I lost the third one today. After a couple of months in my care, they stop eating, and die in two days after they shown weekness. This one I forced feeded. Also it's belly was swollen a day before it died and no, I gave him small amounts of food, just to keep it strong enough to fight whatever was wrong.
2006-08-19 20:04:59 · 30 answers · asked by Matzika 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Yes, I read a lot about iguanas after the first died and gee if there was a pet around I wouldn't be so desparate. The only one here saw it and screamed: "Take THAT away! I don't treat that kind of animals!!!
There is no other pet around for miles but the pet store keeps bringing baby iguanas. Also if I go to the grocer and ask for "romaine" lettuce he would think I'm nuts or I'm mocking him. There's only one type of lettuce here, and it's called... lettuce.
Anyway thanks for all your answers, I read in the Net, in the forums and I'll try to do better next time.
2006-08-22 03:25:42 · update #1
This is surely a cause for concern.
A juevenile iguana is delicate, and while an improper diet will end up killing or atleasy causing serious health problems, he would probably not die that quickly unless you were feeding him like iceberg lettuce for two months. A very young iguana will not survive very low tempratures for more than a short time. Infact when an iguana digests it food it needs to be at 85 degrees to properly digest it's food. The bottom line is if you plan to get a new one, clean the cage, read alot of material and buy the right things to correct any enviromental problems and evaluate thier diet. Iguana diet is made of a staple of things like Squash, Alfalfa, Collard Greens and many other items all mixed for balance.
2006-08-20 14:47:08 · answer #1 · answered by serpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where have you been buying these from? I would stop buying them from pet shops, as they are often not the healthiest animals there.
If you really want an iggy, try googling Iguana Rescue and your area (state most likely). There you can get into contact with rescuers, who can give you a lot of accurate information, and let you know about any iggy's that are in need of a home.
Also buy a few good books on iguanas. Don't settle for one! Many books have misinformation in them, or are very outdated. Try finding one published within the last 2 years. Study it well :)
Also find some online reptile forums, and start asking questions. Don't be dismayed at some of the replies (some people are jacka$$es).
Once you feel comfortable that you will be able to handle an iguana for it's entire life, then start actively seeking one out. I do highly recommend rescuing one, as they are the ones people dump once they realize that they get abuot 6 or so feet, and aren't able to be kept in a small tank.
Best of luck!
TDK
2006-08-22 21:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by Tara Dk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need a warm lamp or bulb on top of the cage not in the cage and DO NOT put a heat rock in with them,there skin on their belly is a little tough and they can not tell they are getting to hot and they will burn themself pretty bad.we built a cage for ours that was about 4foot tall and 3 foot wide by 3 foot deep.and we found some good pieces of oak wood about 18" long and 1" around and we used screws to put 4 together to give it something to climb on and something to get close enough to the bulb to bask.they also need a UVB bulb.we had luck feeding ours romaine lettuce not iceburg and some fruit.At any pet store you can buy reptile appetite increaser if you have a hard time getting your reptile to eat.Buy another one but find out how long the store has had it you really don't want one that they have had for a few days.
2006-08-20 16:12:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because like most other people you aren't looking after them properly. Iguanas don't make good pets! I have to invest a lot of time, care and money to keep mine in good health and they're fine. Check out this website for about the only good advice you'll ever get on iguanas:
www.anapsid.org
Melissa Kaplan also wrote a book called Iguanas for Dummies, which is brilliant and very funny. If you're dead set on getting more than get it too.
2006-08-22 23:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by Wibble 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do NOT use a heat rock!! Don't listen to the first answer. It causes severe thermal burns and blisters, especially with iguanas! Heat sources above are safer and natural to them.
Did you have the right basking temp? 90-95F.
Did you have a UVB light for them? No covers over it? The UVB needs to be changed every 6 months. Should be within 6-10 inches from it.
Did you use calcium and vitamins on their greens and veggies?
Did you feed them any kind of animal protien...like crickets? If so, don't do it again. It is very deadly for iguanas.
2006-08-20 07:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by Spiral Out 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
first of all iguanas are not that easy to take care of you need to make sure the houseing is big enough so that they get to move around they also need heat ( from an under tank heater or over head heater ) no no no heat rocks they are very harmful if the iguana were to lay on them to long they also need uva and uvb rays this can be done using the right uv bulb and right diet of greens ( do not use lettuce it has no nutritional value Spinach should be either fed in small amounts or avoided entirely because it contains oxalic acid, which binds calcium in the intestinal tract, making it unavailable.
2006-08-20 03:31:28 · answer #6 · answered by modfrogg 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is obvious that you are not taking CARE of them properly. Get a book on Iguana Care before you get another one or get another pet that is easier to take care off for iguanas are sensitive and must be taken care of properly.Go to www.iguanasecrets.com it tells you how to take care of a iguana-they live approx 25 yrs . When your pet gets sick why are you not taking it to a vet for you do not know what you are doing-get one of your parents to help until you learn. Your pet depends on you and if you can't be responsible and take care of it the way in needs to be then you should not have a pet.-letting a animal die, forceffeding- is animal cruelty and eventually you will get into trouble with the law.
2006-08-19 20:22:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
okay is their environment warm enough? are the getting the greens they need and water? do they get uvb sunlight? when they go in breeding season you do have to force feed them once in awhile or they will get dehydrated. Or maybe they got bit by something. I had a healthy iguana die on me just in like 4 hours was healthy and died that quick really don,t know what caused it either. But it was given to me i didn,t know its age or history.
2006-08-20 07:58:54 · answer #8 · answered by lizardlover42000 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please do not use a heat rock it will burn the iguana! But if you have them in an aquarium, you can use a heat pad under the tank. Also do you have the proper lighting? They are cold-blooded creatures, so you will need a UVA/UVB light and a heat lamp. Also what kind of food are you supplying? Try this group:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IguanaMail/
2006-08-19 20:22:31 · answer #9 · answered by Julia F 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
before you decide to kill another one..why dont you take the time to find out what kind of anilmal you are getting and get things you need for it...and feed it what you are suppose too..if you took the time to research iguanas NONE would have died...
http://www.repticzone.com/
2006-08-20 13:34:14 · answer #10 · answered by ozzkat2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