My 11 yr old iguana has been sleeping late into the day long after his lights come on and staying awake late after his lights go out. Recently we built him a new cage. It's almost the same as the old one but wondering if it could be depression. Also think it could be old age or his UVA/UVB light is old.
Any ideas or similar experiences?

How long has he been in the new cage?
How old and what type is the UVB bulb?
Has anything changed in the routine?
Is the light sequence timed to coincide with the outside day/night schedule or is it set to something different.
Are there possible outside activities (kids, dogs etc,that may be disturbing him?

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

He's been in the new cage about 3 weeks and he goes in and out on his own. The UVB bulb is a couple of years old and it is Iguana Light by Zoo Med. As for routine and other stressors nothing much is new there and the timer for his lights is set the same as always. Our weather has gotten a lot cooler this week so maybe he is feeling that change although it is really warm in the room where his cage is.
He came out and climbed up onto his cat tree this morning and then slept all day up there. It was about 4 P.M. before I could get him to come down and eat his food but now he is tromping around like his usual perky self.

I see one problem...the UVB bulbs like you have should be replaced every 6 to 8 months. The UVB rays diminish after that amount of time...even if it still "works" the UVB is gone. Replace that ASAP and make sure the temps are ok 90 to 95 in the basking area...what is his diet like??? Good luck and keep us posted!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

I think his diet is good. We use the mixed salad greens that you get in the grocery store with parsley, watercress, kale, spinach and sometimes some fruit or other veggies like carrot squash or beets.( we can't get collards here) It's the same diet he's been on for 7 years and he's pretty healthy. He weighs about 10 lbs, good colour ,sheds all the time.
I'm thinking it might be the light and I thought they wore out over time so it's good to have that confirmed.

Yes you are correct...they do wear out over time...and unfortunately, the flourescent tubes last only 6 to 8 months of time....Unless you have a UVB meter to measure the intensity, then you should change them especially if they are a couple year old as you stated. Have you checked for mustard greens, dandelions? Escarole or chicory?? These are also great calcium rich greens. Good luck!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

I use dandelion greens in the spring and summer when they are growing in the yard and he loves the flowers but we never get the other kinds of greens in the supermarket. The salad greens have lots of different things in them that are not lettuce and are on the list of recommended foods. Parsley and watercress are the most readily available greens here.

Where do you live that you can't get collards, etc.? No real reason for asking...just curious.

Jennifer

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Leopard Geckos: Gravy & Noah
African Fat-tails: Mocha (gravid) & Csikos ('Striped')
Russian Tortoise: Dude
African Dwarf Frog: Anon
Firebelly Toads: anonymous (3)
Guinea Pigs (adult): Autumn, Butterscotch, Nudger
Guinea Pigs (juv.): Linda, Heidi, Scruffy
Netherlands Dwarf Rabbit: Kobe
Small Mouth Bass: Cupcake
Beta Fish: Indigo & Chelsae

Jennifer she is in Vancouver. BC


You need to work on the diet some. Spinach and kale are something that you feed once in a while if at all. Beets I would stay away from and I would change the carrots for parsnips.
The fact that he has been on that diet for 7 years doesn't necessarily mean anything. Back in the bad old days of iguana keeping I fed mine dog food and other "recommended" foods. My Ig was 10 when she died. This is an animal that should have lived for 20-25 years!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

is there a reason for not getting the other greens in the supermarket? I get that you don't have collard greens, but what about the others on the list? I would try varying the diet even more.

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