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Guandas Not Eating

This is what our member has to say: Hey, my iggy's not eating enough. For the past 2 days my iguana hasnt touched her food and shes getting thin. I got her ...


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Guandas Not Eating



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  #1  
05-11-2008, 10:53 AM
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Guandas Not Eating

Hey, my iggy's not eating enough. For the past 2 days my iguana hasnt touched her food and shes getting thin. I got her 5 days ago but she was eating at least once a day when there was no one in the room. Personally, I believe its her enclosure. Its kinda small in my opinion. However, everyday I take her out so she can get a change. Ill upload a few pics so you can see the enclosure and my iguana.

the enclosure now:
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01021.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01020.jpg

The enclosure before:
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC00961.jpg

These pics below show the house that I made for my iguana. I removed it from the enclosure because I realised that she hides in there so that I wouldnt be able to get her.
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01023.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01024.jpg

Iguana:
I heard that the two bones on the tail of an iguana hardly shows. This is how my iguanas look like
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01015.jpg

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...6/DSC01034.jpg

This year when my iggy grows a bit more I am going to make a much bigger cage. Any comments, tips, suggestions are welcome.

  #2  
 I helped move the meter!   05-11-2008, 12:05 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Okay you are going to need to do a bit of the overhaul on the cage, it needs a lot of work.

First, start that new cage now, this one is far too small.

Ditch the shredded wood stuff that you have in there and use carpet or tile or newspaper, anything that the iguana can't get into it's mouth. Iguanas are constantly licking things and eating too much of that stuff (even if you don't see them eating it) can plug them up and they will die.

Also you should give her back the house. They need a safe hiding spot where they can get away from you. It takes them a very long time (we're talking months to years) to trust that you aren't going to eat them. Until that time they need a 'safe place' where they can get away from you and destress.

Also a larger water dish would be beneficial, they are tropical lizards and need higher humidity, spraying the cage with water will help too.

What are your temperatures?

What exactly are you feeding her?

Give her time, they need at least a week to settle in, if to longer, iguanas are skittish.
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 I helped move the meter!   05-11-2008, 12:17 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Lacey said almost everything I was going to, but I wanted to add that you should also get her checked out by a vet I gave you a link in your other post about the toes. Get a fecal done so you can check for parasites as well. Give her some alone time to get to know the tank without you constantly trying to get at her. Also do you have a UVB light?
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  #4  
05-11-2008, 12:22 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Wow, ok thanks alot Ill change all I can today. I didnt know they would eat the wood thing. The shop owner said it was ok. the temp is 80-90 and humidity is 60%. Do you think I should make a smaller hiding place or is that ok and if I try and get her and she goes in the house should I keep trying to get her or should I just leave her?

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05-11-2008, 12:38 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ibrahim View Post
The shop owner said it was ok. the temp is 80-90 and humidity is 60%. do u think I should make a smaller hiding place or is that ok? and if I try and get her and she goes in the house should I keep trying to get her or should I just leave her?
Unfortunately some shop owners will tell you anything to make a sale!
There is no particulate substrate that is safe for iguanas.
I would give the hide back as that is the ig's security and a place to de-stress. If you need to go in and get the ig that's fine, just don't constantly be pestering it just for the sake of doing so.
You need to bump your temps up. Your ambient air temp should be 80-85 degrees with a basking area of 95-100 degrees. If the ig isn't warm enough it won't eat.
You need a bigger enclosure now. In that small of a space you will be unable to supple the necessary heat gradient. If you get the basking area warm enough there won't be a cooler area for the ig to cool off (they need THAT too)
You didn't mention having a UVB bulb. This is an absolute necessity.
Iguanas are pretty complicated critters to keep. A fact that most pet shops won't tell you, since most people, once they find out what is required to keep one properly, won't want to go to all the trouble and expense.
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 I helped move the meter!   05-11-2008, 12:47 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Please dont use internet and IM slang. u = you Please spell out the words. Thanks.
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 I helped move the meter!   05-11-2008, 02:24 PM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Well, I think most everything has pretty much been covered for you. I can only reiterate the importance if the uvb bulb, and bumping up the temps. Without uvb iguanas cannot process the the vitamin d3 and the calcium they need. Without the proper basking temps iguanas also cannot properly digest their food. They are cold blooded critters, and with all cold blooded critters, cold temps leads to lack of appetite.

I would be willing to wager that you get it a proper uvb bulb, and kick up those basking temps, your iguana will start to eat more, as the body will start to function in a normal aspect.

I will also second that you need to get the iguana a bigger enclosure as soon as possible. I also agree with giving it back the hide, it needs somewhere to retreat and de stress. The fecal is also a great idea, as it will tell you if it has any parasites that are that are adding to the the weight problem of the iguana.

May I ask what you are feeding the iguana?

Here is a great link to the best uvb bulbs that I have found. www.megaray.com
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  #8  
05-12-2008, 12:58 AM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

Greetings Ibrahim-

Having the iguana only 5 days, I'm surprised it ate at all!

Everyone provide the right information for you. Make a list of all that was said and begin changing things until you have it all correct. Do this now. Once the iguana settles in, changing things will upset it all over again.

3 main things needed for good appetite:

1) Good Diet
2) Right temperatures
3) Good source of UVB light

Also, in the pics the iguanas lateral folds are prominent. Means it needs more hydration. Be sure to provide plenty of water through a bowl, frequent misting and very wet greens to eat.

Good Luck!
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  #9  
05-12-2008, 07:42 AM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

ok thank you all for this information it has helped me and I am making a much bigger enclosure for my Guanda. i have a uvb light and allways have it on, i also put it in the sun alot too. what I give my iguana to eat. Heres a list...

Vegetables:
hibiscus leaves
chicories
clover
parsley
green beans
rocket
sweet-potatoes
peas
mushrooms
peppers

Fruits:
figs
peaches
apples
melons
grapes
bananas

Im looking for alfalfa but it seems that I cant find any here.

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05-12-2008, 09:00 AM
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Re: Guandas Not Eating

What brand of UVB light are you using?
All lights are not the same and some of them are downright misleading. And you don't want the light on at night. 12 hours on and 12 hours off are the recommended. Your ig needs darkness to sleep.
Your staple greens should be dark green calcium rich greens. Collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens are the staples. This should comprise 75-80% of the diet. You can also include endive, and watercress.
Orange fleshed squashes are also good, grated, as are green beans
For fruits, melons are good for hydration. Apples, grapes and particularly bananas are ok as once in a while treats but don't feed them every day. Bananas have to much phosphorous.
You can get alfalfa powder at a health food store. Alfalfa is also available as rabbit pellets. Make sure the pellets don't have animal products in them.
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