Question ???

PerezReptiles · 01-21-13, 11:32 PM

I have a 6 month year old green iguana... i have had him for a about 4 days. I know you are supposed to keep him in his cage for a few weeks so he can get use to his surrounding's but he didn't eat the first few days so i took a a little mustard greens and hand feed him and he eat it he wont eat much but the only way he will eat as much as he does is when i hand feed him. IDK what to do... don't get me wrong i don't mind hand feeding him we have differently grew a bond but i change his food dish twice a day always leaving him with fresh greens veggies and fruit but he will not touch it also i clean his water dish every day and i relized he has not used the bathroom at all in water dish or around enclosure. but he is not losing weight and his stomach is hard. I am worried he is stressed and or constipated any suggestions ??

EmbraceCalamity · 01-21-13, 11:47 PM

Describing the enclosure would be a good idea. Pics would be even better. I don't know anything about iguanas, but that should be useful for other people to give you an idea to see if there might be husbandry issues. I know other reptiles can go long periods without eating when moved to a new place due to the new surroundings, and I wouldn't be surprised if iguanas did the same.

But can't you hand feed him in his enclosure instead of taking him out to do it?

~Maggot

PerezReptiles · 01-21-13, 11:58 PM

I try feeding him in enclosure in his dish and by hand he will only eat if in my hand (( meaning he sits in one hand and i feed him in the other. he is in a 60 gallon tank while i build him a custom enclosure ... the tank he is in is 4'x2'x2' he has a spot light and a uvb light his tank is 75 cool side and 95 on the hot end its a 4' long i am working on an enclosure that's 6' high and 4' long 4' deep... he also has a huge bathing tub with warm water and i am also making a foggier for him and his has climbing furniture

EmbraceCalamity · 01-22-13, 12:28 AM

I'm pretty sure that's too small. Keeping a 6' lizard in a 6'x4'x4' does not sound like a good idea.

"An adult green iguana can grow up to 5 to 7 feet in length and weigh as much as 18 lbs. Since green iguanas are arboreal lizards their cages need to give them much space to climb in and wander around. The standard dimensions used in designing green iguana cages depend on the iguana’s length itself. The length of the cage needs to be at least 1.5 times the entire length of the iguana. Width needs to be 2/3 the length of the iguana and the cage’s height needs to be at least equal to the iguana’s entire length. So assuming that the adult iguana will grow up to 7 feet in length the pet iguana’s cage dimensions should at least be 10.5 feet x 4.7 feet x 7 feet (LxWxH). Note though that the given dimensions are the MINIMUM iguana cage dimensions so if you can afford to provide a bigger cage that would of course be better."
http://www.iguanas101.com/Iguana-Cages.asp

~Maggot

KORBIN5895 · 01-22-13, 01:04 AM

I don't know much about iguana care but they taste delicious.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-22-13, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I don't know much about iguana care but they taste delicious.

For some reason I imagine them to be stringy.

~Maggot

Corey209 · 01-22-13, 01:07 AM

Man jailed for smuggling iguana meat into United States | Reuters

rmfsnakes32 · 01-22-13, 01:14 PM

the hot spot needs to come up to a 115 degree basking spot as well aquariams are not good for iguanas they need alot of climbing room if it doesnt have that very possible that it wont eat properly

poison123 · 01-25-13, 01:58 PM

I didn't read everybodies replies so sorry if i repeat something. An iguana can live in a 55 gallon ONLY for the first year of life. So yes you do need to get started on that cage asap. Minimum for an adult iguana is 6' tall 5' long and 4' deep but you will always get different opinions on the size of cage any where you go. As for him not eating ive always found that heat is usually the trick unless there is something else wrong with him. I would start off with a 120-130 basking spot and see how that works out. If you find hes not using it then lower it.