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Post by Dudley on Mar 25, 2004 20:40:27 GMT -8
Our new iguana at the zoo has been there for 4 days now, and this morning when I went to take care of him, I noticed a white chalky smear on the substrate (fake grass carpet). With our Sulcatta tortoises we call this dry urate which means they are dehydrated. Does this mean the same thing with iguanas?
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Post by Tesa on Mar 25, 2004 21:06:46 GMT -8
It very well could be, but is there any way to know how long it was there drying before you noticed it? I'm assuming the igs have fresh water. How (and what) are they eating? Do you mist their food before they eat it?
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Post by Dudley on Mar 25, 2004 21:26:38 GMT -8
Mist their food?? Nope, wasn't aware of that method. We do spray him down 2-3 times a day with fresh water. We also change out his water 2 times per day. All I know is that I locked the building at 5 pm yesterday and I opened it at 9 am this morning, so it was anytime between those times. I know for a fact that it wasn't there last night when I locked up because I pay extra close attention and time with the newer animals. I try to spend as much time as possible with everyone, but it's kind of hard when you are employed by a municipality. He hasn't eaten anything but collard greens since we got him. We have been feeding him sweet potato, collard greens, green beans, tomato, papaya, and bell pepper, but all he takes is the collard greens. We are going to call the previous owner tomorrow to get more detailed info on her care and husbandry techniques.
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Post by Tesa on Mar 25, 2004 21:34:55 GMT -8
Misting their food with a regular spray water bottle will allow them to take in more moisture with their food. (They can be stubborn about drinking) The collards are a GREAT choice. They have a Calcium to Phosphorus of like 14:1. Turnip and mustard greens would be great too. Make sure that the majority of the diet consists of greens such as those. If you are concerned with dehydration (a blood panel at the vets can determine that) watermelon would be a great choice for to help increase fluids.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Mar 25, 2004 23:24:14 GMT -8
Tesa, do you think the tomato is too acidic?
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Post by Lyn on Mar 26, 2004 5:24:43 GMT -8
I believe tomatoes, oranges (any citrus fruits) are too acidy for igs...I never feed them to mine...just my opinion...Lyn
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Post by Dudley on Mar 26, 2004 6:11:19 GMT -8
OH, the Green Iguana Society food chart said we could use tomatos occasionally as a color and taste enhancer. So, we were using it to try to spark his intrest in the new foods.
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Post by Tesa on Mar 26, 2004 8:06:56 GMT -8
I don't feed tomatoes either....but I was trying to concentrate on the positive. lol
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Mar 26, 2004 21:47:48 GMT -8
Dudley, I think I'd use strawberries instead of the tomato. Same color impact, but I think they're a <bit> less acidic.
What do you think, Tesa and Lyn?
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Post by Tesa on Mar 27, 2004 5:01:04 GMT -8
I think Thrasher doesn't care WHAT color her food is as long as it's served on time and in large quantities! ;D (personally I'd go with strawberries) Dudley? An update from the vet??
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Post by Lyn on Mar 27, 2004 5:38:33 GMT -8
I agree with Tesa, but remember that fruit is only an occasional thing like a snack...Strawberries are listed in the fruit list in Hatfields book, but suggested for only 10 percent of diet....so beware....Lyn
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Post by Dudley on Mar 27, 2004 9:22:30 GMT -8
Well, thanks to yall, I made everyone change some things yesterday. We are no longer using tomatos, he and his food gets sprayed down when appropriate, he gets atleast 30 minutes of natural sun a day unless weather is being wierd, and other changes have and will be applied towards giving this iguana a near perfect habitat so that he may be healthy and happy. I did call the vets office yesterday and the doc had a family member pass away on Thursday, so she won't be in town until wednesday. So, I'll try calling and getting an appointment then and we'll see what's gonna happen.
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Post by prism_wolf on Mar 27, 2004 16:41:13 GMT -8
The white part of the poop often looks chalky when it dries. The sign of dehydration in an ig is if the actual poop part is tarry. The tackier and drier looking the poop, the more dehydrated the ig...kind of like a deformed tootsie roll on the exrtremely dehydrated ig. A good poop looks soft and moist.
For color in food I always use summer squash. Acorn squash sometimes, but summer squash is easier to skin. Red bell peppers is good too...and dandelion flowers! How about bright colored rose petals or pansies?! Hibiscus flowers anyone? The leaves are good to feed too. LOL...there's so many choices!
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Post by VegasIguana on Mar 29, 2004 8:32:31 GMT -8
I might be misreading this, but hey, i haven't had coffee yet! -- chalky vs gritty ?? Sometimes the fresh urates can have a gritty texture or clumpage within them. I'm not sure what is considered "high oxaltes" level these days. I'm a bit out of touch with the latest ig diet research. See: www.marinurology.com/articles/calculi/foods/oxalate.htm (found the link from Iguana Den). From anecdotal experience from my a couple friends who are long-time ig owners and my own, I notice that when I feed Vega$ "only" collards, meaning, being the primary food item -- there will be crystals in her urates. However, balancing it all out, with a mix of veggies and greens and fruit, as needed, urates are smooth and flowing (versus clumpy or chalky). Typically I try to vary her diet, but there are times when I run out of stuff. I try to mix her greens up with at least 2-3 choices (example, collards, turnips and dandelions) and also do her veggie topping. Oh, I also notice that when she has more veggie or regular veggie topping, her poop has less mass (more like super-soft) -- this is due to the high moisture content in the veggies (this week, it's banana squash --no bnut-, green beans/snow peas, and aspragus). the same can be said for my bearded dragons -- more veggies, less wormies -- mushier or looser poopies; more wormies, less veggies -- very solid poopies. poop, uh, food for thought um, for some reason, my bagel isn't so appetizing now.
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Post by Tesa on Mar 29, 2004 8:40:50 GMT -8
I guess we really need to know if it was the entire poop ya saw, or if it was just a smear like he had walked away from where he pooped without wiping his butt good. ;D
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