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Post by zeke101 on Oct 3, 2004 16:56:23 GMT -8
I just have one concern..
My sister's light that she bought for Zeke is UVA rays.. Is that different from UVB rays? Are these still good for his condition?
I think she's going to get one that says UVB anyways.. Just wondering!
-Melissa&Zeke-
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Nanshe
Senior
I am owned by Elvis & Angel :)
Posts: 167
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Post by Nanshe on Oct 3, 2004 20:55:01 GMT -8
Melissa - I always look so forward to reading your posts My family and I have been following Zeke's progress since you first came to the boards. It is SOOOOO wonderful how much better he's doing, AND how much better the PEOPLE in your life are getting about Zeke! The situation has completly turned around, and I think that's just AWESOME! About the UV light. UVA and UVB are two entirely different things. What Zeke needs is UVB. If your sister goes with the Reptisun or Iguana Light flourescent tubes, she should get the one rated 5.0 UVB. However, you'll also need a fixture to put it in - DO NOT get the fixture at the petstore though, they'll be really expensive. Get it at a Home Improvement store - a regular ole flourescent shop light will work just fine. They run about $15.00 to $20.00 here (versus $60.00 to $75.00 in the pet stores! !~ouch~!) Also, they sell lights that say "FULL SPECTRUM" on them - those lights do NOT put out UVB rays sufficient for an iguana (if at all!). It's very deceptive. If it doesn't specifically say UVB on the box, then it's not the right kind of light. Here are pics of the lights and fixtures (I apologize for the blurry lettering : UVB Lighting:
Shop Lights To Run UVB Tubes (cannot be cheap Wal-Mart "under cabinet" fixtures - they won't work)
[/color] I hope this info helps - and we'll be waiting for the next Zeke update! Keep up the great work Melissa! ~Nan
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Post by prism_wolf on Oct 4, 2004 5:53:30 GMT -8
DO NOT under any circumstances get the coil lamps!! These lamps put out good uvb, but in a very, VERY limited area. Many igs still get MBD from these lamps because they do not provide enough UVB over the body of the ig. You will need to get two Reptisun 5.0 tubes. The 36 inch ones will do best for now. You can lay them on top of the cage and get a basking branch to sit about 6-8 inches under the light. This ig needs all the UVB it can get right now...
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Post by zeke101 on Oct 4, 2004 17:04:04 GMT -8
Hey! Things are looking even better than before! Zeke looks so happy! Not only does he look better, and hes eating better, and pooping more, but when I walk into the room he just gets so much perkier! And now he loves it when I mist him! Before he'd just kinda sit there and not care, but now he pushes his top half of his body up, and closes his eyes and sticks his head up My sister said to me today while I was chopping up food for Zeke, "Wow Melissa.. I'm impressed! He looks so much better! You realize that that iguana was so close to death.. I gave up hope cause I didn't think he'd make it but you've really worked wonders!" It made me feel so much better! I've always had this thing about animals.. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember.. And I've been horseback riding since I was 8, and since I started, I've had this sense.. To know what the horse wants, and to know whats wrong and that sort of thing, and its like I could sense it with Zeke! May sound corny but its true! Anyways I think Heather's going to get a UVB light soon.. But Zeke still likes that UVA light alot more than the other ones! We're going to get a branch to put in there for him to climb up on.. Other than the 'hut' thats in there now.. it takes up too much room and gives too much shade.. Another concern; since Zeke has been sick, his two hind legs have been swollen beyond belief, and he couldn't use them very well.. It seems now that he can use them to a certain extent, but they're still really swollen.. Will that go back to normal? Or will they be like that from now on due to the MBD? Thanks! -Melissa&Zeke-
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Nanshe
Senior
I am owned by Elvis & Angel :)
Posts: 167
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Post by Nanshe on Oct 4, 2004 22:11:35 GMT -8
TOTALLY EXCELLENT NEWS MELISSA!!! I am SOOOOOO happy to keep reading all these wonderful updates on Zeke! And by the way, I totally understand and BELIEVE what you're saying about connecting with the animals - that happens to me also, but not just with any animals though - for me it had to be an animal that I bonded with, and it always tended to be cats, and some dogs. Then when we got Elvis, I discovered it with him too, and now I have it with Angel also! I sure hope it happens with Margarita soon It's a very cool feeling - it's as though you can almost feel what the animal is feeling - it's a very pleasant experience usually As for Zeke's back legs - the swelling should go down the further into his healing he gets. They've already started to improve! He's using them now! I'd be willing to bet that he'll make a FULL recovery with you leading the care! You've done such an awesome job! I'll bet you felt SOOOOO good to hear your sister say that to you - I'm so glad that your sister and Dad seem to be realizing what Zeke really means to you, and just how hard you're willing to work for him - it's important for those we love to understand and respect the things that are important to us, and it looks like you're finally getting that from them - I AM SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU AND ZEKE! Please keep giving us the updates okay? And if there's anything I can help you with, you know where to find me hon ~Nan
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Drako's Mom
Senior
"It's.....it's.......green!"
