For Wendy--a good ig diet

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Posted by Diana on May 16, 2001 at 15:28:46:

In Reply to: Diet? posted by Wendy on May 16, 2001 at 14:13:45:

Hi Wendy,
Thanks for caring about the iguana enough to do research on your own. Because of you, he might have a chance at life.

As to the diet I feed my two rescues, Bobbit and Habib (a male and a female, both about 3 years old, and 3 feet long) here it is:

COLLARD GREENS: Sometimes they eat up to four servings of these a day! Wash and chop into iguana-head sized pieces. Mist them with water so the iguana gets extra moisture. You can buy these at most grocery stores, and even request that your favorite store carry them if they don't already. Many times, they will fulfill your request.

MUSTARD GREENS: chopped and washed

GREEN BEANS: cut in small pieces

ACORN SQUASH: washed and peeled, cut into pieces or grated with a cheese grater. My iguanas love ALL kinds of orange and yellow squash.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH: washed and peeled, same as above

SPAGETTI SQUASH: washed and peeled, same as above

YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH (a favorite of theirs) not peeled--but washed and cut into pieces

ZUCCHINI: not peeled, but washed and cut

SWEET POTATO: washed, peeled, and cut or grated

PEPPERS--GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED: washed, cut

PARSNIP: washed, peeled, or grated

PEAS-IN THE POD OR OUT

RASPBERRIES

BLUEBERRIES (mine LOVE these!)

STRAWBERRIES

MANGO

SMALL AMOUNTS OF ORANGES ON OCCASSION

VERY LITTLE BANANA--given as a treat only (iguanas LOVE bananas, but they have too much phosphorous in them to be good for them)

Wendy, you may be the only reason this iguana has a chance at life. I am so impressed that you've taken an interest in helping him, and have cared enough to reach out to us for help.

The key to an iguana diet is VARIETY. The above list of foods represnents an ideal--of course my iguanas don't get every single item above every single day, but I do try to make sure they get all of those foods on a regualar basis. Variety is the only way an iguana can get all of the nutrients and vitamins they need.

I shudder to think of that poor iguana in your class room, living on lettuce and bean sprouts. That really makes me sad. I hate to tell you this, but he won't live much longer if his diet doesn't change NOW.

In addition, iguanas have special lighting/heating needs. If the classroom iguana is in a cage without an actual reptile bulb which produces UV rays, he will not be able to process the nutrients he eats, even if you do make his diet better. It is IMPORTANT, no, CRITICAL, that the iguana have a:

ZOO MED REPTI SUN 5.0 UVB lightbulb.

The Reptisun 5.0 and Iguana Light 5.0 both have the highest level of both UVB and UVA wavelengths. UVB wavelength helps to prevent or reverse Metabolic Bone Disease in Green Iguanas (a disease that the classroom iguana might be getting right now, if he doesn't have it already, since he hasn't got a regular or good source of calcium. Collard greens have tons of calcuim in them and shoule replace the romain lettuce immediately) as well as other species of lizards in captivity. UVA wavelegth increases appetite, activity, and helps to induce reproductive behavior in captive reptiles.

The lightbulb should be placed no further than 10-12" from the iguana so he can benefit from it's rays.

The bulbs last a minimum of six months to a year and should be replaced at least every year to maintain the needed rays.

Normal tungsten filament bulbs (Neodymium bulbs or spot lamps) do not emit UVB and therefore do not assist the animals in D3 synthesis or calcium absorption.

Does your teacher have a light bulb on all day for him? It has to be a long tube type--the round lightbulb-type doesn't contain any uv--regardless if it says it does on the package.

Wendy, PLEASE please, keep researching to help this iguana. They are tough animals to keep, but well worth the effort.

If your teacher doesn't want to change the way the iguana is kept, the iguana should be placed for adoption. Living the way he is, he will probably die. Please persuade your teacher to read the things you find for her on the internet, and help her make the changes the iguana needs.

We are here for you--come back to this forum and tell us what else you need. We will help you in any way we can to do what's best for this iggy. Please don't get frustrated or give up. You are his only hope at this point.

Again, I commend you for being caring enough to come and let us know what needs to change so the iguana can have a long, happy life.

Nice to meet you, Wendy, and please, come back and let us know how things go.

Oh, and don't forget, there is tons of good stuff (and some that's not so good) on the internet, so continue to research. You'll learn so much, and you may end up saving a life with your knowledge.

