morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 4, 2004 3:09:53 GMT -8
My iguana has had a decreased appetite the past two or three days. She’ll eat a leaf or two but otherwise shows no interest. She’s about three years old, and I've had her for over a year now. She did this almost a month ago too for about a week and then went back to her normal eating after we treated her for pin worms(which could be coincidental, because she likely had them for a long time before). She just seems lazy as well. Should I be worried, or should I wait it out?
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on May 4, 2004 4:12:49 GMT -8
Has she gone through breeding season this year? She may be gravid. My Zok will stop eating for a while and then stop again during this. At this time the body starts to fill up with eggs and they just have no room for food. Have you been through a season with her before? If not you might consider a trip back to the vet.
|
|
|
Post by Lyn on May 4, 2004 5:36:38 GMT -8
Ditto Merlin...at 3 yrs old she may be gravid...did she have a repeat fecal to be sure the worms are gone? maybe an xray to determin gravidity? good luck and let us know what happens....Lyn by the way Welcome to the Zone...You are new....
|
|
morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 4, 2004 17:39:42 GMT -8
She hasn't been through a season yet, not with me anyway. Isn't it a little late in the year for that? The vet did mention it as a possibility, but he felt her for eggs and felt none. That was nearly a month ago though. We provided a box of sand and all for her eggs like I've read about on a variety of websites, but she didn't seem interested.
We did one five-day course of medication for the worms, then a test found that there were just a small amount left, then we repeated the five-day course but no fecal test to follow it up. I was planning on bringing one in tomorrow if circumstances permit.
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on May 5, 2004 13:21:00 GMT -8
Zok's season ended last year with egg laying on Easter Sunday and this year she just got over it and re-absorbed her eggs. So yes it is possible for it to happen this late. Zok has had a laying box and would get in and dig but has never layed in it.
|
|
morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 6, 2004 16:15:58 GMT -8
Just did a fecal check and she's absolutely free of worms. She was really active today, running all over the yard and making the rounds of the whole house. Still very little appetite though.
|
|
|
Post by Tesa on May 7, 2004 3:45:06 GMT -8
This is one of those times that we can't really give any more advice than the others already have above. Breeding season/gravidity is probably our best guess, but we can't know that for sure. There are just too many possibilities. Keep a close eye on her and keep us updated. The extent of the "worry factor" depends on how she behaves. I guess I need to ask a few basic questions also. Please don't take offense. Having just "met" you, there is no way for me to know what her care is like without asking. How is her habitat set up? What are her temps? Have they changed recently? Does she have access to UVB (lights or sunshine)? What type of substrate are you using?
|
|
morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 8, 2004 7:11:32 GMT -8
Cage setup is the same as it's been the past year. Temps in the high 80s to low 90s depending on the part of the cage. She has a UVB bulb and we take her out in the sun when it's warm out. Bottom of the cage is lined with a plastic sheet and a patio block that she spends most of her cage-time on.
Again, yesterday she was very active but ate very little.
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on May 8, 2004 17:34:13 GMT -8
During the original vet visit the eggs may not have developed enough to be felt. this happened with Zoks first season. I thought from her behavior that she was going into season but we couldn't feel anything. A few weeks later it became obvious. Diminished appetite and restlessness are indicators of gravidity. The restlessness relates to them searching for a good place to lay their eggs. I would up the calcium and talk to your vet.
|
|
|
Post by dominick on May 8, 2004 18:31:01 GMT -8
Hi Mort-
For what it's worth here's some info:
When an Iguana stops eating there are several things you need to review. Those being temps, lighting and diet, stress factors and possible illness.
Temperatures for Green Iguanas are critical to proper digestion. Iguanas are only able to digest their food efficiently when temperatures are correct. Correct temperatures are 80-85 degree Fahrenheit for general ambient temperature, and 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit for basking temperature. Temperatures below 80 degrees will significantly slow, if not stop, digestion.
Lighting is critical for green iguanas to properly metabloize vitamin D3 and to keep their internal systems functioning properly. A lack of direct UVB exposure will have an adverse effect on health and likewise effect their eating habits. Your Iguana should be receiving up to 10 hours a day of artificial, unfiltered UVB light. Direct sunlight is best, artificial UVB light exposure can be achieved through the use of a UVB specific bulb such at Reptisun 5.0. Be sure your Iguanas are receiving proper UVB light exposure.
Diet is essential to the Iguanas overall health. An Iguana should consume proper greens, veggies and some fruit daily, as explained in our Food Chart. The Iguana should also be defecating daily. Be sure your Iguanas are being offered the correct foods daily. Spinach is very high in oxalates and goitrogens and should be only fed OCCASIONALLY. High levels of oxalates and goitrogens are are detrimental to the general long-term health of the Iguana.
Stress is another reasons Iguanas stop eating. If there have been any significant changes to the Iguanas enclosure, husbandry or surroundings, the stress will prevent the Iguana from eating properly. Think about the last time they ate well and what may have changed from them until now. Even something as simple as an enclosure location change which now allows the Iguana to see it's reflection in a nearby mirror can be stressful enough to cause the Iguana to go off food.
Illness is yet another reasons Iguanas may stop eating. Iguanas are prey animals and fairly low on the food chain. In order to avoid the appearance of sickness or distress an Iguana NOT show symptoms of illness easily. Most times by the time you see symptoms it is too late to save the creature. For this reason alone, I strongly recommend a vet check and fecal exam as soon as you can arrange it. Iguanas require a yearly vet check to assess general health, rule out parasitic infection (through the fecal exam) and determine adequate growth rate, weigh and size.
I hope this helps.
|
|
morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 14, 2004 10:20:15 GMT -8
The other day we had an incident with her breaking through a window screen and getting out onto the roof. I was really afraid I'd never see her again until I saw her arm hanging over the side of the roof. We got her back in safely though.
We constructed the nesting site described on Melissa Kaplan's site (the sideways garbage can with a hole in the side, with a dirt and sand mixture). She'll get in it and dig around for a long time, but I haven't noticed any change in her appearance that would indicate she'd laid any eggs. Maybe it just hasn't been long enough, I think I read that gestation is supposed to take eight weeks.
She still isn't eating a whole lot, but she doesn't look like she's wasting away because of it. She's also still very active.
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on May 14, 2004 18:51:56 GMT -8
They don't look like they are "wasting away" because the body is filling up with the eggs. When they finally lay they look like death warmed over, The sides below the rib cage are very sunken in and look like a deflated balloon.
|
|
morts
Full Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by morts on May 15, 2004 4:29:48 GMT -8
So she'll start eating again once she lays her eggs? Am I just supposed to wait until she does so?
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on May 15, 2004 4:51:33 GMT -8
Once they lay they start eating like a pig! They are making up for lost time. However since you have never been through a season with her I really suggest you consult your vet. There are a lot of complications that can occur with gravidity and they can be llife threatening. And be very careful handling her. If you are too rough and rupture the eggs it can lead to infection and kill her.
|
|
|
Post by Tesa on May 15, 2004 5:21:40 GMT -8
I just realized you said the temps are in the high 80's to low 90's.... She really needs temps that range down to about 75. Maybe she's too warm for too long and dehydrated?? Does she have access to water? Do you ever see her drink? Do you mist her greens before feeding? Just some thoughts....
I'm with Merlin on the vet/gravidity issue. If your budget allows, it would be worth a trip for an X-Ray to find out for sure if she has eggs or not.
|
|