Hello and welcome to HC, bring on the pics...

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Jayr & Mandy Robinson
J&M Herp Shack
"Are you watching closely?"

Welcome! I have to tell you how admirable it is that you're willing to take care of the iguana, and that you're willing to do the research to take care of him right.

Some little tips right off the bat that I think might be helpful:

Iguanas tend to be rather aggressive creatures. There are some things that help their temperament. Keeping him in a quiet, less used place in the house will usually help him to feel less nervous, especially during the adjustment period. You're going to want to get him settled into his new home, and then leave him alone for a few days until he seems to feel more comfortable. After that it's pretty important to handle him gently every day. You want him to get used to you and to trust you. If you keep doing this as he grows he'll be more likely to have a calmer disposition. (Remember, though, that iguanas have very distinct personalities. Some will be aggressive no matter what you do. You just have to learn you iguana's personality.)

Environment and feeding are very important. If you've gotten those books or taken a look at the iguana care sheets, it should have that information for you, but please ask if you have any questions. We love to help!

One other thing, I HIGHLY recommend taking him to a vet right away. With any new animal it's a good idea to get them a check-up to make sure they're in good health. With reptiles it's especially important because they don't show symptoms of sickness right away. Sometimes by the time you notice something's wrong it's pretty bad. Also make sure to find a certified herp vet if possible. I think there are probably lists available for certified herp vets in your area.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

and about the heat and humidity... i just use a spray bottle 2 times a day and use the heat lamp with a towel over 3/4 the screen top to keep it all in because at night my house get's cold. and good luck with the new member of the family.

Thanks!ok I got the uvb bulb today and a 2nd thermometer.i still havent moved hi in to his new home but will get pics up asap.(hes living in a hamster cage now how cruel but yes ihave a big enought home for now.gonna buy a screen today any recomendations?not that big of a deal but yeah,dont want hi mto go loose.my main concern with the temeprature is the basking spot and heating during the night.how far from the lights should the basking spot be?how far should the uvb be from the basking spot?i think I read around 8 inches apart.ok another concern.is a heating pad good enough for night heat.should I leave the heating pad on all day and night or just at night?

I ran into a second problem, I read the data sheet and stuff and more on diets, but i'm still sorta confused!so I have to give it at least 10 different items in the salad everyday?can it be the same ten items for a week and then different for the next week or how should I go about this?for a start what should I go out to buy it because its kinda confusing to me.thanks agaiN! ok I made a list of foods for my mom to help her with grocery shopping.here it is for now im sticking to this stuff.

IGUANA FOOD The list
Greens Choose 4(daily)
Collard greens
Dandelion greens
Arugala
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Variety Choose 3(daily)
Water cress
Endive
Cilantro
Escarole(chickory greens)
parsley
Veggies Choose 3(daily)
Green beans
Squash (such as acorn, banana,butternut,kabocha, spaghetti, and pumpkin etc.)
Cilantro
Bell peppers
Peas
Carrots
Cucumber
Mushrooms
sweet potato
onions
Fruits choose 1 (twice a week as treats or mixed with salad sometimes)
Mangos
Grapes
Kiwi
Papaya
Bananas
Raspberries
blueberries
melon
cactus
peaches
pears
strawberries
watermelon
occasional(none or every week or so)
kale
asparagus
banana
beets
bok Choy
spinach
cauliflower
carrots
broccoli
Zucchini
celery
brussel sprouts
yale
brussel sprouts
Mature Alfalfa(no sprouts!)

never
corn
lettuce
potato
dog food

Greetings Ktulu-

Congrats on the new green guy. Good luck with him.

To answer a few things:

Feeding: Choose 3-4 leafy greens as the salad base each week. Can be the same 3-4 or you can change each week. Collards are essential, then change in turnips, mustard, etc. Add to this some veggies, whatever is on sale or looks good. You can top it with a bit of fruit, not too much though. I cut, chop, slice and dice my greens for an entire week. The veggies I shred on top each day. Fruit maybe once a week. Feed the same time every day.

UVB Lighting: Spend your money here! UVB is one of the most critical elements. For fluorescent tubes 6-8" unobstructed, dual tube set-up, on 10-12 hours, all off at night. Distance depends on the UVB being emitted. Merc Vapors or spots can go a little farther back. Here's a quick study on UVB requirements: UVB Light

Heat pad: Only at night. Light and heating element should heat him during the day.

Humidity: Don't confuse humidity with hydration. Humid is good, hydration is critical. Focus on getting water into the iguana by soaking the greens prior to feeding, or wetting them down really good before feeding.

Here's a page I put together years ago to simplify iguana care (if that's even possible): Triangle of Health

I hope the info helps!

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

I found that having the book "Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual" is very handy for quick, accurate answers. I have a copy that I'd be happy to send you... PM me your contact information (DON'T put it in this thread!), and I will get the book out to you next week.

I appreciate all your questions and your willingness to learn... KUDOS!!

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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

ahh ok soo greens just switch em up a bit.got it.uvb light I bought is a exo terra repti glo 5.0.ok a couple of sprays of water I guess.do you switch the food up everyday?or you give it the same type for a week and then change the menu(as in give it the same type of salad for a week then change it up to something new,not leave the food until he finishes it) weve been giving it alot of fruit,well along with some cilantro and such)i know its bad but until we buy proper vegetables itll do(which is tomorrow)thank you I got some pictures of the near finished set up,ill put em up now.i just finished it tonight,i will set up the right temperatures tomorrow afternoon,ima leave him with the heat pad on all day.i live in cali so its no big deal(for the night) ok I got pictures now!still havent decided on a name i was thinking of calling him grinch lol cause hes green and sort of grouchynow,but then again all ig's are like that at first.

as you can see from the last pic,that plastic mesh stuff(similar to the ones they use on windows) has to go cause the lamp might burn it.any sugestions on what to use?should I instead suspend it in the air.oh not pictured is the uvb lamp,which will be up tomorow.any suggestions to the arrangement of my stuff?Thanks!

The plastic mesh is also too fine and will screen out much of your UVB light. You need something with a minimum open grid of at least 1/8 inch, preferably 1/4 inch.
Also the UVB light. Are you talking about the spiral bulb or the flourescent tube?

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!