Heat rock question, and UVB question...

[Adam]

Hello. Like I have posted last night, I'm new to owning little Camille, and I have some concerns after reading through this forum. One, I've noticed some of you don't encourage having a heat rock. You've said it burns them, and gets hotter without me knowing it. I currently have a small one in there now. Is that a problem. I was told she would lay on it to help digestion, but then wouldn't use it much otherwise, which has been true the past two days I've had her. Did the petstore guy sell me a crock? He seems to really care about the animals. He won't sell to someone if he doesn't think they're prepared and ready.

Anyway...my second concern...UVB. I understand now that my ig needs UVB light. My question is, where can I get it around me? Is it the same as a black light in some way, because the guy also told me to get a black light for it, which I haven't actually done yet...I will within a few hours if you all would possibly reply to this soon. Is it the same? Because if so, I will go to Wal-Mart and buy a single black light bulb. But my question is this...when do I leave it on, because I have read that it shouldn't be on them for too long either. I am usually not home in between 7:30 AM and 8 PM, so if I turn it on, it has to stay on for a while. My basking lamp is a 100 watt bulb in a dome.

Please let me in on what to do with all this stuff. I really want to be an absolutely great ig owner. She's so beautiful, and I want her to be the happiest ig in the world. Please help me. Thanks.

[IguanaKing]

If you're still within the return period for the hot rock, the best thing to do is take it back where you got it and get your money back. If you can't return it, just cut the cord and use it. Heat is required for proper digestion, but a good source of IR light will do this job more efficiently than any other way. You have two options here:

1)If you have an enclosure where you can place the lamp at least 24" away from your iguana's basking spot and can keep it out of Camille's reach, you can buy a 250W IR heat lamp for about $10 at Home Depot along with a ceramic-socket reflector hood.

2) New IR lamp technology is available now from www.reptileuv.com. Just look for the MegaRay heat model. It is apparently a highly efficient source of IR, consumes only 60W, and its surfaces don't get hot enough to burn anybody.

Either one of these options will do a wonderful job at heating your iguana's whole body and make setting up a temperature gradient extremely simple.

For the UVB source, I recommend again that you check out www.reptileuv.com. The MegaRay EB Flood is one of the best lamps available now for this purpose. As I have been informed already, ordinary consumer products won't produce adequate UVB.

Make sure you give her a humidifier also. I use a warm mist humidifier that I place outside my igs' cage, it keeps their skin healthy and helps keep them hydrated.

I haven't heard of limiting UVB exposure, just make sure Camille doesn't get within less than 3 or 4 inches of a lamp like the MegaRay, the UVB is extremely high inside that range. Put it within 8-12 inches of her basking spot and she'll get pretty much the same UVB as she'd get from natural sunlight. The important thing with limiting lighting is the photoperiod. She should have about 12 hours of light, and 12 hours of complete darkness so she can sleep. This is critical to their mental stability, they get a little cranky when they don't get enough sleep.

[Merlin]

One of the first things you will learn is not to listen to pet shop employees. Some of them don't have a clue about what they are doing other than what the boss has told them to say and some just don't care. Some of them will sell you ANYTHING!
Heat rocks make great doorstops. And that is about the limit of their usefulness. If your iguana is laying on the heat rock to digest your enclosure is not warm enough.
If the bulb you are using does not say specifically UVB on it you aren't getting any. The black light and all those other fancy high priced pet store bulbs are just a cleverly packaged and much more expensive version of the same type bulbs you have in your home lighting fixtured, although different colors. Light bulbs that are designed for human use are designed specifically NOT to produce uvb light.

You need a photo period of light and dark just as they would have outside. Its sort of like you trying to sleep with the sun shining in your eyes.

This is critical to their mental stability, they get a little cranky when they don't get enough sleep.

ME TOO!

[Nanshe]

I agree with everyone else about the heat rock!

You can pick up a UVB bulb at your local pet store - or you can order one online. The very best out there is the Mega Ray Mercury Vapor Bulb - you can get it at www.reptileuv.com - these emit UVB up to 6 feet away, and it's recommended that they not be any closer than 12" from the iguana.

I opted to buy the Power Sun Merc Vap from reptiledirect.com, which is a good bulb, but nothing comes close to the Mega Ray! If you opt to go with a Merc Vap, it is SO MUCH CHEAPER to order it online! The mark-up at the pet stores should be criminal!

You can also go with the UVB tubes, but you'll also need a fixture - which you can get at Home Depot, Lowes, some sort of hardware/lighting store. If you go with the tubes, the Reptisun 5.0 or Iguana light 5.0 are the best in that department. These need to be within 8 to 12 inches of the Iguana - so installing it above the main basking area is usually the best thing to do.

The sooner you get the UVB, the better!

I hope this helps!

~Nan

[Adam]

Ok, ladies and gents. I appreciate all of your help. Since I have read your replies, I have talked to some people, and I have discovered I might need a bigger tank. My tank right now is 12" wide X 30" long X 13" tall. Am I making my iggy feel completely smushed in there? How big of a tank would be best for an ig 18" long? She's about 6 months old right now. I want to buy a UV bulb, but people at reptileluv.com tell me that that would be too close to Camille. Please give me your opinions and advice. I'll leave here a picture of Camille's current set-up. Thanks for any and all help.



PS: Ok, I know those weren't of her habitat, but I couldn't help it. She's just so darn beautiful!

[Merlin]

Yes your tank is much too small. And the situation will rapidly get worse. Your best bet if possible is to go ahead and get an enclosure big enough for an adult. The growth rate of a healthy young iguana is incredible. You can almost sit and watch them get bigger! Within a year or so you will need the adult size cage.
I am not familiar with Reptileluv.com and when I went to look at the site it came up unavailable. However if you are using flourescent tubes you can't get the iguana too close. The merc vapors are another matter.

[prism_wolf]

EVeryine has great advice. I also have the Mega Ray (2 of them) from the www.reptileuv.com. This is one mercury vapor that was designed to leave the heat behind. It's main function is UVB...very little heat emissions.

The minimum enclosure you should have right now is a 55 gal. Once you get Camille in that you can work on custom building one so by the time she's about a year old you will have her new home ready. 6'T x 6'W x 3'D.

The petstore employee may be well intentioned, but uninformed. He is definitely running you up the wrong tree.

One more bit of advice...for now... . GET TIMERS! These are LIFESAVERS! 12 on/12 off. Mine go on from 6 to 6.

P.S. The pics aren't showing up... . I love pics!!

[Yoda]

#1 cut the cord on the heat rock.....they are the main cause of Thermal burns. I have a real rock in Yodas habitat and it warms up nicley from just being beneith a 100w bulb

If your Iguana feels the need to sit on a hot spot like a Heat rock in most cases you have a less than Ideal gradiant and need to adress the whole heat issue.


The word Tank and Iguana ..dont really fit together in my opinion...

Tank " fish tank" -Aquarium" are genrally designed long and short ...( there are some exceptions )

Iguanas in the wild will spend a large portion of their time high in the canopy of the trees and love to climb ....

It is dificult to provide a proper thermall gradiant in a Tank or aquarium style habitat-not impossible but difficult.

I say provide as big as you can afford to buy or build...and always think Height and length and then depth..


Regards

James and Yoda