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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Aug 21, 2013 16:52:06 GMT -8
I wish Gwendolyn liked peppers; she will barely touch them. She goes nuts for bananas, strawberries, and soaked wheat bread though. Sometimes iguanas bite off more than they can chew (quite literally since they usually don't chew their food). With whole foods like that its possible for her to bite off a portion that's too big and choke on it. This happened with my first iguana and I was worried she was going to suffocate. I didn't know what to do so I just watched her choking and she eventually was able to swallow it but I learned my lesson that day. She may absolutely Love tearing the pepper apart but for her own safety it's best to cut up all her food into thin bite size pieces no larger than her head that she can swallow whole. I generally take a potato peeler and peel squash and occasionally carrots or parsnip or cucumber; things like that.
There is so much to learn about iguanas; I swear it never ends!
-Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Aug 20, 2013 19:34:44 GMT -8
Hello again jay I honestly wouldn't recommend live plants. Some of the common issues with live plants, even ones that are edible, is that iguanas tend to dig in the potting soil, ingest some of it, dig in it, make a mess of it, and bugs can take up residence in the potting soil. Hibiscus is a great treat but shouldn't be part of a daily diet - and really I think Genevive might just chow down on the hibiscus and end up killing it. It can be difficult to keep plants alive around iguanas because they tend to trample around without thought about what they are trampling on. If you do decide to use live plants use caution. Don't use miracle grow or anything like that as soil; it would not be good to ingest. Also be very wary of plants treated with pesticides. Most shops to have treated plants and even if they say they are organic I would suggest a quarantine time of at least a month. I've heard that it can be good to trade out the soil that the plant comes in because if the plant was treated then the soil would also be affected. I'm not sure if Bamboo is a safe plant for iguanas but I wouldn't take the chance of her eating the leaves on it or the ones that fall to the ground. Live plants can be a big hassle but they could also be rewarding. Some people enjoy having live plants, I just use fake plants though -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Aug 20, 2013 18:52:25 GMT -8
just a quick reply:
In an attic? What kind of an attic is it?
I think it will be fine if you don't peel the cucumber skins since cucumbers are only an occasional food.
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Aug 19, 2013 9:07:42 GMT -8
Hi, Jay I like the setup you have, it sounds great. It's also great that she loves being up there and basking the more UVB the better. Iguanas aren't always social creatures but one way to encourage her to come down every once in a while is to move her plate of food somewhere that is out of her little nook, but not too far, and within line of sight. It might work best if you start moving it each day by a foot or two from where you normally have her food dish. Do keep in mind that sometimes iguanas tend to not make great choices. If she starts to spend too much time away from her UVB source and her heat source then you are going to have to find ways to encourage her old habit of staying on her basking shelf again. My iguana, Gwendolyn, sometimes decides she just wants to sit at the window and look outside all day no matter how many times I move her back to her basking spot. I'm not comfortable with her being away from her UVB source for more than a couple hours a day so in this case I unclip her UVB bulb and position it above her spot at the window. thanks for posting, Jay! -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Aug 16, 2013 15:11:21 GMT -8
Hello! Honestly the cost isn't that expensive. Where I'm at in Washington; collards and mustard greens are each about $2 per bunch, other greens have a similar price, and when I buy two bunches they last me about a week. The squash I buy tends to be around $6-$8 and it lasts me a few weeks (I shred it and freeze it so it lasts and it's easy to prepare on a daily basis by soaking a small handful in warm water). Other various fruits and veggies usually range from $2-$6. Depending on what you buy they could be mixed in the meal for a week or some could be frozen and stored for later (some don't freeze well; like kohlrabi). The lighting and enclosure is really where the expense comes in (and vet checkups [be sure to find a good vet!]). I pay about $60 per bulb from Reptile UV www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-160-watt-self-ballasted-flood-uvb-lamp.php I replace bulbs every year or 8 months or so. Gwendolyn's enclosure cost a bit over $100 and that was being very frugal and using spare materials when available (like spare linoleum, plywood, and rope from friends and family). If you have any more questions or want me to expand on anything just let me know. Thanks for posting -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Jun 18, 2013 7:10:29 GMT -8
I'm so sorry to hear about Scrios It might have been a ruptured egg but we will likely never know. I am interested in knowing what the vet thinks may have happened. I'm glad to hear you are going to bring Scath in for a checkup - it's about time I do the same for Gwendolyn. About the windows; glass and even screens filter out the majority of UVB so it can't be counted as a UVB source. I'm glad you brought that up because this is a good thing to know. -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Jun 11, 2013 19:26:26 GMT -8
Answering your own questions I see The water, humidity, and natural sunlight are great As a little tweak to their diet I would suggest adding various kinds of squash like acorn, butternut, and maybe some spaghetti squash or zucchini. I'm curious what kind of cage you have for each of them and also - by them having more time outside their cages for long periods of time, if they aren't outside, then that can take away from their needed UVB intake. I don't know the situation but its a thought. Gwendolyn likes being outside but its not often warm enough in Washington - which is why I try to get the best kind of UVB bulbs (though expensive). I've been lucky with her and she has never become gravid so I don't have much personal experience with nesting boxes but there is a great thread to refer to here: tesa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sexing&action=display&thread=3581Thanks for asking, Chloe -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Jun 11, 2013 18:50:56 GMT -8
