I mean his spikes got a lot bigger but his body just doesnt seem to be much bigger...I feed at least 2 times a day, as he tends to demolish the full paper plate of greens I give him. I have a 100wt UVB bulb and he is within inches of it. I let him out to run around in my room and climb around. My friend has an iguana in the same tank, and has one of those cheap 12 dollar uva bulbs, and his iguana is bigger than mine. Thicker legs and arms, longer tail, longer head.

What am I doing wrong?

My friend had an iguana in a 10 gallon, YES a 10 gallon and the thing got really big like at least a foot and a half. I have had him since late july, early august of last year.

You say he doesn't "look" like he's getting bigger... are you taking regular measurements? It may seem like your friend's ig is growing faster because you don't see it as often.

Also... it sounds like your friend needs to read our caresheets... send him the links or give him our addy!

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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

A 100 watt uvb Bulb? please someone correct me if I am wrong but arent they sold as 13 or 20 watt for the general coil style and 5.0 8.0 and 10.0 in the flourescent tube style. I know powersun sells some pretty high intensity uvb bulbs but I dont think I have ever heard of a 100 watt uvb bulb. Are you talking about a 100 watt basking bulb? That is also completely different from a uvb bulb. Iguanas need both. How big is your enclosure.?
Be sure and check out some of the caresheets in the iguana center as they are fabulous! What are you feeding?
Ok now that I have asked my 20 million questions, LOL I should let you respond

Yup, a 100wt UVB bulb, from reptileuv.com

Welcome To ReptileUV - Mega-Ray® UVB lamps for reptile lighting worldwide

I feed him collard greens and dandelion greens the most.

When I got him, part of his tail fell off, like maybe a half an inch? And it has not grown back either.

He is in a 30 gallon tank. But like I said I seen one get a lot bigger in a 10 gallon tank...

Yes Nicole there are UVB bulbs, the Mercury vapor bulbs that have 160 watt and 100 watt sizes....not sure if I would let the iguana within inches of one though, they put out a lot of heat and could burn your iguana. Make sure his temps are the proper intensity in his basking spot!!!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Are the greens all that you are feeding? While greens make up the large part ofthe diet other vegetables and some fruit should also be included. Just like humans some iguanas will grow faster and larger than others. Have you had a fecal check for parasites. These would slow growth. It is also possible that your friends are feeding things like animal protein that will make the iguana grow faster larger but will also seriously undermine its health and shorten its life.

Also the coil UVB bulbs are completely unfit for use with an animal like an iguana.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

O.K. another blonde moment! I actually had to go out to my huge enclosures in the shop and unscrew the bulb and look and it is the power sun 160 watt, (lots of blonde moments lately, LOL) I also looked in the cabinets and Yes the same thing 160 watt uvb bulbs, imagine that However I do not use them in any of the enclosures that are small at all as I was warned they can be dangerous. I have heard a lot about the mega ray and am really going to take some time and do a lot of research as they sound very good.


So rich or merlin, can you pm me and tell me the differnce between the powersun and the mega ray, the mega ray is actually less expensive than the power sun ( I pay 90.00 a bulb) which sounds too good to be true

I know exactly how you feel Greg. I got Einstein in early Aug. 06 and keep thinking "it just doesn't seem like he's growing." But my boyfriend tells me, "Man is he getting bigger!" I have also been taking measurements and in Sept. he was 15 inches snout to tail length and his last measurement in Feb. he was 21 inches - so it appears he is growing somewhere! I'm sure your ig is growing too - you just don't notice it as much because you see him all the time. You can also take comfort in the fact that your ig is receiving much better care than what your friends are providing to theirs.

Hang in there, keep providing the best care you can and before you know it you'll have a five-plus foot monster .. then you'll be wishing he was little again.

a 30 gal really isnt the right place to have an iguana.... they need lots of room to roam around and climb and things...

another thing is maybe you have a girl iguana and your friend has a male... they tend to grow at different rates as well..

your friend needs to get his out of that small little place as well its cruel to keep them in something like that its like you having to live in a coffin

That was another kid(a) who had it in 10 gallon, funny thing was that he gave it away and was put in a much bigger enviroment, and it died =\ Ironic isn't it?

My other friend(b) has his in a 30 gallon as well(we both got our igs on the same day). He feeds his collard greens only...