Gradivity Question (kinda long)

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Tmom on November 20, 2000 at 23:07:14:

I am giving advice to an iguana owner,

Here is his first E-mail:

I have a question. I have a female iguana, 3.5 yrs old, and a male appears
to be
between 1.5 and 2 yrs. I recently introduced the two of them together. I
just bought
the male. they are in a enclosure 8x8x6 with all the
heating,lighting,humidity.He is in good health except for his left back leg.
I just noticed his leg is swollen pretty bad
on the lower leg and foot. Could this be from aggression from the female.
Will the swelling go down? Would the vet be able to do anything? Just curious
why this is happening to him. I raised my female from a hatchling, and have
never had any problems with her. I would appreciate your insight.

I told him that housing iguana's together is not a good idea and that the swollen leg may be form a bite from the female,

Here's his second e-mail:Lesya,

Thank you for responding. As far as your questions :

calcium: my iguana's eat fresh veggies every day these usually include:
mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale*, spinach*, variety of
squashes, sometimes some bellpepper, brocolli minced, leeks, and fruit treats
throughout the week. I also supplement with Miner-all O.

* occasionally

I have never had any problems with MBD with my female, as I said I raised her
from a hatchling. She will be 4yrs in feb 2001

Housing together: My female, she does establish she is the queen of the
cage, but
at the same time she does not chase after him just to chase him. Most of the
time only when he is in her way. She has nipped him, but not hard. No
puncture wounds are visible. I have checked his leg and it does not feel
broken, just swollen.
The enclosure they are housed in is 8' long x 6' wide x 8' tall. It is
framed like a house with 1x2. r-13 insulation in each wall. Walls are OSB
(chipboard used on new houses) The front has a dual pane plexiglass window
7.5' x 3.5'. The enclosure has
3 seperate basking spots(zoomed bulbs), nightime heatlamp(zoomed 250w), and 2
12" x 24" radiant heat panels. There is also a humidifier on a shelf on the
outside
and the warm mist is piped into the cage. Usually runs 6-8 hours daily on a
timer.
This keeps the cage about 40% humidity. The enclosure also has 2 4"
cooling fans that I utilize in the summer months to keep the cage from
getting too hot. And
finally the uvb lights! Starting to wonder weren't you? I saved these for
last because I recently swithed from flourescents to the active uv heat
bulbs. Before I used 4 48"
zoomed reptisun 5.0 bulbs. I decided to give the uvb bulbs a try just based
on you have to replace the flourescents so often. So far I've had good
results with the active heat bulbs. I have two 160w floods in the enclosure.
These were put in prior to me acquiring my male ig. Color in my female ig
has improved and she is more active.
All this is controlled by a helix super system. All light fixtures are
inaccesable to lizards by way of a wire ceiling that I can pull down in 3
sections.

I got my male ig from a store here in antioch, called petacular exotics. I
was in there
talking to the owner about the active uv bulbs, and the conersation led to my
iguana.
He just happened to have a male he was looking to get rid of, if the right
person came along. He wasn't in the front area he was in the back room. The
cage was
aquarium large enough for him and uv and heat. Note: he was verrry docile in
the store. He is probably 1.5 to 2 yrs old. The owner agreed to let me have
him for $50.

He was brought home and put into the big room. The male became very active
after a couple of days in the enclosure. Probably cause he warmed up and had
a good environ. The first week he did usually jump where he was at to the
floor whenever I walked in. (4-5ft) usually slowed down by some branches.
Maybe he spained his leg on one of these leaps???Prior to doing this female
was removed and put in her other cage 4 x 2 x 2 that she lived in for a good
2.5 yrs. After a week and a half I put the female in the big cage again. She
immediately asserted herself as queen of the cage. No aggression though.

That's pretty much how the story goes. Today frankie (male ig) was removed
from the big enclosure and put in the 4 x 2 x 2 cage with a new uvb flour.
Going to watch
and see if his leg improves. I will most likely keep him there until spring
so he can
become comfortable and bulk up in his size. He he much more handleable now he
doesn't leap away anymore. I would eventually like to intergrate them both
into the big enclosure. As far as unwanted pregnacies, I would not incubate
the eggs unless
someone came to me and wanted one. Provided they could convince me they could
take care of it.

The main reason I got a male was I heard if a female hadn't been bred it
could increase the chance of eggbinding.???????? True or not???????

I guess I should also mention I also house 2 spiny tail iguanas in the same
big enclosure. No agression from female green ig at all. just a head bob
when they
are in her way. These guys (m,f) are quite a bit smaller and have adjusted
well to the enclosure. They eat, superworms and occasionally from the vegy
bowl.

The vet I go to is a member of a veternairy reptile and amphip. assoc.
She seems to be knowledgeable on reptiles.

Thanks for your help, I hope I have expained my situation accurately.
And I'll keep you informed

My question is,

Is it actually BETTER for an iguana to be mated, and does mating reduce the chance of egg-binding??

