Not to mention a few Female igs reabsorb instead of laying n/p

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Posted by K~ on June 08, 2000 at 06:25:31:

In Reply to: Re: Egg laying (pretty long) posted by Jamie/JBug on June 07, 2000 at 21:23:06:

: Hi Rach
:
: Don't feel ignorant! No one knows it all! :)

: A *healthy* sexually mature female iguana usually will lay eggs once a year, with or without mating or the presence of a male iguana. A female iguana to considered sexually mature when she has reached the minimun size of 10 inches snout-to-vent length. The time of year when they lay their eggs varies from ig to ig, but the average (if there is such a thing!) is usually during late winter/early spring. My female, Shakai, almost invariably lays eggs 2 or 3 days before Easter. (Appropos, no?) Occasionally females will "double-clutch" and lay eggs once in the spring and once in the fall. So far, no one really knows why some females do this, altho there are theories. Female igs in the wild bury their eggs underground and then leave them. A gravid female will display all, some or none of the following symptoms: (They like to keep us on our toes!)
: Digging at carpet, in plants, on a bed, whatever

: Decreased appetite and usually going off food for the last few weeks
: increased water intake
: Sometimes a slight weight loss or "looking skinny" to start with
: Gradually becoming lumpy on the sides and underneath of belly
: Moodiness or downright crabbiness, occasionally aggressiveness
: Fat, lumpy belly but thin, bony tail base
: Increased desire to escape in or outside of house
: (There are most probably some I missed, but these are the most common symptoms I've noticed.)

: A gravid female iguana will need extra calcium suppliments and more fresh, cool water. I often recommend parents of gravid females make a "slurry" out of strawberry ensure, calcium glubionate (liquid), barley grass (powder suppliment in human health-food stores)and a tiny sprinle of vitamins. Mix it up and give to gravid female every couple of days, to give her calcium, vitamins, and and boost of energy with which to lay her eggs. Here's what I use for a nest box:
: A 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.

: Well, did that answer your question? :) HTH!

: Best,
: Jamie/JBug
: : I feel really ignorant, since I am a long time iguana owner, but what is the deal with egg laying? I mean non-fertilized eggs. I have had a male iguana for many-a-year and have had a very large female for a few months. Are they supposed to lay eggs perodically? I looked all through my books but didn't find any information. I have long heard of the dangers of being egg bound, but I don't know if they are supposed to lay eggs every once in a while or what to do. Please help me. Thank you so much!

: : Rach

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: : Hi Rach : : : : Don't feel ignorant! No one knows it all! :) : : A *healthy* sexually mature female iguana usually will lay eggs once a year, with or without mating or the presence of a male iguana. A female iguana to considered sexually mature when she has reached the minimun size of 10 inches snout-to-vent length. The time of year when they lay their eggs varies from ig to ig, but the average (if there is such a thing!) is usually during late winter/early spring. My female, Shakai, almost invariably lays eggs 2 or 3 days before Easter. (Appropos, no?) Occasionally females will "double-clutch" and lay eggs once in the spring and once in the fall. So far, no one really knows why some females do this, altho there are theories. Female igs in the wild bury their eggs underground and then leave them. A gravid female will display all, some or none of the following symptoms: (They like to keep us on our toes!) : : Digging at carpet, in plants, on a bed, whatever : : Decreased appetite and usually going off food for the last few weeks : : increased water intake : : Sometimes a slight weight loss or "looking skinny" to start with : : Gradually becoming lumpy on the sides and underneath of belly : : Moodiness or downright crabbiness, occasionally aggressiveness : : Fat, lumpy belly but thin, bony tail base : : Increased desire to escape in or outside of house : : (There are most probably some I missed, but these are the most common symptoms I've noticed.) : : A gravid female iguana will need extra calcium suppliments and more fresh, cool water. I often recommend parents of gravid females make a "slurry" out of strawberry ensure, calcium glubionate (liquid), barley grass (powder suppliment in human health-food stores)and a tiny sprinle of vitamins. Mix it up and give to gravid female every couple of days, to give her calcium, vitamins, and and boost of energy with which to lay her eggs. Here's what I use for a nest box: : : A 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. : : Well, did that answer your question? :) HTH! : : Best, : : Jamie/JBug : : : I feel really ignorant, since I am a long time iguana owner, but what is the deal with egg laying? I mean non-fertilized eggs. I have had a male iguana for many-a-year and have had a very large female for a few months. Are they supposed to lay eggs perodically? I looked all through my books but didn't find any information. I have long heard of the dangers of being egg bound, but I don't know if they are supposed to lay eggs every once in a while or what to do. Please help me. Thank you so much! : : : Rach

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