Hello, well I'll try and make this short. My iguana came from an abusive family before it got to me. The people did NOT take good care of it, the reason why I say this is because the iguana got put on my lawn in September (i'm in Canada and it's cold in September) and got run over by a lawn mower and lost a leg and its tail.
I don't have a herp vet so I went to the cat-dog vet who did not want to help me for under $500 since this was a reptile. I said, "Screw that!" and used what I learned all my life from saving injured animals, use neosporin. It worked! his limbs closed up and tail did too
Now I have had him for over 1 year, but I have a terrible problem, since I moved last summer he defecates like once every 4 days, this is not normal. He eats like normal and has uv lamps and everything. Why does it block like this?? He bloats up like a balloon. He eats and acts normal but his defecating is worrying me. It doesn't have any blood or any weird colors, but he just goes once in a few days. He eats a lot of greens, for some reason he is not crazy about fruit, I give him veggies too. What am I doing wrong???


Oh by the way, I just built him a new cage, I actually just finished it today. Would this cage with it's much larger space help him? I really don't know what to do, I have no reptile vet here and I am starting to get really worried. If someone could help me I would be so very grateful!!!!


ps: sorry for my ortograph, I am french and my english is not all that good

Where are you located in Canada? we have several Canadian members, maybe someone can help you find a vet near by.
Does the iguana go in his cage or water or where at? My iguana is trained to go in the tub with a little bit of warm water in it, so if I am gone for a few days he will hold it as long as he can before he goes in his cage. Maybe your iguana just doesn't like a messy cage, I'd try taking him out for a warm soak every day, or at least every other to make sure he is well hydrated and has a chance to go potty.
He may not want to go for a few days in the new cage either, they tend to get stressed out by changes, but tell us aboutthe new cage you built, we especially love pictures.

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~Lacey~

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well I am located in La pocatière...this is about 1hour and a half from Québec city and about 3from montreal. Now yes he just got a new cage. I built it myself, I would be happy to add photos of it, I will take some for sure. the cage is 4 feet high and 4feet long and 2 feet deep, now this is a tempory cage since I have no room to build a 6 footer. I bought new lamps and new bulbs(uv heating bulbs, Sun glo is the name) I am also looking to buy a fluoresent uvb light, i dont have one yet but I am going to buy one. no for some reason even when I take him out for little walks in my apartment he will not go......he hates water....like I said he was abused and for some reason just hates like **** water....so he doesnt get baths often....i do spray him though with a water bottle. he is still growing, im hoping this is not a sign of kidney failur of liver failur....he eats just fine and is active. I'm thinking the cage will help out but im never sure......im worried...do iguanas tend to do this?

I"m sure someone is going to chime in about lighting, since I"m not the expert. He NEEDS UVB light. We have a great vendor that sells an awsome UVB basking bulb. Have you checked out our care sheet for iguanas? Be sure he is getting all the correct greens as well.

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

yeah im with you.....im in the process of buying the fluorescent uvb tube....the problem is I can not find the right ligthing thing to put it in. I had no idea about rep care till september 2006 when I got my iguana by accident from an idiot leaving him on my lawn....another problem is that I cant find the right pet store with a clerk that can help you.....omg if you only knew the trouble I had to find the right ligthing for iguana......i drove to quebec city and went to different huge pet stores and when it came to iguanas.....they did not know anything all....

I would seriously recommend you take the iguana to a herp vet, even if it means a bit of a drive. Some of us have to drive quite a ways to get to one but they are invaluable.

The Sun Glo bulb you mentioned is worthless for anything other than heat. It's just a fancy colored household type of bulb. What are the temperatures in the cage?

You say you have had the ig for a year without a UVB bulb. Do you know who the previous owners were or was the ig just dumped on your yard? How big or how old is the iguana? Living without UVB light will result in the ig being unable to utilize the calcium in its diet and it will leach the calcium from its bone structure to keep living. This is serious.

What type of greens are you feeding? All "greens" are not the same nutrition wise.