With admiration,
Diana

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: Hi Wendy, : Thanks for caring about the iguana enough to do research on your own. Because of you, he might have a chance at life. : As to the diet I feed my two rescues, Bobbit and Habib (a male and a female, both about 3 years old, and 3 feet long) here it is: : COLLARD GREENS: Sometimes they eat up to four servings of these a day! Wash and chop into iguana-head sized pieces. Mist them with water so the iguana gets extra moisture. You can buy these at most grocery stores, and even request that your favorite store carry them if they don't already. Many times, they will fulfill your request. : MUSTARD GREENS: chopped and washed : GREEN BEANS: cut in small pieces : ACORN SQUASH: washed and peeled, cut into pieces or grated with a cheese grater. My iguanas love ALL kinds of orange and yellow squash. : BUTTERNUT SQUASH: washed and peeled, same as above : SPAGETTI SQUASH: washed and peeled, same as above : YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH (a favorite of theirs) not peeled--but washed and cut into pieces : ZUCCHINI: not peeled, but washed and cut : SWEET POTATO: washed, peeled, and cut or grated : PEPPERS--GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED: washed, cut : PARSNIP: washed, peeled, or grated : : PEAS-IN THE POD OR OUT : RASPBERRIES : BLUEBERRIES (mine LOVE these!) : STRAWBERRIES : MANGO : SMALL AMOUNTS OF ORANGES ON OCCASSION : VERY LITTLE BANANA--given as a treat only (iguanas LOVE bananas, but they have too much phosphorous in them to be good for them) : : Wendy, you may be the only reason this iguana has a chance at life. I am so impressed that you've taken an interest in helping him, and have cared enough to reach out to us for help. : The key to an iguana diet is VARIETY. The above list of foods represnents an ideal--of course my iguanas don't get every single item above every single day, but I do try to make sure they get all of those foods on a regualar basis. Variety is the only way an iguana can get all of the nutrients and vitamins they need. : I shudder to think of that poor iguana in your class room, living on lettuce and bean sprouts. That really makes me sad. I hate to tell you this, but he won't live much longer if his diet doesn't change NOW. : In addition, iguanas have special lighting/heating needs. If the classroom iguana is in a cage without an actual reptile bulb which produces UV rays, he will not be able to process the nutrients he eats, even if you do make his diet better. It is IMPORTANT, no, CRITICAL, that the iguana have a: : ZOO MED REPTI SUN 5.0 UVB lightbulb. : The Reptisun 5.0 and Iguana Light 5.0 both have the highest level of both UVB and UVA wavelengths. UVB wavelength helps to prevent or reverse Metabolic Bone Disease in Green Iguanas (a disease that the classroom iguana might be getting right now, if he doesn't have it already, since he hasn't got a regular or good source of calcium. Collard greens have tons of calcuim in them and shoule replace the romain lettuce immediately) as well as other species of lizards in captivity. UVA wavelegth increases appetite, activity, and helps to induce reproductive behavior in captive reptiles. : The lightbulb should be placed no further than 10-12" from the iguana so he can benefit from it's rays. : The bulbs last a minimum of six months to a year and should be replaced at least every year to maintain the needed rays. : Normal tungsten filament bulbs (Neodymium bulbs or spot lamps) do not emit UVB and therefore do not assist the animals in D3 synthesis or calcium absorption. : Does your teacher have a light bulb on all day for him? It has to be a long tube type--the round lightbulb-type doesn't contain any uv--regardless if it says it does on the package. : Wendy, PLEASE please, keep researching to help this iguana. They are tough animals to keep, but well worth the effort. : If your teacher doesn't want to change the way the iguana is kept, the iguana should be placed for adoption. Living the way he is, he will probably die. Please persuade your teacher to read the things you find for her on the internet, and help her make the changes the iguana needs. : We are here for you--come back to this forum and tell us what else you need. We will help you in any way we can to do what's best for this iggy. Please don't get frustrated or give up. You are his only hope at this point. : Again, I commend you for being caring enough to come and let us know what needs to change so the iguana can have a long, happy life. : Nice to meet you, Wendy, and please, come back and let us know how things go. : Oh, and don't forget, there is tons of good stuff (and some that's not so good) on the internet, so continue to research. You'll learn so much, and you may end up saving a life with your knowledge. : With admiration, : Diana

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