Follow Ups:

Re: Gradivity Harry's Dad 11/21/00 (2)
- My Cirsis was spayed and,,, sue1 11/21/00 (1)
  - Sue1 question.... Kimberley 11/22/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I am giving advice to an iguana owner, : Here is his first E-mail: : I have a question. I have a female iguana, 3.5 yrs old, and a male appears : to be : between 1.5 and 2 yrs. I recently introduced the two of them together. I : just bought : the male. they are in a enclosure 8x8x6 with all the : heating,lighting,humidity.He is in good health except for his left back leg. : I just noticed his leg is swollen pretty bad : on the lower leg and foot. Could this be from aggression from the female. : Will the swelling go down? Would the vet be able to do anything? Just curious : why this is happening to him. I raised my female from a hatchling, and have : never had any problems with her. I would appreciate your insight. : I told him that housing iguana's together is not a good idea and that the swollen leg may be form a bite from the female, : Here's his second e-mail:Lesya, : Thank you for responding. As far as your questions : : calcium: my iguana's eat fresh veggies every day these usually include: : mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale*, spinach*, variety of : squashes, sometimes some bellpepper, brocolli minced, leeks, and fruit treats : throughout the week. I also supplement with Miner-all O. : * occasionally : I have never had any problems with MBD with my female, as I said I raised her : from a hatchling. She will be 4yrs in feb 2001 : Housing together: My female, she does establish she is the queen of the : cage, but : at the same time she does not chase after him just to chase him. Most of the : time only when he is in her way. She has nipped him, but not hard. No : puncture wounds are visible. I have checked his leg and it does not feel : broken, just swollen. : The enclosure they are housed in is 8' long x 6' wide x 8' tall. It is : framed like a house with 1x2. r-13 insulation in each wall. Walls are OSB : (chipboard used on new houses) The front has a dual pane plexiglass window : 7.5' x 3.5'. The enclosure has : 3 seperate basking spots(zoomed bulbs), nightime heatlamp(zoomed 250w), and 2 : 12" x 24" radiant heat panels. There is also a humidifier on a shelf on the : outside : and the warm mist is piped into the cage. Usually runs 6-8 hours daily on a : timer. : This keeps the cage about 40% humidity. The enclosure also has 2 4" : cooling fans that I utilize in the summer months to keep the cage from : getting too hot. And : finally the uvb lights! Starting to wonder weren't you? I saved these for : last because I recently swithed from flourescents to the active uv heat : bulbs. Before I used 4 48" : zoomed reptisun 5.0 bulbs. I decided to give the uvb bulbs a try just based : on you have to replace the flourescents so often. So far I've had good : results with the active heat bulbs. I have two 160w floods in the enclosure. : These were put in prior to me acquiring my male ig. Color in my female ig : has improved and she is more active. : All this is controlled by a helix super system. All light fixtures are : inaccesable to lizards by way of a wire ceiling that I can pull down in 3 : sections. : I got my male ig from a store here in antioch, called petacular exotics. I : was in there : talking to the owner about the active uv bulbs, and the conersation led to my : iguana. : He just happened to have a male he was looking to get rid of, if the right : person came along. He wasn't in the front area he was in the back room. The : cage was : aquarium large enough for him and uv and heat. Note: he was verrry docile in : the store. He is probably 1.5 to 2 yrs old. The owner agreed to let me have : him for $50. : He was brought home and put into the big room. The male became very active : after a couple of days in the enclosure. Probably cause he warmed up and had : a good environ. The first week he did usually jump where he was at to the : floor whenever I walked in. (4-5ft) usually slowed down by some branches. : Maybe he spained his leg on one of these leaps???Prior to doing this female : was removed and put in her other cage 4 x 2 x 2 that she lived in for a good : 2.5 yrs. After a week and a half I put the female in the big cage again. She : immediately asserted herself as queen of the cage. No aggression though. : That's pretty much how the story goes. Today frankie (male ig) was removed : from the big enclosure and put in the 4 x 2 x 2 cage with a new uvb flour. : Going to watch : and see if his leg improves. I will most likely keep him there until spring : so he can : become comfortable and bulk up in his size. He he much more handleable now he : doesn't leap away anymore. I would eventually like to intergrate them both : into the big enclosure. As far as unwanted pregnacies, I would not incubate : the eggs unless : someone came to me and wanted one. Provided they could convince me they could : take care of it. : The main reason I got a male was I heard if a female hadn't been bred it : could increase the chance of eggbinding.???????? True or not??????? : I guess I should also mention I also house 2 spiny tail iguanas in the same : big enclosure. No agression from female green ig at all. just a head bob : when they : are in her way. These guys (m,f) are quite a bit smaller and have adjusted : well to the enclosure. They eat, superworms and occasionally from the vegy : bowl. : The vet I go to is a member of a veternairy reptile and amphip. assoc. : She seems to be knowledgeable on reptiles. : Thanks for your help, I hope I have expained my situation accurately. : And I'll keep you informed : My question is, : Is it actually BETTER for an iguana to be mated, and does mating reduce the chance of egg-binding??

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ] [ FAQ ]