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Post by aimee1 on Jan 21, 2009 6:30:29 GMT -8
I have a five year old iguana and I recently upgraded him to a 7 foot tall wire cage with different levels to lay on. He's always up on the top level closest to most of my heat lights... he doesn't even come down to eat. He might eat every three days... is this ok? If I put the food any closer it gets too hot and smells rotten before he even takes a bite. Do you think this large cage is too big for him? I was thinking of making a shaded area up high and putting his food there so hopefully it won't rot as fast. ideas?
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Post by Jen on Jan 21, 2009 8:38:03 GMT -8
Any chance he may be going through breeding season? My male doesnt eat much during season. Is he pooping normal? Any chance he could have eaten something he shouldnt have? It may just be the enclosure change. I wouldnt worry too much unless he starts to lose alot of weight. But still keep an eye on him for other symptoms. If he is hungry he will climb down and eat.
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Post by Merlin on Jan 21, 2009 8:55:58 GMT -8
You also need to look at the temperatures down low in the cage. In a wire cage the bottom level is going to be a lot cooler and he may be stayng up on top because that is where the warmth is.
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Post by Jen on Jan 21, 2009 9:00:08 GMT -8
I totally missed the wire part.
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Post by aimee1 on Jan 21, 2009 16:04:07 GMT -8
the room he's in doesn't drop below 80 so I don't think that's the problem... He doesnt show any other signs of being in breeding season but he doesn't poop as much anymore. when I put food right under his nose he eats it... I think your right, it might just be the new cage... he does occasionally climb down to drink and poop. (he doesn't poop where he sleeps : ) ... I was thinking of adding some colorful fruits to lure him down. as of now, I put the food on the second level and just take it out after a few hours.
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Post by Merlin on Jan 22, 2009 7:15:50 GMT -8
I would still check the temps. Even in an eighty degree room the floor area can be a lot cooler. Warm air rises and cold air sinks.
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Post by aimee1 on Jan 22, 2009 11:37:53 GMT -8
Yeah, the floor doesn't get too cold. I have a sulcata who roams around in the same room as him so I can't let the floor temp drop too cold. it drops to 80 at night and the floor is atleast 85 during the day. I can't imagine it's too cold for him to climb down to eat... Maybe I'll try a heat pad... like on the side of the cage at the bottom...
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Post by Merlin on Jan 22, 2009 14:52:00 GMT -8
A heat pad on the side of a wire cage isn't going to do anything. Too much airflow
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Post by aimee1 on Jan 22, 2009 19:16:55 GMT -8
I dont' want to put in on the bottom though... to much scare of a burn...
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Post by Merlin on Jan 23, 2009 6:25:03 GMT -8
A heat pad really isn't your answer. If the temperatures need adjusting try another heat lamp.
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Post by prism_wolf on Jan 23, 2009 22:59:40 GMT -8
You also need to remember that some igs stress easily with change. You just upgraded him. Give him a couple of weeks before freakin' over his not eating...;-)
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Post by aimee1 on Jan 29, 2009 10:15:48 GMT -8
So, I've just given up and I put the food right in front of his face... and take it away if he's not done in a few hours... He so far has finished it all though. I figure if it works, might as well keep doing it. Once summer rolls around I'll try it on the floor of his cage, see if the heat did have anything to do with it after all... I'm looking into getting a 6ft x 3ft x 2ft high melamine cage that looks like it'd be for big snakes but I'm thinking it might be better for him since it will hold humidity better and he doesn't really like climbing. He lost some toes when he was younger and it looks difficult for him. Does it sound like something that would work?
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Post by prism_wolf on Jan 30, 2009 22:59:02 GMT -8
Those dimensions are not nearly large enough. 6'T x 6'W x 3'D are the minimum you should shoot for. What you're getting is nothing but a phone booth sty;e and just not appropriate for a large lizard that enjoys climbing...
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Post by aimee1 on Jan 31, 2009 6:43:49 GMT -8
But he doesn't enjoy climbing, that's my problem
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Post by Merlin on Jan 31, 2009 7:32:41 GMT -8
But you need to encourage him to climb and one of the ways is by putting the food down on the bottom. Iguanas are very muscular animals and those muscles need to exercise. It is beleived that alot of the problems female igs have with laying eggs is due to them not getting sufficent exercise in insufficent caging!
In addition, by putting the food up where it is hot it will go bad or dry out quicker.
The enclosure you are talking about is basically a large horizontal rectangle. It would be fine for a terrestrial snake but not for an iguana.
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