john
Junior Member
Posts: 3
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Post by john on Sept 6, 2009 8:24:47 GMT -8
Hey, Guys - new Iguana owner, here! I got my Iguana yesterday and have spent all day yesterday and this morning reading up on how to better care for my Iguana! I have a few questions, but then again, who doesn't? I'll keep searching the site, but just incase somebody wanted to help me cheat a little bit... Petco sold me a ton of bark and moss and then while reading I read that bark and moss was bad for the Ig because he might eat it. So, right now I have paper towels in there and no moss... but will the humidity still be okay? I've been misting him about every few hours. I'll look into the auto misting thing. He's also very skiddish and hates to be held, but I'm being firm with him! I included a picture of my tank (when he gets a little bigger i'll build him a cage), please let me know if anything should be changed or added (minus the cage... I know he needs a cage to climb). Thanks in advance for the warm welcome! - John Attachments:
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Post by sincere2iguana on Sept 6, 2009 10:16:39 GMT -8
well u can alway use newspaper. me personaly i use chip bark that i buy frmo the pet shop. my iigie was raised on it so they never try and eat it.. and for me looks better and very easy to clean.. throw some pic up for your iggie. i would love to see what it looks like.
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Post by Brandon on Sept 6, 2009 11:35:12 GMT -8
Hey John, Bark is bad. They can ingest it and you don't want that. You can use butcher paper, newspaper, or paper towels. As for the humidity you are going to need a good hydrometer. For the misting that is good but if the cage doesn't hold well what will he do when you are gone for the day etc. right.. It looks like you have fallen into the same pet store trap that most first time Ig owners have. He will out grow that cage really soon so I would start planning now for his permanent enclosure. Also it looks like you need a UVB bulb and the dials aren't really in the right spot. They should be at the level he will bask. I would look into getting a new thermometer hydrometer that are a little more sophisticated. Those dials aren't always the most accurate. What do you have set up for food? I know this can be frustrating but Iguana's require a lot of special things to be healthy. They aren't always the easiest to up keep but It's wonderful you are doing research and don't get discouraged! If you do it right you will have great friend for a long time Oh yeah..you should let him acclimate for about 2 weeks before interacting with him. That will help him feel more comfortable in his new surroundings.
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john
Junior Member
Posts: 3
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Post by john on Sept 6, 2009 11:59:26 GMT -8
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Post by Brandon on Sept 6, 2009 12:18:41 GMT -8
www.herpcenter.com/green-iguana-caresheet.htmlCheck out this link. I use it as a reference and it holds good trusted info on it. You could look into a Ceramic Heat emitter but I haven't used one myself. I live in AZ right now and we have a lack of coldness www.reptileuv.com/Please read through this link as it has a lot of info on the UVB light I was talking about. You can get a mister at any Walmart or Target or CVS I think but not sure if you could fit it in your current set up without some major cramp...so for now spray and get a large bowl that your Ig can go in and that will help tremendously. You could cover half of the top with a towel and see what that does for the humidity as well. As for the diet you want to go to the grocery store and get Mustard greens, Collard greens and Turnip greens. That will make up the majority of your Ig's diet for his whole life. The first link will elaborate on feeding though. You shouldn't have to buy anything from the pet store ever again..
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john
Junior Member
Posts: 3
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Post by john on Sept 6, 2009 15:10:39 GMT -8
Thanks for the info! I'll get the heat emitter in a couple of weeks and pick up some yummy greens! Would it be a problem for the Ig if I put something on the side glass of the tank.... I think he's seeing his reflection and that's why he dives face first into it all the time lol. He'll do a full sprint and wack into the side.
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Post by Brandon on Sept 6, 2009 15:48:49 GMT -8
I can't see any harm as long as it is on the outside, or if on the inside nothing that can be edible.
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Post by Merlin on Sept 7, 2009 4:57:55 GMT -8
me personaly i use chip bark that i buy frmo the pet shop. my iigie was raised on it so they never try and eat it.. and for me looks better and very easy to clean.. throw some pic up for your iggie. i would love to see what it looks like. And you are most definately wrong! The bark is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Pet shops keep animals on it because that is a product that they are trying to sell. Bark substrate is a proven killer where iguanas are concerned. Besides, pet stores don't "raise" iguanas they get them from importers. They are only in the shop a short time so why should they care whether or not they die later. And John undertank heaters are worthless for an iguana. They are a basking animsal and get their heat from over head.
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Post by Camrock on Nov 7, 2009 9:47:28 GMT -8
newspaper is the best way to go.
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