I know it's probably time to build a new home. My ig lives in what was an entertainment center. Some thing to put a large TV in. About 3'x2' & and about 40" deep. It has an adjustable shelf on top where most heat, light & all food is put. I should & will lower the shelf. It seems to get to warm up there but it doesn't go down where it could easily cool off. I don't understand why.

Should I put all food down lower so then it only feeds at the bottom and only basks on top? It just seems that it has different temp gradients but doesn't move to them. Puzzled.

Iguanas are lazy critters who like to be up high. This is not only where they feel safe but the higher up you are the higher your position in dominance ranking.
With everything it needs up top, why move? Mine is usually laying up on her shelf.
I put the food on the lower level. This encourages exercise. Putting the food near the heat source will also dry it out pretty fast. Since igs get their water from the food they eat this is not desirable.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I just moved the food in my enclosure way down for the same reason as Merlin, my ig was getting lazy and needed more exercise. The change caused him to go off feed for a couple days, I think it was a hunger strike because I broke his daily routine, but after two days I took a piece of collard and led him down to his food, once he was there he ate like a horse and went back to the top, now he goes down, he doesn't look so happy about it, but he does it, usually by jumping face first into his food bowl.

If your lizard resists moving for food, lure him/her down with a favorite food once they realize you aren't going to move it, they will give in, no healthy ig intentionally starves them self.

As for cage, it is definately time for an upgrade

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“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) but ‘That’s funny…'"
- Isaac Asimov



TKE:TT:118

I hydrate the food a pretty lot after it's in the enclosure but your point is well taken. I'll make it move it's butt to eat. The question I really tried to pose was why the **** doesn't it move to another temperature gradient? May be the answer is that I inadvertently trained it to stay in one spot Idunno. If it's hot with it's tongue hanging you would think it would just move like a foot or two.

Yeah the cage was big now it's not and the next generation will be quite awesome.

I just noticed **** was bleeped. I don't want any one to think it was a more distastefull word.


Oh jeez. It rhymes with well.

LOL... as a family-friendly site, there are many words that are "bleeped."

As for your ig panting in the basking area, you're going to need to make some changes. The basking temps should be 95-98 F. Any higher is too much. Lower the shelf or raise the lamp if you can.

Ambient temps should be around 85 F, and can get into the low 70s at night.

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck