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Post by fsprm2 on Aug 6, 2009 18:23:13 GMT -8
Hi all - vendrall is just over 4 feet now, Tiamat has been growing steadily as well and dirt is also growing though he's still smaller than the other two he's got a healthy appetite. Anyways I'm posting because of Vendrall - it seems all he wants to do nowadays is lay either on his basking spot or in his hammock instead of climbing around or digging like he used too. He's fat and lazy - how do you guys encourage your iguana's to excersize? I've taken him to the beach a few times but theres not much summer left and he's even lazier in the winter months..  |
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Post by Brandon on Aug 6, 2009 19:30:17 GMT -8
Do you have a pic of him?
If he is relaxing and basking then that is a comfortable Ig. If he is lethargic then you might have a sick Ig. Just out of curiosity what are the temps in the enclosure and what kind of food are you feeding?
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Post by fsprm2 on Aug 8, 2009 21:21:12 GMT -8
Srry no pic of him now, his basking spot is about 90F while the rest of his cage I don't really heat since it's summer but it's usually about 70-80 in the house though with the way heat rises i imagine it's cooler on the floor of his cage.
I don't think he's sick it just seems he's become lazy in his old age, his main staple is green beans as they are cheap and easy to stock up on and i'll mix veggies with or sometimes dry food - I don't really give him calcium powder anymore as I've heard it's easy to overdose adult iguanas on it and I guess they don't really need it when they have proper diet?
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Post by Brandon on Aug 9, 2009 4:40:20 GMT -8
The main staple should be greens such as mustard,collard,turnip, etc. Then add the vegetables. You don't need the calcium powder but he most importantly needs the greens.
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dee
Full Member
Posts: 69 
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Post by dee on Aug 9, 2009 8:13:13 GMT -8
I am with Brandon on this one for the exercise part.. Neither one of mine climb all over their cages [unless it is breeding season, then they never stop] either. They prefer to just bask and will move when they feel the need to thermoregulate, or to eat or to potty. But as for them climbing all over it doesn't happen. That is why I have heard them called the "Nasty Figurine".. Don't remeber where I heard it or read it, but that statement will never leave my mind!! :0)
Now for the calcium!! Even when you give them all good food, it is hard sometimes to make sure that they eat what they should. By this I mean, mine will walk around the collards some day and others they will devoure the whole bowl. So I would recommend that you at least dust your bowl once a week. That would be enough additional to help without going over board. If a person has a baby it is recommended that they dust everyday until a year old. Do you add a multi vitamin too?
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Post by Merlin on Aug 9, 2009 15:09:44 GMT -8
But what you are feeding is FAR from a proper diet! You need to seriously revamp the diet! What you are feeding is completely inadequate!
80-90% of the diet should be dark leafy greens with a bit of fruits and veggies thrown in. Check out the diet section here for pointers. It isn't about cheap,...its about feeding the right stuff!
And even then a sprinkling of calcium here and there is a good thing.
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Post by fsprm2 on Aug 9, 2009 16:02:21 GMT -8
Completely inadequate diet huh? I could have SWORN I read on this website green beans are a good staple!!! They get collards/turnips/mustards when i can but realize I have to travel 50miles to and back to the next town over to get those, and in the winter here we get 13ft of snow, so going out during/after a blizzard is not an option. I'd stock up on collards if I could but if you've ever tried to store them you'll see it's impossible... Yes and i mix parsnips/sweet potatos with their meals as they loves those but green beans are definitely my lizard's main staple.
Gee thanks for all the tips on excersizing my lizard... He's such a fatty nowadays, the one thing I've found that works pretty well is taking him to the beach as he can walk all he wants and by dragging his tail he leaves a trail to find him at. I get to take him swimming too as there is a runoff into the lake which has reasonably warm water and he'll swim straight across it to the opposite shore and climb onto land.
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Post by Merlin on Aug 10, 2009 4:48:41 GMT -8
You are misunderstanding the term "staple". That means that it is ONE of the foods that can be fed daily as opposed to a once in a while food. It doesn't mean that it is intended to be the sole item fed.
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Post by sincere2iguana on Aug 16, 2009 14:33:11 GMT -8
allowing your iggie to swim for 15 or 20 minutes several times per week.
Follow these guidelines for healthy exercise:
* only allow one iguana at a time to swim
* make sure the iguana is supervised to prevent escape
* change the water and disinfect the tub after each iguana
* make sure the water doesn't get too cold
* it is best to not swim your iguana in the family bathtub, but if you must, make sure you thoroughly disinfect it prior to allowing human family members to bathe (1 cup bleach per gallon of water works very well)
Green iguanas benefit from exercise. Larger iguanas often spend their days lounging around like couch potatoes. While obesity is not a common problem in the iguana that is fed a proper diet, lack of muscle tone often is. Additionally, most people don't realize that iguanas are good swimmers, and would naturally spend some time swimming in rivers or ponds, given the opportunity. Most iguanas get almost all of their moisture from the foods they eat, since they often won't drink out of a bowl. So, allowing a green iguana to swim a few times per week is a great idea to ensure that it is well-hydrated and in good shape. An added benefit is that most iguanas will defecate while in the water, which will keep its cage cleaner longer, as well as promoting regularity.
In addition to swimming, some iguanas can be trained to walk on a leash. There are several types of harnesses available for them. It seems that many iguanas enjoy going for walks with their owners. In addition to the exercise, iguanas will definitely benefit from the natural sunshine. Keep in mind that if you take your pet iguana outside for a walk in the sun, if it gets very warm, it might try to bolt and run away if it is startled or alarmed. To prevent losing your pet, make sure that the harness fits securely and snugly, and that your iguana cannot slip out of it easily.
The best exercises for most reptiles are swimming and walking. Some smaller reptiles will get adequate exercise within their cages.
i hope this helps you out. ;D
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