Are parsnip tops O K for iguanas? Also does anyone know if they could have seaweed? And what about chickweed?

I've just located a farm near us that grows mustard greens and collards (yeah)!!! I've been getting endive and escarole from a local grocery store but it is no longer available (for now) so I was starting to panic wondering what I was going to feed him now. Anyway this grower has parsnip tops and chickweed so I was wondering if those would be ok. (He was asking about seaweed.)

Personally I would stick with what is known to be good for them. The collard, mustard and turnip greens are your staples. The endive and escarole, while fine to feed, are not a necessity.
I have never seen anything on feeding parsnip tops, seaweed, or chickweed.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I have a really hard time finding anything that's on the list of staple foods for him. Escarole, endive, parsley, watercress and carrot tops are the best I can do most of the time so I am really pleased to find this farm that has mustard and collards. Since I improved his diet he is doing so much better so I don't need a setback now.
Anyway this farmer has parsley tops so we were wondering if that might be good too like carrot tops.

And seaweed is very high in sodium. You think your ig snalts now!! Just try feeding seaweed! ;-) It's really not healthy...

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Veronica
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Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
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Actually I already figured out the seaweed question was dumb after I asked it.The reason it came up was because of the Galapagos iguanas and then I realized they are aquatic (I think) not arboreal like the Green Iguanas. It wasn't my idea anyway.

LOL The Galapagos iguanas are a whole different species.
There are several species with the name iguana tacked on that have very different requirements.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I don't know what area you live in but if you're in a farming area there is a "weed" known to farmers as sow thistle-aka cow thistle that is in the dandelion family, the plants get five feet tall and more, farm animals, especially bunnies think they're delicious and even though us stupid americans don't eat them the europeans do! Since dandelions are on the list for iggys I don't see why these would not be, the flowers are small and yellow and look a bit dandelionish and they spread their seeds the same way with a puffball but the leaves look quite different from dandelion leaves, if you're in a temperate area you probably have these, they seem to like swampy areas very well but they can adapt and grow lots of places, iggys also supposed to adore hibiscus and you can pick those up at wally world for cheap for a pretty big plant and grow your own food.

Just because humans or other animals eat something does not mean its good for iguanas to eat. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that we routinly consume that would be absolutely horrid as part of an iguanas diet. The best choice is to stick with the plants that are known to be good to feed them.

And yes they do love hibiscus and it is good for them. The problem being that commercially grown ornamental flowers were never intended to be consumed and as such they have been treated with a variety of chemicals. You should always give the plant a good washing off and wait for a month or so and only feed new growth. However you still may have a problem if they use systemic chemicals in the soil. The only way around that is to completely clean the roots off and replace the soil.
So much to be aware of!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

If you were to take the sow thistle to a plant lab and have it analyzed you could find out if it were ok for iguana consumption. Things you'd want to have them check for are:

Calcium level
Phosphorus level
Calcium to phosphorous ration (nothing lower than 2:1)
if it contains goitrogens
if it contains oxalates and phytates

You can work around the last two items by feeding small amounts.

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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

Aren't just plain parsnips a good staple ground up with green beans, acorn squash, carrots, figs & rabbit pellets part of the "recommended" feed? That's a basic I offer my ig withcollards, mustard & turnip greens. I know there are ratios but I'm wondering why just parsnip tops?