length or over, and looks a little lumpy and/or has gone off food or cut down food intake, you should get her to a vet ASAP to determine whether or not she is carrying eggs. Gravid females need to special treatment, as well as an appropriate place to lay her eggs. If you for some reason cannot take her to the vet at all, please consider at least setting her up with an nest box to lay her eggs in. Here's what I use for a nest box: : 1 BIG rubbermaid storage tub with the lid on and a hole cut in the front, large enough for the iguana to comfortably enter. I fill it up with a 50-50% mixture of sterile playsand and organic peat moss, and I keep the mixture moist but not soggy. Keep the box in a dim, secluded place and keep it warm. Introduce her to the box often but leave her alone once she is in there ~ if you keep peeking she'll most likely decide that it's not a safe place to lay egs and abandon it. Also, please realize that this is *NOT* a suitable replacement for a vet visit. I would take the iguana to a vet if at all possible if you think she may be gravid (carrying eggs). : 2. If none of those things are likely, or if you take her to the vet and determine that she isn't gravid, then there is some reason why your iguana does not want to be where she is, and is therefore looking for an escape. Is the room to hot? Too cold? Too noisy? Is she hungry? Bored and looking for some new scenery? (Yes, igs do get bored with the same ol, same ol!) Is there another pet or child in the room that she feels threatened by? Does the room have a strong smell? DOes it smell like a predator? Take a good, hard look at your iguanas surroundings and notice what is happening in the room that she wants to get out of, and make some changes accordingly. : HTH! Good luck. : Best, : Jamie/JBug : : how can I keep my IG from digging at closed doors? She is starting to do damage to the Carpet. At this time she is a free romer in my bedroom so she should have plenty of room to roam. I will be moving soon and can not have her do this at the new house. We do have a cage for her but would prefer to set her up in her own room. I just can't have her ripping up the carpet. Any suggestions??? Thanks

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