Baby red iguana

[happyhippychik]

I just recently adopted Gimli about a week ago from the reptile center. They advised he was healthy but the runt of his litter. I'm concerned because I can see his ribs and pelvis bones and his tail is thin too. He's been a great little eating machine and gets his supplements daily. As his momma I want to know if this is normal and how long it will take for him to fill out.

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

Hello!

I'm glad to hear he's eating well! He does sound quite thin Sometimes transitioning between homes can cause stress and a lack of apatite so I'm glad that's not the case. If he was the runt and they had all the litter mates in the same enclosure then he probably hasn't been able to get as much food as he needed before you got him. It could also be parasites so I would recommend taking him to the vet if he doesn't start putting on more weight in a week or two. I would recommend taking a picture of him next to something for a size reference each week to easily be able to tell if, or how much weight, he is gaining. Sometimes it can be hard to tell just by looking at them each day.

I'm not sure how old he is but since it sounds like he had been malnourished I would keep an eye on his lower jaw. A soft lower jaw or stunted growth in his lower jaw is one of the first signs of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). If you notice either of those signs I would take him to the vet, make sure he is on the highest quality fresh diet, and possibly upgrade your UVB lamp to ensure it doesn't progress any further.

Good luck! I hope he fills out into a plump iguana soon

-Jenna