Its also possible that the same accident that resulted in the loss of the tail and the limb could have damaged the muscles that control bowel movement. Only a herp vet is going to be able to determine that.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

like I said im looking for a fluorescent uvb tube. the cage is kept in a room where I keep it around 25 degres celcius....i know about bone metabolic disease....would this be a sign of it? when I talk about greens I talks about mixed spring time salad mix and carrot tops....spinach too....he eats peas and carrots and little fruit...i dont know whot he previous owners where and what they had but when I got him and went to the pet store to find out what I needed they told me to use bulbs that are called sun glo....i have always used them and my iguana has grown and grown with them....i put calcim spray on his food....i might not be perfect with all this but atleast I take time( 4 whole days) to build him a bigger cage with alot more space....and I never said I never had a UVB bulb....it says on the box emits UVB rays...ive had him for over a year and he is probably a year and a half....whitout the tail he is about 10-11 inchs long....I dont like being told what I do is not good, ive been following advice in books and from diffrent pet stores ive been too....i dont know if I could get to a reptile vet....im in college and the only time ill get to go is in late febuary....

If that is the only heat, then that is a big part of the problem right there! 25C is the bottom end of the acceptable range. At that temperature the iguana is barely surviving. Without the proper heat the ig cannot digest it's food properly nor can its immune functions and other bodily processes work properly.
You should have a basking spot temperature of 35C and an ambient temperature of 29-30C.
Its a possibility. An injury is also a possiblity as well as the fact that the temperatures are too low.
It depends on exactly what is in the mix.
It should be Collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens. Watercress and Escarole are good too. The greens should be the vast portion of the diet with about 15% of it the veggies and fruits. Leave out the spinach and carrots. Not a good addition to the everyday diet. You can substitute Parsnips for the carrots as well green beans, pumpkin and orange skinned squashes.
Unfortunately, very often Pet stores just don't have a clue about iguanas and they will tell you anything to make a sale.
Metabolic Bone Disease is not a sudden affliction but occurs over time. Just because the iguana is gowing doesn't mean there isn't a problem
Calcium spray is next to useless since it tends to run off into the bottom of the dish. Get some calcium powder that is 100% calcium without phosphorous.
Check again.
If this is the bulb you are talking about
Exo Terra - Products: Sun Glo Halogen
It does NOT produce UVB only UVA which is the same light as the light bulb in your living room produces!
Sorry about that!

You came here asking for advice. If we see you are doing something wrong we are going to tell you so. We are here for the best interest of the animals and to help correct mistakes and problems that we see.

Nobody is busting your chops! I do salute you for taking in this injured animal!
None of us knew everything about iguanas when we started and we all made mistakes. Thats why WE are here, to try to help people along and so they won't make the same mistakes. Iguanas are one of the more complicated animals to keep properly. The problem is that a lot of the books are seriously outdated in the information they contain. And many petstore people will tell you anythng to make a sale and often don't really know what they are talking about.
Something that you have to realize when you take on the care of an exotic animal is that vet trips are going to be needed. Small husbandry problems can be dealt with but with some things the only way to solve them is with treatment by a trained Herp Vet.
However I do salute you for taking in this injured animal!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I agree with everything Merlin's said. Also, I think it's fantastic that you kept this iguana that was left on your lawn. It's obvious that you care about it and want to do what's right for it... we want the same thing! Please take note of the things Merlin's listed, and try to start making these changes... they'll really benefit your iguana in the long run.

I'd like to add a bit about lighting: EVERY light emits UVA, but not every light emits UVB. Iguanas need UVB to survive. I would recommend a MegaRay lamp from ReptileUV.

Start giving regular baths even though he doesn't like it... trust me, he will LOVE them eventually! Gil, my 5 year old male, uses the WHOLE 114 liter hot water tank for his shower!

By the way, welcome to Herp Center! Oh, and what's his name?

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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

Please don't give up on this website because you think people are saying you are wrong in what you do. I ended up with an iguana a few months ago, as I was called by someone about an iguana in the middle of the road. I have relied on info from the many people on this website. Merlin and Nicole are two of the main contributors to my new friends care. She is an iguana with Metabolic Bone Disease and also had to have surgery to remove the little left of her tail. She loves her baths, I think yours will get used to them too if you keep trying, at first Freya's baths made her remember being outside in the cold and rain. I rely on my reptile vet a lot, as I have many reptiles, but had not yet had an iguana rescue who had lived more than 24 hours. Freya is beautiful and healthier now. She was on calcium and antibiotics from the vet. Rescuing animals is a good thing, for which I give you credit, but that rescue animal can come with many needs. Good luck with your iguana.

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Kat