Hi Chloe! Welcome to Iguana Zone I'm so glad you did your research! It's always sad to hear how these creatures get mistreated by those who don't care to learn how to take care of their reptiles. I have a 15 year old female, Gwendolyn, and she is quite docile. I got her through someone I met on this board back in 2006; she was only 8 years old when I got her. This board has slowed down a lot since then but I will answer your questions the best I can I know a good amount about these animals. I've heard some good things about power sun but I use 160 watt Mega-Rays from Reptile UV: www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-160-watt-self-ballasted-flood-uvb-lamp.phpI've tried brands that I can buy at pet stores like Reptisun but it was pretty much worthless. I dare not try Repti Glo because I have heard nothing good about that brand. After switching out the old Reptisun bulb for the Mega-Ray Gwen started getting some more color back! I wasn't happy with Reptisun at all. Glad to have you here Chloe Thanks for sharing! -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on May 14, 2013 13:29:30 GMT -8
Warm weather is arriving or in some places - it has arrived! Gwendolyn will soon be enjoying natural outdoor sunshine and fresh air. Her colors always come out more when she is basking in natural sunlight and I always love to see that ;D With summer coming up I wanted to remind new iguana owners to keep your iguanas on a leash or in an enclosure outside. Many iguana owners have found themselves at a loss after their "trusted" iguana makes a run for it and gets away (especially young ones) . Also, don't forget, iguanas do overheat so give them some shade to escape the heat Enjoy the sunshine and keep your critters safe! -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Apr 24, 2013 17:16:10 GMT -8
Hi there and welcome! He's a handsome little guy; I really like the contrast of the white and orange markings. I don't think I've ever seen one quite like him. Is his left front foot shedding? It is awfully white. To post multiple pictures you first have to upload them to a website like photobucket.com or imageshack.us from there you should be able to copy the image code and post multiple pictures. I'm always excited to see the various kinds of enclosure set-ups people have for their iguanas -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Apr 3, 2013 20:52:13 GMT -8
Lighting: I have a 160 watt Mega-Ray for Gwen and I Absolutely Love it! www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-160-watt-self-ballasted-flood-uvb-lamp.phpSince I got Gwen years ago I had been buying 100 watt Mega-Rays and I liked them. Last year I decided to try a pet store brand so I bought a Raptisun 5.0 for "tropical" reptiles. It was pretty much worthless Gwen's head was always a gray-ish color because she was not getting enough UVB. After that little experience I decided to buy the 160 watt Mega-Ray and it has been spectacular. Her head is now the purple-ish brown color again as it should be. The downside to ordering from the other side of the country is that I have occasionally gotten a bulb with a broken filament so I have to let them know, ship it back and they will send another free of charge. As for the eye problem; all I know about it is that it's important to have the light directly over head and not at an angle where the reptile will be looking (they can tend to stare at things). I have heard both good and bad reviews for the Zoo Med PowerSuns - so I'm not sure what to think about them. Anyway - for whatever bulb you get it's important to watch the iguana to see how it reacts to the light; as in less or more active/alert, changes in coloration from vibrant to dull or vice versa things like that. I like to keep one spare UVB bulb in case the current one just stops working one day. Feeding: The cost of food is very minor. I think I usually buy one butternut squash a month or two acorn squashes (about $7 for a butternut squash) and about 2 bunches of collards/mustard greens per week (one of each- $2 for 1 bunch). Occasionally some chard and dandelion greens and whatnot (Home grown organic dandelions ). Other fruits and veggies really vary according to what we have each week (I just give Gwen some of what we buy for ourselves). Supplements: They aren't always required. The last time I took Gwen to the vet and they did some blood work they told me to slightly lower the calcium supplement I was giving her... only I wasn't giving her any supplements that made me smile. A supplement would be great for a baby though seeing as they are usually so unhealthy. I don't know much about the differences between the brands so I can't be of much help in that department (yet anyway - I might look into it ) As for the list; my comments: Linoleum flooring is also a relatively inexpensive option. I like the idea of iguana safe carpet but it shouldn’t be around the water tub; Gwen sloshes water around and sometimes leaves a mess. I’m sure it’s not uncommon. Kudos on the temp gun, I just use an old fashioned thermometer. In cage décor you may not have thought to add a couple pillows or padding. Gwen loves to lay on the pillows on my bed so I got the grand idea to add a pillow on her top sleeping shelf and towels on the ramps. I’m very sure she prefers that to hard wood. I forgot to mention; with UVB tubes, you have to get them closer to the reptile but since they are long the UVB is spread out more. With the lamps they can be farther (up to 20-24 inches away) but they are spot specific (which hasn’t been a problem for me). CHEs are great for night time heating! As for water bowls; Iguanas have a tendency to use their water dish as a toilet (it’s kind of like liter boxes for cats). I bought a cat liter trey and turned it into a big water dish/toilet for Gwen (cleaned very thoroughly after use) – it works like a charm. She swims around in it and drinks from it first before she does her business. Something not on the list: Nail clippers. I use the same nail clippers for Gwen that I use for my big dogs, their nails are actually pretty similar. I might also suggest having arm padding. I have "Ig Grips" that I don't know what I'd do without. Something I didn't know before having an iguana is that along with their claws their scales also end up scratching up your arms. Against the grain, iguana scales are a lot like sandpaper.
