Baby Iguana Won't Eat or Move Around

I ask again, what is in this "iguana shake"?
There are a lot of sites out there recommending a lot of strange things.

Also, a 35 gallon tall hexagon tank is not ideal. Once you do begin handling her, you'll be coming at her from above... like a predator in the wild does. This will not readily foster trust.

There is not enough length to accommodate a horizontal heat gradient (vertical, yes).

Welcome to Herp Center, please do take some time to read the caresheet.

I would put food in late at night because they like to eat early in the morning before you get up. she will be less scared if she knows that you aren't up yet and then will venture out to get food. when you feed her in the morning she will go freeze scared, and not move for along time. this probably freaks you out so you go and check on her and try and poke at her to get her to move freaking her out and stressing her more.

In stead of touching her when you start to tame her you should put your hand in her cage and not do anything. just rest it for 5 or so mins then leave. she will be like OMG HAND!! I"M GOING TO DIE at first. then later she will realize Big hand didn't hurt me. It didn't hurt me agian... and so on. then beware you will get tail whips instead of freeze scared soon. little something to look forward to.

I would put a radio next to the cage with you talking on tape or something so she gets used to voices with out feeling danger. i put mine being able to hear the tv.

over time she will grow tame.

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My iguana had different circumstances. I noticed black spots on my iguana, and had to handle him and put creams and bath soaks on and take him to the vet. he had a bacterial infection and i had to give him antibiotics 2 times a day and liquid calcium once a day and a soak a day. this isn't the ideal way of getting trust but i found that he liked his banana antibiotics and hated his calcium and would like his bath as long as he got watermelon. he also had to sit on me and wait for the water to run and i was constantly touching him all over to check his spots and make sure they were soaked well to fall off.

this got my iguana quite tame in 2 or so months.

oh and you should buy and read the ultimate green iguana manual by james hatfield III

Originally Posted by Kendalle

over time she will grow tame.

To clarify a little, they never truly become tame. She will grow to recognize you as a part of her life and her environment, and stop fearing that you will eat her as long as you are patient and treat her well. But she will always remain a wild animal, and so you don't want to get completely relaxed, or feel like you failed when she suddenly tail whips you, or becomes aggressive. That's their nature, and understanding it makes it easier on you both.

I would put food in late at night because they like to eat early in the morning before you get up.

Not necessarily. A healthy iguana, will eat just about anytime that food is presented. A nervous one may wait till you aren't in sight but it will eat.
I would not recommend putting out food the night before. This is letting it sit out in a high heat and himidity environment. The food will begin to decompose and grow mold and fungus. It will also start to dry out! Since iguanas get almost all their water from their diet this is not a good thing!

i was just thinking if there are always people around it might be easier for the baby for a little while if she is loosing weight it could be another try to get her to eat comfortable

Thats a good thought but it would be better to put the food in early in the morning before lights come on. It may mean having to get out of bed a bit earlier than usual.
But if that is what needs to be done,....

hey it seems you guys know what your talking about and im having a similiar problem yoshi wont eat and when i leave over periods of time no food is gone and another question i had is about the lighting i have the uvb lighting for it but im not sure if its being filtered out i set it on a metal screen that came with the tank and yoshi sits about 4-5" below it. Thanks

Lilyyoshi, you might want to start your own thread so that more people will read it. When you do give us more information about your set up and how long you have had yoshi and where he came from... The more information we have the better we can help you.
Here is where you would want to start your new thread. http://www.herpcenter.com/newthread....ewthread&f=188