fungus treatment

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Posted by michelle on April 03, 2001 at 12:40:38:

I have an iguana that has developed a fungus in a couple of spots on his belly. He has little black dots that I originally thought were just markings until they developed a grayish haze on them. I think he must have had it when I got him, as I have never had this problem before. (10 years of owning iguanas) What treatments do you guys use? I have heard of using an athlete's foot cream. Does this work? I do not have one in the medicine cabinet, so last night, I used iodine because I remembered that years ago when my horse got a fungus, the vet had me scrub it with a betadine scrub. Will the iodine do the same thing?

I know that when questions like this arise, it is helpful to know husbandry of the iguana, so here goes. He is about 7 months old (I think... he's little at any rate.)and he lives in a homemade cage about 6'X 2.5'X 6' with plenty of silk foilage & hiding places. He has two iguana lights that are replaced once a year, and each has a branch about 12" away from it, so he can get close to the rays. He has a couple different basking spots created with ordinary light bulbs, with temperatures in the 95 degree range. The cool end of his tank approaches room temperature, around 70-75 degrees. I know it is controversial to some, but I do use hot rocks in his enclosure. I have them on a thermostat so they are not on full heat, and I cover them with a towel. I only do this while my iguanas are little, and when he gets bigger, they will be taken away. (I learned this lesson the hard way, the weight of a 15 lb. iguana on a hot rock, even with a towel over it, WILL get burnt...) I like to provide the extra heat to the little guys, though, and I prefer a hot rock to a human heating pad, at least until I am sure the little guy is potty trained (easier to clean.) He is on the IguanaDen diet, with ocational treats... His enclosure is rather dry, actually, but I ocasionally mist it, and he gets either a shower or a bath every day. Phew! Is that all? I will probably tear his tank down tonight, and clean everything real good, in case the fungus can transfer to his cage furnishings. He is very healthy otherwise. Bright green, and eating like a horse. I have a call in to my vet, but have not gotten his recomendation yet. I will be taking him in to the vet later this spring for the usual fecal float, and possibly some blood testing. (Nothing wrong with this one, but I lost a lizard to kidney infection, so I will be taking a more proactive stance this time around.) I would like to try to treat this without a trip to the vet, as I like to wait until it is very warm out if I can. (Of course if the doctor calls back and wants to see him, away we go!)

OK, sorry this is long, but like I said I have never had this before, and I wanted to include any possible relavent info. Any help is greatly appreciated!

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: I have an iguana that has developed a fungus in a couple of spots on his belly. He has little black dots that I originally thought were just markings until they developed a grayish haze on them. I think he must have had it when I got him, as I have never had this problem before. (10 years of owning iguanas) What treatments do you guys use? I have heard of using an athlete's foot cream. Does this work? I do not have one in the medicine cabinet, so last night, I used iodine because I remembered that years ago when my horse got a fungus, the vet had me scrub it with a betadine scrub. Will the iodine do the same thing? : I know that when questions like this arise, it is helpful to know husbandry of the iguana, so here goes. He is about 7 months old (I think... he's little at any rate.)and he lives in a homemade cage about 6'X 2.5'X 6' with plenty of silk foilage & hiding places. He has two iguana lights that are replaced once a year, and each has a branch about 12" away from it, so he can get close to the rays. He has a couple different basking spots created with ordinary light bulbs, with temperatures in the 95 degree range. The cool end of his tank approaches room temperature, around 70-75 degrees. I know it is controversial to some, but I do use hot rocks in his enclosure. I have them on a thermostat so they are not on full heat, and I cover them with a towel. I only do this while my iguanas are little, and when he gets bigger, they will be taken away. (I learned this lesson the hard way, the weight of a 15 lb. iguana on a hot rock, even with a towel over it, WILL get burnt...) I like to provide the extra heat to the little guys, though, and I prefer a hot rock to a human heating pad, at least until I am sure the little guy is potty trained (easier to clean.) He is on the IguanaDen diet, with ocational treats... His enclosure is rather dry, actually, but I ocasionally mist it, and he gets either a shower or a bath every day. Phew! Is that all? I will probably tear his tank down tonight, and clean everything real good, in case the fungus can transfer to his cage furnishings. He is very healthy otherwise. Bright green, and eating like a horse. I have a call in to my vet, but have not gotten his recomendation yet. I will be taking him in to the vet later this spring for the usual fecal float, and possibly some blood testing. (Nothing wrong with this one, but I lost a lizard to kidney infection, so I will be taking a more proactive stance this time around.) I would like to try to treat this without a trip to the vet, as I like to wait until it is very warm out if I can. (Of course if the doctor calls back and wants to see him, away we go!) : OK, sorry this is long, but like I said I have never had this before, and I wanted to include any possible relavent info. Any help is greatly appreciated!

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