First of all hello to everyone,im new to this so please bare with me.I just got my first green iguana today.My question is this.He had a long ride here to where I live.He came from Ohio and im in Virginia.I have made him a nice salad for him to eat.As of yet he wont eat,is it due to maybe the stress of the ride?How long should I leave the salad in there for him?Or should I take it out after a few hours and try again in the morning.Do I just keep putting food in there for him for a few hours then take it out and stick in new fresh food?Please any help would be great for a newbie.I have a bearded dragon,but what ive read on iguana's its a whole new ball game.Thanks for any help with this.

Welcome to HCN, Chopper22980.

Your ig is under stress simply due to the change in habitat and move. S/he may not eat for a week or so, but keep putting a plate of food in daily (twice a day is alright too).

What does the salad consist of?

I'd like to know about how the enclosure is set up: size, heat, lighting, etc.

One of the best investments you can make for your iguana is to buy James W. Hatfield, III's Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Guide. It is the best careguide available.

Glad you found us!

__________________
~~Steph

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

I agree, Iguanas do not like change and the move has stressed it out. I would continue feeding daily. You never can tell when the little guy is sneaking down for a bite when you aren't looking.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

My ig didn't eat for aobut 4 days when she came to us, she was a rescue, but now she eats all that is put in front of her.
The person we got her from gave us all her things including that book named above.
The book is really useful. On the odd ocassion when we have need to seek help we have usually found the answer in the book.
There are some really funny anecdotes in there as well so it's a really good read.

Thanks for the reply's,he has eaten a little.Far as the size of tank he is in.I believe its 20-25 gallon im guessing.Its one of those odd one's.I'm feeding him mustard green's, collard green's,parsnips.I'm going to build him/her a nice inclosure here in about a week.So that way yoda will have more then enough room to grow.I have the humidity at about 90% and the temp is around 85 on the cool side and about 95 at the basking area.Please let me know if that's ok range's.I want to make sure I do everything in my power to keep yoda healthy and to give him a long life.The food ive read so many things.Is what im giving yoda ok?

I'm guessing that he is just a baby then? Be sure you are giving him UVB light! You sound like you are on the right track.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Hello,

I want to build off of Liz's post. UVB is essential for the iguana to thrive. It IS one of the most important aspects of their husbandry, followed by their housing and diet. Truthfully, each plays a very significant role in their development and health. Proper lighting however will allow the iguana to utilize the dietary calcium and phosphorus it is ingesting via its food.

Without the proper lighting, your iguana will suffer from serious ailments like Metabolic Bone Disease, Renal Failure, hyeprparathyroidism, among others. Each will ultimately result in death.

__________________

Sorry,I left out the lighting.I'm using a repti-sun 10.0 light tube.Didnt mean to leave that out.I guess working out in the sun all day has fried my brain,lol.Thanks for all the help.Would love to hear about any idea's that may help me further along.Once again thanks....

An ig who is not really bothered by change or moving is rare, watch and give him a few days as the others have mentioned.

Have you looked closely at the salad? Could it be too big for the ig to easily eat but too small to tear / break off pieces?

Lighting is vital in the life of the lizard just like the dragons. Does the lizard have unfiltered access to the bulb at the proper distances?

Hydration is critical to liver and kidney function too. I lost my 11 year old male ig to liver failure last February. Keep the humidity levels up in the cage. Active humidification is best but cloth hammocks and the like offer you a place to spray which will hold water but have a large surface area for evaporation. Keep the salad wet if not floating in water at times. Also soaked rep-cal is a good idea when you're working with an older lizard. Remember these guys are from the tropics and don't have the water conservation abilities of the dragons you're used to.

__________________
~ Mark

Hello chopper22980!

Welcome to Herp Center! Hope you find this site useful and all goes well with your Iguana!

__________________
Smile and the world will think that you are up to something!

Steve