Green Iguana
- Thread starter aromaster
- Start date
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Just make sure that you have all of the proper husbandry equipment BEFORE you have your Iguana home. With his own room...it sounds like he'll have a nice setup.
Sill make sure he has regular access to UVB. IF this is an outdoor enclosure, you won't have to worry about that. Otherwise, there are many commercial sources of UVB available via flourescent tubes, ballasted bulbs, etc.
Diet is also insanely important with these guys. They need lots of leafy greens, thick veggies, and small amounts of fruit such a bananas or other tropical tree-fruit.
Good luck, and remember to post some pics.
Sill make sure he has regular access to UVB. IF this is an outdoor enclosure, you won't have to worry about that. Otherwise, there are many commercial sources of UVB available via flourescent tubes, ballasted bulbs, etc.
Diet is also insanely important with these guys. They need lots of leafy greens, thick veggies, and small amounts of fruit such a bananas or other tropical tree-fruit.
Good luck, and remember to post some pics.
Just to second what Elevate said,...iguanas must have access to proper UVB lighting, whether it be natural or artificial. And they need a basking area of around 90-95'F.
Ditto on the diet thing; lots of leafy greens and most importantly, no crickets, mealworms, or any other animal matter. Iguana stomachs are not made for them, just a vegetarian diet.
Ditto on the diet thing; lots of leafy greens and most importantly, no crickets, mealworms, or any other animal matter. Iguana stomachs are not made for them, just a vegetarian diet.
This is going to be fun...
We all think that vegetairian eat nothing but vegetable matter.
Like our friend here who wants to buy an iguana, he will probably read everything their is about Iguana, and asume that feed it nothing but vegetables is right.
Well I, I say they must have an animal protein in the diet to properly construck their digestive track. They dont need much but still need it. Feeding you Iguana a apropriate sized pinky mouse every month will properly build the structure and function of the gut.
Say what you want, I heard it all, but I know im right.
We all think that vegetairian eat nothing but vegetable matter.
Like our friend here who wants to buy an iguana, he will probably read everything their is about Iguana, and asume that feed it nothing but vegetables is right.
Well I, I say they must have an animal protein in the diet to properly construck their digestive track. They dont need much but still need it. Feeding you Iguana a apropriate sized pinky mouse every month will properly build the structure and function of the gut.
Say what you want, I heard it all, but I know im right.
MDC_Leviathan;579987; said:
incorrect. green iguanas can digest aminal matter just fine but they should not consume animal matter because the animal protein will put strain on there kidneys. While all foods are made up of the same 22 amino acids, how those aminos are deconstructed and utilized by the body differs depending upon whether the source of the aminos was a plant or an animal. Plants form pyramidines, animal protein forms purines. The more purines in the diet, the higher the strain on the kidneys, and the faster they will fail. So, instead of supporting the iguana for 15-20 years or so, the kidneys fail much sooner, leading to a rapid, distressful and distressing death.
aromaster;580323; said:
the problem with natural sunlight is that its never in consistent supply, it will vary depending on the weather (i.e- cloudy days)
cucumber will be accepted, why do you ask? remember keep it varied =)
Make sure theres lots of calcium and viamins in his diet.
My iguana is a rescue from someone who didnt know about lights and diet,his spine is twisted and he doesnt have full use of his back legs.I took him in and hes doing great now good looking great pet,but his maladies would have been easily avoidable.
I feed mostly mixed greens with spinach and collard thrown in.Some kale and broccoli,but you have to limit those they interfere with iodine absorption.
If your making an enclosure that big how about a tree for climbing and edible plants growing in there?
My iguana is a rescue from someone who didnt know about lights and diet,his spine is twisted and he doesnt have full use of his back legs.I took him in and hes doing great now good looking great pet,but his maladies would have been easily avoidable.
I feed mostly mixed greens with spinach and collard thrown in.Some kale and broccoli,but you have to limit those they interfere with iodine absorption.
If your making an enclosure that big how about a tree for climbing and edible plants growing in there?
Z Trip;580146; said:This is going to be fun...
indeed
We all think that vegetairian eat nothing but vegetable matter.
i dont, and heres the thing: Vegetarianism is the practice of not consuming meat. iguanas dont practice this, they are herbivores, they are designed to exclusively eat plant matter.
Like our friend here who wants to buy an iguana, he will probably read everything their is about Iguana, and asume that feed it nothing but vegetables is right.
it is the correct way, NO ANIMAL IN THE DIET.
Well I, I say they must have an animal protein in the diet to properly construck their digestive track. They dont need much but still need it. Feeding you Iguana a apropriate sized pinky mouse every month will properly build the structure and function of the gut.
this is the most absurb thing ive ever heard.
iguanas dont need pinky mice PERIOD, they do however need to start a bacteria population in there gut to properly digest there food, this culture can be kick started by feeding a small amount of non fat yogurt (with fruit) with live cultures, another way would be to feed a small amount of adult iguana feces, but this method is risky (parasites) and disgusting, so the yogurt is your best option,
the safest way of getting your iguana alot protein (and calcium and fiber) without using animal matter, is through the use of alfalfa, now im not talking about the bales you feed horses, but you can use alfalfa pellets (you can soften them up with water or fruit juice), alfalfa tablet that you can purchase at a health food store, or you can buy sprouts at the grocery store, plant them and harvest the grass once it matures
Say what you want, I heard it all, but I know im right.
your a moron, bottom line.
in bold