Hello,

Just got a green iguana yesterday, and I am trying to set up his habitat so he is comfortable and healthy.

LeaZard http://www.herpcenter.com/gallery/fi...6/img00016.jpg

Lea's Habitat http://www.herpcenter.com/gallery/fi...6/img00018.jpg

Now I would like to build him some kind of basking platform in the top right so he can stay under the heat lamp. What kind of materials (wood, screws, plastic etc) should I be using to make this bed. Thanks

sorry .. admin can we move this to general discussion.. a newbie I am

That looks like a nice little set-up, but it's definitely not going to last you very long. You'll need a full adult cage within a year. I'd concentrate on building that instead of improving this one, personally. It's just not going to last that long.

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

Punctuation. It saves lives.

So is what I have suitable until I build the adult cage? I noticed his skin started to peel today and I am worried that I'm doing something wrong?

Peeling is normal, he is shedding! Just be sure you have the humidity high enough for him. Take a look at our care sheet.
Green Iguana Care Guide (Iguana iguana) - Reptile Information - Caresheets Database

Start planning your adult enclosure. Your basic size for one is 4 x 4 x 8 feet. Do a search in the herp habitat's section of the board, there are many ideas and often step by step instructions.

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

The peeling skin is normal shedding. Make sure that you are misting him frequently. In those screen cages the humidity is generally way too low.
Its hard to tell but it looks like the bottom picture shows sand in the bottom. If this is true that needs to go!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Oh yup, that does look like sand. Thanks for noticing that Merlin. That needs to go ASAP. He will eat it and become impacted.

For humidity, try getting a room humidifier and make that room nice and moist. That screen enclosure won't hold humidity at all. Also, what are his temps (basking and room)? I didn't see any gauges in there.

For added space, add a few cross branches for him to climb on. That will get him up higher for basking. He needs more of a platform that he can rest on. A simple house hold stool or little shelf would do OK for that, or even a milk crate on its side.

Also, wondering about your top. If the light is shining through that screen, the needed amount of UVB is not getting through. I'm not sure what the top looks like.

In addition to our care sheet, check out this book. It's like the iguana bible.
The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W. Hatfield III

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

Thanks for all the tips.

First there is no sand in there; it's newspaper, I read about the substrate as I was setting up the cage. The temp is about 80 on the floor and about 90+ at the top in his basking area. We only have 1 thermometer in there, but we are planning on getting another. We have made a few changes, and he seems quite comfortable. Last night he was sleeping on the branch under the night red heat light and he had his head resting on some leaves and his arms straight back along his body; he looked quite peaceful. The top is the same screen as the rest of the cage you can see it in pic of LeaZard I linked. I will look into the manufacturer of the cage... it's made for reptiles, so I will hope that it lets uvb through.

Here is the link for the cage...

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/...en-habitat.htm

Sorry but that mesh screens out a great deal of your UVB.
You have two options.
Either cut out a hole for the light to sit on and cover it with a wider opening mesh (1/4 inch hardware cloth would work great).
Or suspend the light inside the cage.

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

Plus you NEED a hydrometer. Humidity is very important for them.

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