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Apr 2, 2013 18:26:16 GMT -8
Hey Bagheera, welcome to Iguana Zone I'm so glad to hear that you are doing research beforehand and you know about the situation with pet stores. Congratulations on (soon to be) having a baby by the way! I'm also glad to hear that you will keeping your child and the iguana separate for a very long time. I have a jacket and padded arm guards I wear when handling Gwendolyn (my iguana). Having a separate jacket just for handling the iguana should be just fine to keep anything from cross contaminating between the baby and the iguana (and washing hands as you mentioned ) As for housing and free roaming; the size of your enclosure should be just fine and free roaming is not for every iguana. An option for free roaming needs to be strictly based on an iguana by iguana basis. Gwendolyn has free roam of my room though she spends the vast majority of her time under her basking light in her enclosure. Blocking off certain areas doesn't go over well with iguanas (or should I say they are good at going over) but you might be able to work something out. A closed door is the best barrier there is. Since your house is going to be baby proofed I don't know what more there would be to do in order to iguana proof your house if you do get an iguana that has the right temperament for it (of course the iguana should also be of a certain size before you attempt it with a watchful eye). A summertime outdoor enclosure with part shade part sun would also be helpful for outdoor basking. I have a large open dog crate that we put out on our deck in the summertime mainly for our indoor cat but also for Gwen. Sometimes I'll just hold Gwen outside and other times I'll put her in the crate. Gwen doesn't like being confined like that so after about 30min - 1hr she gets restless and I bring her back indoors. It's helpful to have an outdoor enclosure though so I can do other things while she takes in some great UVB. I'm so glad that you're doing research before jumping into a commitment like this, it's quite refreshing to hear ;D I hope I answered all of your questions Thanks for joining us! -Jenna
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Hello!
Mar 25, 2013 8:53:19 GMT -8
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Mar 25, 2013 8:53:19 GMT -8
Hello, and welcome to Iguana Zone, Cherie I always like seeing new people on the site. You have an iguana at work? Where do you work? That sounds interesting. That is quite a menagerie of reptiles you have there . My knowledge is mainly green iguanas but I have been looking foreword to making some time to do research on other kinds of reptiles as well. Again, welcome to Iguana Zone, glad to have you here. -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 21, 2013 9:09:24 GMT -8
By the looks of Chieko's lower jaw I'm pretty sure she had the beginning stages of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) when you got her, it's sad how common that is. Chieko is a pretty one Unless their previous owner got both of them from a private breeder they probably aren't related but they both have two spikes on their nose and that's not very common so they might be related. Even if they were related, iguanas can get quite territorial so be careful with how much time they spend around each other. In fact it's likely that Chieko is showing aggression because of territorial issues with Gruner. Oh! It just occurred to me that you have string lights; we have two at my house, one old one new. The new one doesn't get hot but the older one I have gets Very hot. It wasn't originally that hot so I just wanted to let you know to watch out for that. My first iguana was maybe a year old when I got her but I only had her for a few months before I admitted an iguana was way too much work for a third grader Many years later I got my current iguana, Gwendolyn, when she was 8. I think it would have been nice to be able to raise her but she was well socialized when I got her. She was a school classroom pet in California before I got her but she out grew her enclosure and there were other complications with having her live at the school. Back in 2006 another member of this website told me about Gwendolyn (I was looking for an iguana at the time) and that's how I found out about her. Stephanie drove up from California and I drove down from Washington and we met in Oregon. It was a great road trip; sunny the whole time. Stephanie had an iguana of her own and she was impressed with how docile Gwen was, for being an iguana. I know I honestly couldn't have done any better; she is such a well behaved iguana. -Jenna
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 20, 2013 7:53:02 GMT -8
Hey there that sure is a collection of pictures! I really like the picture with one iguana's caudal spines in the foreground and the other iguanas face in the background. How long have you had them? In one of those pictures it looks like they have a plate of oranges; fruits like pineapple and oranges are much too acidic for iguanas and should definitely be avoided. Their main diet should be leafy greens like collards and mustard greens. You can check out a food chart here: tesa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diet&action=display&thread=3578 . Do you know their genders yet? Our Gender section isn't fully available at the moment; the "Brain bumps" and Jowls sections are available but I'm searching for a couple good example pictures of Femoral Pores. Are you Canadian? & one last question: Which one is Grüner and which is Chieko? -Jenna
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