Re: Iguana substrate q down below

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Posted by BabyHerp on April 23, 2001 at 11:47:08:

In Reply to: Iguana substrate q down below posted by Bosse on April 23, 2001 at 04:19:03:

Bosse...There are NO absolutes in reptile keeping...your close to natural microclimate vivs are unique compared to majority of us par-ig-noid keepers in that they are LARGE! what 25 feet+ square? Your vivs are spectacular btw. I use sterile potting soil as substrate...to help maintain the humidity in my ig enclosures (used to use indoor/outdoor and astroturf panels but man what a hassle!) My igs do lick at the dirt...smelling around looking for food. Have also tore off silk leaves inside their enclosures imagine my surprise when I found a few floating in the tub during their bath times. My male ig while outside free roaming once ate a rock that had me sifting thru his poop for 3 days until I found it. Impactions and obstructions are a concern for me as they should be for all of us that have free-roaming or igs in unnaturally small settings.
One comment regarding the inavailability of food or need for calcium and pica type behavior...my igs are not deficient in either...but that sticky tongue of theirs is a magnet for ANY small foreign object...if you are using particulate substrate like pine bark....the only way to know if your iguanas have ingested any of it would be to have an Xray done. Often times foreign objects (like sand, gravel, rocks,pieces of plastic, metal) sit in gut unnoticed for some time until full obstruction occurs, or discovered happenstance when an Xray is done.

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I'm not saying that I KNOW they don't eat any... Bosse 04/25/01 (1)
- Re: Sorry Bosse I misunderstood! BabyHerp 04/25/01 (0)

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: Bosse...There are NO absolutes in reptile keeping...your close to natural microclimate vivs are unique compared to majority of us par-ig-noid keepers in that they are LARGE! what 25 feet+ square? Your vivs are spectacular btw. I use sterile potting soil as substrate...to help maintain the humidity in my ig enclosures (used to use indoor/outdoor and astroturf panels but man what a hassle!) My igs do lick at the dirt...smelling around looking for food. Have also tore off silk leaves inside their enclosures imagine my surprise when I found a few floating in the tub during their bath times. My male ig while outside free roaming once ate a rock that had me sifting thru his poop for 3 days until I found it. Impactions and obstructions are a concern for me as they should be for all of us that have free-roaming or igs in unnaturally small settings. : One comment regarding the inavailability of food or need for calcium and pica type behavior...my igs are not deficient in either...but that sticky tongue of theirs is a magnet for ANY small foreign object...if you are using particulate substrate like pine bark....the only way to know if your iguanas have ingested any of it would be to have an Xray done. Often times foreign objects (like sand, gravel, rocks,pieces of plastic, metal) sit in gut unnoticed for some time until full obstruction occurs, or discovered happenstance when an Xray is done.

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