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#193824
Maggiecp
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PLEASE help me... iguanas sick! 
I’m a fairly new iguana owner... he’s still small, a foot and a half i’d guess including tail... we have a large cage with plants, we have a heating UV lamp, temp is around 86 F in cage... his diet is mostly fruits (mangos, squash, greens) and he’s been perfectly fine on that for months.... but the last day or two he hasn’t been really moving or active (not that he was THAT much to begin with) but today he is TOTALLY unresponsive... i am so worried and don’t know if theres a few things i can try so i won’t have to take him to the vet (i will if needed but i’m not very wealthy and theres not a lot of vets in my area) so....PLEASE PLEASE help me!
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12/04/04 7:03pm
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#193848
Spiny-ig
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Message To: Maggiecp In reference to Message Id: 193824
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
What do you mean by heating UV bulb? If it is a mercury vapor with UVB, that would be fine, but if you are only providing UVA you need to get a UVB bulb as well. Basking temps (on a branch or such near a heat source) should be higher, around 105-110 F, and you should provide a cooler side as well. A range of temps are needed so the ig can regulate it’s temperatures for digestion. A vet check is always a good idea if your ig is acting abnormally, so I suggest you look through older postings here on ig husbandry and make the appropriate changes, as well as look for a reptile vet in your area. Good Luck!
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12/04/04 8:00pm
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#193861
Prehistoric Iguana
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Message To: Spiny-ig In reference to Message Id: 193848
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
I am a fairly new owner myself, but there are a few things u must remember to keep ur companion healthy. The lightbulb should be a 100 watt, no more no less, and u can get them at ur local pet store. also, u should provide some sort of calcium in his diet. I recomend a calcium spray on his food. This will keep his bones healthy. Also, u should hold ur iguana so it gets used to u and wont turn agressive in the future. It probably wont like u holding him at first, but u must do it and only let him back in the cage after he has calmed down. If your iguana does not move when u hold him, then he is probably dead.....
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12/04/04 8:30pm
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#193936
Spiny-ig
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Message To: Prehistoric In reference to Message Id: 193861
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
Just noticed that your posting said you had him in a cage with plants... What plants do you have in there (they may be toxic to igs)? vitamin & calcium supplements are important as well (like Prehistoric Iguana suggested). I did have a low temp scare once with my spiny-tail, and she was not responding much when I found her with her heat light out. As soon as I got her temps up she was fine though.I think that if you know that its temps are good, and it is still listless, you really need to go to an experienced vet considering its unknown background, exposure to said plants, possible lack of calcium & vitamins, and possible lack of UVB. It may be too late by the time you figure out what is causing the behavior on your own. You also didn’t specify what greens you were feeding. Hopefully they are from "the list". Any more info you can provide us is helpful, however I still think you should invest in a vet visit and revamp your igs home and diet.
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12/04/04 10:13pm
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#194159
Prehistoric Iguana
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Message To: Spiny-ig In reference to Message Id: 193936
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
Thats a good point. Make sure you dont feed him Romane Lettuce. Its very bitter and iguanas like sweet, not bitter foods.
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12/05/04 9:09am
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#194407
Maggiecp
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Message To: Prehistoric In reference to Message Id: 194159
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
ok so i asked my brother he said it’s 100 watt bulb and it was specified for iguanas at the pet store so i am assuming it is UVB but i guess i could be wrong... is it still the temperature? he’s never had a problem with the food i’ve given him (bananas, and lettuce [not romane] and things like that so i know it’s not the food)... i’ve also noticed a strange hting in his legs like...one has a lot of muscle and the other is like skin and bones... maybe i’m just paranoid but i don’t remember seeing this before... i don’t know what to do... his head is likea strange bluish color... am i too late? ohh my gosh i don’t want him to die...
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12/05/04 6:32pm
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#194423
Maggiecp
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Message To: Maggiecp In reference to Message Id: 194407
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
uh oh... scratch that... it is 150 watts... is that what’s wrong? i have a friend who has an iguana and it’s healthy and he has much more sophisiticatd cage, should i try seeing how he does in my friends cage for a while or would that not be a good idea... wouldn’t want to set him off his diet or anything but i don’t know what else to do...
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12/05/04 7:03pm
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#194454
Xta
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Message To: Maggiecp In reference to Message Id: 194423
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
What brand is the bulb and how much was it? That will give a clue if it is a UVB bulb or not. If it is, it is probably Zoomed or T-Rex and it cost $35-65. If it was under that price, then it is probably only a UVA light which is fine but you need a UVB one too. Your ig sounds like it could have metabolic bone disease from lack of UV and calcium. Your diet is not right. No lettuce ever because there is no nutrition in it. You should use collards, mustards, turnip greens, escarole, endive, watercress, dandelion, squash, and a little fruit like mango, papaya, berries. Fix the light and diet ASAP. Take your ig to a good herp vet. If he does have MBD and it is bad, he might need calcium injections. Good luck.
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12/05/04 7:58pm
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#194672
Zechriel
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Message To: Xta In reference to Message Id: 194454
 PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
Eisa had the same thing when we adopted her. With a good Uv-reptsun 5.0 or iguana light 5.0, ground calcium carbonate fromt he health food store sprinkled on her greens, her legs have evened out. She had MBD. I know uv lights are expensive but please break down and get zoo med. Also 2 of those temperature strips inside her cage, one of the cool side(where her food should be) and one near her basking spot, Those are cheap and an invaluable help. Please check out green ig society web page for her diet. Keep in touch:)
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12/06/04 8:24am
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#194757
CoolXterior
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Message To: Maggiecp In reference to Message Id: 194407
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
The size differences in his legs definately makes me nervous, as it could be limb swelling from MBD symptoms. The lights definately need an overhaul...first, if you don’t have one already, get yourself a Repti-Sun 5.0 UVB bulb (ZooMed). Also, you need to crank the cage temps up...proper iguana digestions doesn’t really kick in until about 88 degrees. Go for a basking spot that’s around 100. Also, the diet needs some help. If your ig has early symptoms of MBD, UVB lighting and diet are absolutely critical to his chances of survival. Try this salad mix: collard or dandelion greens, squash, carrots, green beans, parsnip, and some red peppers. I’ve suggested this specific mix to several ig owners, and the igs really seem to like it. As far as lettuce goes, romaine or not, it just doesn’t have the essential nutrients that dark leafy greens like collards and dandelion greens do. Use fruit in your salad sparingly or as a treat...the greens and veggies is where the real nutrition is. Hope this helps...keep us posted!
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12/06/04 2:39pm
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#195180
Iluviggy
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Message To: CoolXterior In reference to Message Id: 194757
PLEASE help me... iguanas sick!
well said. sounds like MBD, and judging by the other symptoms you described, it probably is. the diet needs to be around 80% dark leafy greens like the kinds suggested above. you can supplement the diet w/ some squashes, such as butternut or acorn. pumkin cam be used toO, as well as other veggies that there are too many to list! ( see food charts on several reptile websites...) fruits are best saved as treats, and watery melons or grapes are good for rehydration, if that’s a problem. UVB light is ESSENTIAL, as well as the proper temps, as mentioned above. I would highly recommend, after a vet visit , to get a good calcium supplement that does not contain phosphorus or D3. Rep-Cal is great, i’ve been using it exclusively for years.use it every other day in conjunction w/ the lights and proper diet, then use it maybe 3 times a week when the MBD gets under control. Of course, if the vet recommends something else, follow it, but Xta’s advice and CoolXterior are right. GOOD LUCK!
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12/07/04 12:07am
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