Posts: 145
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Post by Drako's Mom on Oct 5, 2004 8:23:31 GMT -8
I just want to say that I also think you are doing an awsome job!! Even though I haven't posted much as I am fairly new to Igs myself, and the others that have are far more knowlegeable than I am, I come and check every day to see how Zeke is doing. I am so glad to see that he is improving ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by zeke101 on Oct 5, 2004 15:28:26 GMT -8
Well thank you! ;D
Uhmm.. I have a problem tho.. I made Zeke a meal today (of green beans, parsley, apples, peaches and some of that 'iguana food' which smells good enough for me to eat!) and i could tell that Zeke really wanted some, but he couldn't really get at the food because of his jaw :S
I mean he really really was trying to eat the food, but his jaw really wasn't helping.. and he could barely grab at the food.. But when I give him the slop, he won't eat it.. And when I put it on the baby spoon, he won't take it :S
What should I do ? :S
-Melissa&Zeke-
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Post by WillemsMom on Oct 5, 2004 18:45:31 GMT -8
Oh, Melissa, you are discovering the rollercoaste ride I've been on with Wiill. He doesn't have a problem with his with his jaws, as far as I know, but he approaches his plate of food with hunger and enthusiasm, takes a bite or two and then gives up. Back to the syringe. All I know is that one way or anorher, I need to get the liquiid and nutrition into my Will.
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Post by zeke101 on Oct 6, 2004 12:22:50 GMT -8
Well.. I fed Zeke some blended parsley and green beans with some peach and pear juice again today.. And I thought it was doing good cause he didn't pull away, and he was trying to eat it, but then right after he started to spit up... I just went outside to get some dandelion greens tho.. He was in his enclosure, and he'd try to eat the fake leaves that my sister put in there for looks.. Like he was up as high as he could get to try to take a bite at the plastic leaves.. i've stapeled them to the side of his tank tho.. And he had perfectly good food in his bowl.. :S I was watching him and I think its because he can't get at the food thats in his bowl.. And he must've thought those leaves were easier to get at.. So I'm going to go now and chop up some of those dandelion leaves and hand feed him.. He's doing alot better tho! He's actually running around in his tank! And I had him out in the sun for a bit earlier and I think he enjoyed it! -Melissa&Zeke-
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Post by prism_wolf on Oct 6, 2004 14:26:03 GMT -8
Do you have a close neighbor you can borrow a blender from. I know he doesn't like the slop, but he needs it. Blended parsley and green beans with fruit juice will not help him get better. The dandelion greens will! He needs high nutrition foods...dandy greens will work. Add just enough of ONE fruit to add flavor and make it enticing. Remember the slurry I gave you the link to? Get it as close to that as you can. Here it is again just in case: www.iguanaden.com/health/slurry.htmYou're doing great Melissa. We're all behind you 100%!
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Post by Yoda on Oct 6, 2004 16:54:01 GMT -8
;D ;D ;D
Sooooooo...glad to hear that Zeke is starting on the road to recovery..you are dooing such a wonderfull thing .
I noticed your earlier post about providing a branch for Zeke ...I would just want to mention two quick things.
I would suggest as little as possible in the cage right now ...however if you do decide on a Branch from outdoors ....
#1 Make sure the branch is wide enough that Zeke will be well supported on it( 3 times his width ) , his bones are healing right now and a fall even from a small distance could mean a broken bone
#2 you will want to steralize the branch byremoving all the bark and soaking it overnight in a bleach and water solution or place it in a oven at around 350 for 15-20 min to ensure any possible bugs are killed...a parisitic infestation would not be a good thing.
I would keep getting as many Dandilions as possible untill you can get some collard greens.ect.. the parsley and fruit is ok for moisture but(as Prism mentioned ) the Dandilions are way better as they contain the calcium Zeke needs now.
You are dooing a fantastic job.... ;D
Yoda sends Happy Head Bobs..
James and Yoda
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Post by zeke101 on Oct 6, 2004 18:01:52 GMT -8
Alright, thanks! I gave him some chopped up parsley and dandelions, and he seemed more interested in eating that than what I gave him earlier.. I'll go get some tomorrow afterschool.. And I'm going to try to get out to the grocery store tomorrow to get some collard and mustard greens.. -Melissa&Zeke-
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Post by IguanaKing on Oct 7, 2004 6:06:01 GMT -8
Actually, the parsley is just fine to have in his diet, it contains a fairly high level of calcium 3.25:1.
Melissa, if you add green beans to his food, those will need to be in little, tiny pieces, like what you would get if you put them in a blender. If they are any bigger than that, he'll probably spit them back up...that might be your problem with Zeke's spitting his food back up. Just remember to make them a very small percentage of his diet, they are a good source of protein (which he also needs), but they also contain high levels of phosphorus (something that igs never seem to be short on, many of them actually get too much of this).
Keep up the good work Melissa, you're doing GREAT!!! ;D
Sean
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Post by zeke101 on Oct 9, 2004 6:21:14 GMT -8
Well, Zeke seems to be back to his old self, almost!
Whenever I open his cage to either pick him up or change his water or food, he scurries to the other side.. Which tells me that he can use his legs alot better now!
And he's eating the dandelion greens and parsley alot too! I think he really likes it!
I'm so glad he's doing so much better! My dad's girlfriend was a veterinarian assistant, and she saw Zeke when he was sick, and said that it was a sin, and he was so sick that he should be put down.. But she's seen him recently, and she can't get over the fact that he's doing so much better!
I'm going to go get some collard greens, and probably some squash today.. What else should I get that Zeke really needs??
-Melissa&Zeke-
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Post by prism_wolf on Oct 9, 2004 7:10:16 GMT -8
Zeke's grocery list: collard greens mustard greens turnip greens cilantro sweet potato mango (optional)
Remove all the large stems from all of the greens...then chop very small. Use a cheese grater for the sweet potato and grate using the smalllest holes...grate skin and all. The mango is for smell and enticement, but if he is eating the greens without the mago, then don't bother buying it. Keep using the dandelion greens, too. Mix it all together and let him go for it.
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