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Post by junglepeoplerock on Oct 21, 2004 20:04:45 GMT -8
I don't know much about Iguana's ... I just got it from a friend who didn't want it any more.
It seems discolored, but I'm not sure. and I don't think its eating.. and to top it of I think it has some sort of cold. Cause it wheezes... and has boogers... ... I don't know what to do.
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Post by Tesa on Oct 22, 2004 3:55:17 GMT -8
uhoh.....sounds like he has a respiratory infection. This means a vet visit and antibiotics.  Unfortunately, iguanas are much more difficult to care for than one would think. They have very specific needs in order to stay healthy. You will need to make a decision as to whether you are willing to make a long term commitment to your green friend. They are well worth the effort. :-) If you can answer some questions we'll be able to help you more. How long is he from snout to vent? (vent is where da poop comes out) What kind of cage are you keeping him in? What are you using to line the bottom of the cage? Does he have a "basking spot" where he can lay under a light and allow his body temperature to get up to around 95? Does he have a special light that emits UVB rays? What are you feeding him? and how large are the pieces? Is there any way you can post a picture of him? There are lots of people here who can offer good advice. Also, if you haven't already, read through the "Iguana Care Basics" section. That will give you a good start. Please feel free ask any questions. We are here to help. Hopefully we can get this little guy healthy and you will enjoy him as much as the rest of us enjoy ours.  |
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Post by junglepeoplerock on Oct 22, 2004 9:45:21 GMT -8
my iguana is 6in long..from mouth to pooper?? right?? I have sand in my cage.. and I recently turned my hot rock off.. because of the warnings.. but I left it in the cage.. because he likes it. I cut my food for him a little less then a half an inch.. umm. I feed him Junvilnie iguana food and chopped up apples and carrots. I really don't know what else to give him. I also only have one heat lamp... 75.... thats what the petshop dude told was good for the size tank I have him in at the moment.. um.I don't think I have a UVB light. he looks better today...but that doesn't mean he is.. he is still moving slow though. The pictures I took are on yahoo albums.. here is the link.. pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jpeoplerock/album?.dir=/6a62 |
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Post by IguanaKing on Oct 22, 2004 12:40:16 GMT -8
Thanks for coming to IZ. I can't see the pics you linked, it says that the file is inaccessible.
1) The sand in his habitat needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY, if he swallows any of it, it will lead to impaction of his digestive tract and kill him.
2) No offense, but his current diet is no good at all. The apples are ok as a small portion of a larger, more varied diet, but the carrots should be eliminated altogether, especially since he's apparently sick. The most important foods he needs are collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens. The iguana food you are using should also be removed from his diet, there are very few commercial iguana foods that are any good at all. Solid vegetables like green beans and various types of squash, including pumpkin, should also be included. The greens can be shredded by hand into pieces that are no bigger than the width of his mouth. The solid vegetables need to be ground up or grated into very tiny pieces, larger pieces will cause him to choke, can upset his stomach, and may even make him regurgitate. I recommend getting a good food processor.
3) A good UVB lamp is an absolute necessity, but until you get one, try to give him at least 30 minutes a day of direct, unfiltered sunlight. This doesn't mean letting him sit in a window, the glass in the window filters out most, if not all, of the UVB from the sun. UVB is necessary for your iguana to synthesize vitamin D3 in his skin. This vitamin allows his body to make use of the calcium he gets from his greens.
4) Cage temps are very important. He should have access to a range of temperatures from about 75-100 degrees. The imporant thing is that this ENTIRE range of temperatures be available to him at all times, he needs to regulate his body temperature by moving from one temperature to another. Since he is sick and will need antibiotics, the temperatures should all be increased by 5 degrees. He should be allowed to get NO COOLER than 80 degrees right now, even at night.
5) At night, he needs complete darkness for about 12 hours so he can get his needed sleep. Also, with his respiratory infection, it will help him at night if you give him something to use as a pillow, so he can keep his head and airway elevated.
His slow movement suggests to me that his temperature isn't NEARLY high enough. This needs to be corrected immediately or he'll die. I recommend buying a few cage thermometers at the pet store so you can monitor the temperature.
MOST IMPORTANTLY though, he needs to see a reptile vet very soon, the longer his respiratory infection goes untreated, the more difficult it'll be to get rid of it.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Sean
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Post by junglepeoplerock on Oct 24, 2004 14:40:19 GMT -8
Thanks for all the help guys. I took him to the vet. and the vet said that he was dehydrated. He also told me that he had been dehydrated and straving for along time. the vet told me that it was likely that he was going to die....:< which on the way home he did. and now the person I got the iguana from originally is going to get a chamelion..... I just want to beat her!!.. Thanks again...
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Post by IguanaKing on Oct 24, 2004 15:01:24 GMT -8
Oh no, I'm really sorry to hear that.  If this other person is thinking about getting a chameleon now, I certainly wouldn't judge you if you beat her a little. Well...thanks for trying...I know what its like to lose an iguana, I was very attached to my Mercury when she died of a concussion. So was Hercules,my 9-year-old male iguana, he didn't eat or really move much for weeks after she died. Please tell this other person, if you haven't already, that she has no business getting another reptile.  You already know they're MUCH more demanding than a cat or dog, please do your best to make sure she understands that. Although it makes me sad, thanks for the update.  |
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If this other person is thinking about getting a chameleon now, I certainly wouldn't judge you if you beat her a little. Well...thanks for trying...I know what its like to lose an iguana, I was very attached to my Mercury when she died of a concussion. So was Hercules,my 9-year-old male iguana, he didn't eat or really move much for weeks after she died. Please tell this other person, if you haven't already, that she has no business getting another reptile. 
You already know they're MUCH more demanding than a cat or dog, please do your best to make sure she understands that. Although it makes me sad, thanks for the update. 