Re: ESU bulb

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Posted by Tim on April 17, 1999 at 01:31:39:

In Reply to: Re: ESU bulb posted by meagan on April 16, 1999 at 19:24:30:

: tim: you are doing a wonderful job with your ig! by asking the questions you ahve asked you are doing a great job in trying to keep him happy and healthy. however, if you read through the lighting section of melissa kaplans web site you`ll find some info on the ESU bulb that you say you are using. here is a quote from her lghting table: " iguana ownershave been reporting onset of MBD within 6 months of using ESU`s UVB tube despite proper diet and vitamin and calcium supplementation, and who had not before exhibited any signs of MBD. if you cannot assure that your iguana is getting copious amounts of direct sun most of the year, you may wish to use another UVB flourescent." i just thought that it would be important for you to know that.
: meagan

:
: : : Welcome Tim! It's great to see a young person trying so hard to take good care of his pet.
: : : The reason so many people are on this forum is because they have seen many pets suffer and die. It happened to me too. We did everything pet store people, breeders, and even the vet told us to do. The food, heat and light advice we got killed our pet. It may take years for a problem to develop, but it will. I am so glad you have taken the time to look into good care. What is your rhino iggy's name? I think they are awesome. You said you hope you and your pet can grow up together - if you don't mind my asking, how old are you? Now for my 2 cent's worth:

: : : 1) HEAT - I don't think a heating blanket is safe inside the cage. I use a human heating pad (from a drugstore - that is cheaper than the reptile heating pads and are the same thing)UNDER the tank. How hot is your cage? Do you have two thermometers? One should be near the basking spot (branch to climb on, with heat lamp ABOVE the cage, or enclosed so he can't get at it. My igg has tried to wear the searing hot bulb as a hat when I leave the lid open!), the other at the other end. Then you can see what thermal gradient you have. The 'thermal gradient' is the difference in temperature from one end of the cage to the other. They need the hot area to digest their food, because it might rot in their tummies, or they won't eat much. When they get too hot they can move away to the "cooler" area so they can always be comfortable.
: : : 2)LIGHT I don't say "full spectrum" anymore because a regular full-spectrum light is not what is needed. I now call them "high UV-B" lights so I don't have to argue with pet store people. You need a light with a UV-B output of 5.0, and as Harry's Dad says this is VERY important, or your ig WILL get Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). There are only 2 or 3 lights made like this, Vit-a-lite 5.0 and Iguana Lite from Zoo-Med I think.
: : : 3)You say you are afraid he will hurt his nose on the tank if you try to pick him up. Does this mean he runs around and hits his nose when he's upset? If he does this, then he is telling you he is unhappy with his cage. When you find the problem (no branches; too cold; too small; etc.)and fix it, he won't do this any more.
: : : The advice others have given you on taming is great and will work. I hope you do read Melissa Kaplan's feeding section, and don't forget the vitamins!
: : : Good Luck, and please let us know how you're doing. (Iggy's are very expensive to get set up.)

: : Hi Allie's Mom,
: : Thanks for your help.Nice to meet you.I am not
: : a young guy I think.Because I ammmmmm 24.I use
: : the human heating pad(not blanket).I am sorry.
: : My English is not good enough.I think I have many
: : mistakes in my writing.Which brand lamps are better
: : Zoo-Med or ESU.I will try the Zoo-Med next time.
: : Thanks.
: : Tim
Hi meagan,
I will check out the Mellisa Kaplans website.
Thanks
Tim

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: : tim: you are doing a wonderful job with your ig! by asking the questions you ahve asked you are doing a great job in trying to keep him happy and healthy. however, if you read through the lighting section of melissa kaplans web site you`ll find some info on the ESU bulb that you say you are using. here is a quote from her lghting table: " iguana ownershave been reporting onset of MBD within 6 months of using ESU`s UVB tube despite proper diet and vitamin and calcium supplementation, and who had not before exhibited any signs of MBD. if you cannot assure that your iguana is getting copious amounts of direct sun most of the year, you may wish to use another UVB flourescent." i just thought that it would be important for you to know that. : : meagan : : : : : : Welcome Tim! It's great to see a young person trying so hard to take good care of his pet. : : : : The reason so many people are on this forum is because they have seen many pets suffer and die. It happened to me too. We did everything pet store people, breeders, and even the vet told us to do. The food, heat and light advice we got killed our pet. It may take years for a problem to develop, but it will. I am so glad you have taken the time to look into good care. What is your rhino iggy's name? I think they are awesome. You said you hope you and your pet can grow up together - if you don't mind my asking, how old are you? Now for my 2 cent's worth: : : : : 1) HEAT - I don't think a heating blanket is safe inside the cage. I use a human heating pad (from a drugstore - that is cheaper than the reptile heating pads and are the same thing)UNDER the tank. How hot is your cage? Do you have two thermometers? One should be near the basking spot (branch to climb on, with heat lamp ABOVE the cage, or enclosed so he can't get at it. My igg has tried to wear the searing hot bulb as a hat when I leave the lid open!), the other at the other end. Then you can see what thermal gradient you have. The 'thermal gradient' is the difference in temperature from one end of the cage to the other. They need the hot area to digest their food, because it might rot in their tummies, or they won't eat much. When they get too hot they can move away to the "cooler" area so they can always be comfortable. : : : : 2)LIGHT I don't say "full spectrum" anymore because a regular full-spectrum light is not what is needed. I now call them "high UV-B" lights so I don't have to argue with pet store people. You need a light with a UV-B output of 5.0, and as Harry's Dad says this is VERY important, or your ig WILL get Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). There are only 2 or 3 lights made like this, Vit-a-lite 5.0 and Iguana Lite from Zoo-Med I think. : : : : 3)You say you are afraid he will hurt his nose on the tank if you try to pick him up. Does this mean he runs around and hits his nose when he's upset? If he does this, then he is telling you he is unhappy with his cage. When you find the problem (no branches; too cold; too small; etc.)and fix it, he won't do this any more. : : : : The advice others have given you on taming is great and will work. I hope you do read Melissa Kaplan's feeding section, and don't forget the vitamins! : : : : Good Luck, and please let us know how you're doing. (Iggy's are very expensive to get set up.) : : : Hi Allie's Mom, : : : Thanks for your help.Nice to meet you.I am not : : : a young guy I think.Because I ammmmmm 24.I use : : : the human heating pad(not blanket).I am sorry. : : : My English is not good enough.I think I have many : : : mistakes in my writing.Which brand lamps are better : : : Zoo-Med or ESU.I will try the Zoo-Med next time. : : : Thanks. : : : Tim : Hi meagan, : I will check out the Mellisa Kaplans website. : Thanks : Tim

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