#40128

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

Firstly, I will be taking Rameses Malachai to the doctor tomorrow. Secondly, he just doesn’t look right. He will climb up his branch to lie under his light for a time, but then he likes to go to his cave and stay there. He used to grab the food from my fingers before I could get to his plate, now he just lies there. He will eventually eat, but not as before. For the first time he was constipated, but I took care of that by placing him in warm water and letting him swim, then he defecated. The next time he defecated, it didn’t look the same. It was not as "liquified" as usual. He has clean water, but he doesn’t drink much. His aquarium is clean. He used to be aggressive. Not in a mean manner, but now he just lets you pick him up. I have only had Rameses Malachai for a year. My dear old friend, Sebastien died a few years ago. I was devastated. I had him for nine years!! A big problem I am having is his diet. He will not eat anything but Collard Greens. I have tried bananas, squash, and a host of other things, but he ignores it. NOW, he is starting to get bored with the Greens!! I have him in an aquarium. Sebastien was never in an aquarium. Maybe I am not heating the site correctly? I place him in the sun and he sits up, but still isn’t as active as he was a couple of weeks ago. I don’t call myself and expert at all. Help, Mate!!

 #40150

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

How old is your iguana? Do you have a UV light and what are your cage temps? Take a fresh stool sample with you to the vet. Perhaps he has parasites. If he is old enough for breeding, he may be going through that since it ’tis the season. They will cut down on eating. As for diversifying his diet, you may need to chop the stuff up smaller and add other greens, squash, and a variety so he forced to eat some of it until he gets used to it. Good luck and keep us posted.

 #40259

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

G’day, I don’t know how old Rameses Malachai is at the moment. My brother found him sitting in his driveway and called me. He is about 20 inches long (if this helps you). This behavior has happened so suddenly. He has not had a bowel movement in three days. I went to the pet store and purchased both a day light and a night light. I was told that both lights would be sufficient for him. As for a UV light (if you are talking about the long tube light) that is a negative. I guess I better purchase one tomorrow. I feel helpless at the moment. Sebastien, my iguana that passed, refused to stay in a cage. He hung on the draperies until he was hungry. I thought that was strange because I know that they need heat, but he didn’t stay under his lamp or on his rock for long periods of time. He should have been a bat as he hung upside down on the draperies!! I will try cutting smaller morsels and adding the different greens and fruits as suggested. I will inform you of the doctor’s findings. I thank you for your quick response.

 #40401

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

Try to get the zoomed iguana 5.0 light (you may have to order it online if you cannot find that brand) but it will be cheaper online anyway. How expensive was the daylight you got? If it was under $35 it probably wasn’t a mercury vapor one which also produce UV light as well as heat. So if you did get a merc vapor light you don’t need the flourescent tube. If you found the iguana, chances are he has some issues (parasites, malnutrition, etc.) Sometimes iguanas don’t know what is good for them so you have to kind of make sure they get the proper uv and heat no matter what. Heat rocks are bad though so don’t use one of those...they malfunction and burn. He needs to bask 12" or less from the tube light but it can be further away if it is mercury vapor UV. If you decide to get a mercury vapor bulb, I suggest the Zoomed Powersun.

 #44112

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

Happy News!! Rameses Malachai is just fine!! I did what you suggested and cut all the foods smaller. He ate everything!! I thank you for the help.

 #44116

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

I want to change his housing. At the moment it is glass, but I am in the process of purchasing him a new home. Which do you recommend, glass or open mesh? I live in an area where when it’s hot...it’s hot (100-106 or more) and when it’s cold...it’s cold (40 or more).

 #44135

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

I would just build one yourself out of wood or melamine with plexiglass or glass for doors/windows. You can use hardware cloth but I’d only use it for the top (where the lights are) because igs tend to get broken toes or nose injuries from hardware cloth or screens. You can convert a closet or a large entertainment center into a cage as well. I even heard of someone converting an old shower stall into one. You’ll need a digital thermometer to monitor temps and adjust your lights accordingly (winter/summer). You keep the ig indoors right?

 #47274

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

Yes. My iguana stays in the house. At the present moment, I am a paraplegic. It would be a bit hard for me to build him a cage...although, I was a Technical Theatre Major in college!! (before my accident) I built the sets, hung lighting, painted, etc!! Here are two links to let you see the homes I was interested in purchasing: http://lizardcages.fws1.com/bigcage1.htm OR http://customcages.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=45&category_id=6312ab2d6ccd729b887f866050e5cafc&ps_session=2cbeabf30de6221dd5688bb46e6dedb9

 #47488

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

I think that the smaller one would be fine for now, but it is quite expensive and wouldn’t last very long. I believe the second one would be ok for an adult as long as it got out daily for exercise.

 #47629

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

I can’t see the size on that first one but it looks bigger than the 2nd one. They are both very expensive! Are you sure you don’t have a friend or relative that could help you build one? You obviously have the knowledge to design one and could help out doing some of the building. If you really can’t find anyone to help you, then buy a cage that will be your final cage I guess so you don’t have to spend that kind of money again...so the bigger the better. I’m not keen on all the mesh in the first one (and it looks hard to clean) but it does look big enough and kind of cool. I’d maybe keep looking for another design though.

 #48283

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

All right. Check out this website: http://www.jworlds.com/amazonpool.html It is around $3800.00, but look at the features!! It has a flush and pump system. There are other models you can check out. I just want him to have the best and be comfortable and happy.

 #48664

 PLEASE!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY IGUANA, MATE?!

Wow...those are pretty amazing. They are not wide enough though (unless they can build them wider than 2 ft. I wonder if that would be too much water?? The humidity would be great, but I don’t know if I would want my iguana pooping in there (which he will) everyday and then counting on the flushing/filter thing to rid all the parasites. Maybe this is just crazy paranoia but iguanas have lots of waste and I wonder if that would really be sanitary? It is pretty cool though. It may also be messy getting him out of there if he is stubborn...diving down under the water, etc. Large iguanas are very difficult to remove from their cages because they latch onto everything and are very strong. This is just something to keep in mind with whatever cage you pick. (The wire ones are almost impossible!)