Ok. and is there any brand name that anyone would suggest for my ig for light bulbs and all supplies for him? i have heard many different names from different people especially about substrate but it seems everyone agrees on the newspaper so I guess I will stick with that. I go to school during the day and am having a hard time keeping his humidity level at 60-70 percent all day and that is in his 5.5 gallon tank. when I am finished building the new one it will be that much harder. i was going to buy a fogger that will increase humidity do u think this is a good idea? i know he will defecate in the water and I will be changing it at least twice a day. but do u think that the fogger will help with the humidity level. i bought the substrate cause it was supposed to help keep the humidity level up and stable do u guys have anything else to suggest that will help keep the humidity up and stable? his new cage is going to be 4' by 4' by 6'. what do u suggest I use to keep the humidity level up at 60-70 percent in this huge cage.?

Is the cage going to have solid walls or mesh? This will determnine the best way to approach the humidity.
For lighting since you are going from scratch check out the mercury vapor lights from Reptileuv.com
They deliver the most UVB bang for your buck of anything currently available

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

In the larger cage you can use a large shallow water dish (I'm thinking of those sterilite containers for holding wrapping paper) with either a heat source over ot under it to speed up the evaporation process. There are also misters and drippers that you can buy but I have never used either so i'll leave that up to someone else to explain.
I use a cool mist humidifier in the winter to keep the humidity up for my entire room.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Phew! Glad that got straightened out! LOL

Perhaps you should find a new vet or point your vet to the latest research in iguana care. I'm really worried that he advised a particulate substrate for your iguana.

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

You mean you need to educate your vet. That never happens. LOL

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Colleen

When it comes to reptiles, it happens alot unfortunately....I know more than most of the vets in my area.....very sad indeed......

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

http://reptileuv.tripod.com/SelfBallasted1.htm

good bulb, mine came in yesterday, can already see a difference, iguana is more active, and eating like crazy.

I am my own vet, i've given up on the incompetant doctors around here and I now self medicate my pets under the watchful eye of my boss who is a small animal vet. I do all of the research, present her with my findings and she gives me the green light or asks a ton of questions that I need to go back and clarify.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Please don't confuse humidity with hydration.

Humidity is great, hydration is critical to good health.

Buy a good quality UVB lamp and you'll be 1/2 way to good iguana health. ;-)

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

well I got rid of the recommended substrate cause he liked to eat it more than his food which was not good. i told my vet this and got a new one and he gave me some meds to help my ig. he is a proffesional herp vet in town specializing in iguanas. and I have a humidity meter so I got that covered just got to keep it up. and I am upgrading to a bigger cage till I get his even bigger one ready. as for the bulbs I ordered repti-sun 5.0 bulbs. they are tube lights specially designed for rainforest reptiles.