We were told about 2-3 months ago he may not be getting enough calcium, so we started giving him a bigger variety of food and putting calcium on it. It seemed to help at first but he still doesn't use them very well. He is about a year old give or take. What are we doing wrong? We try to keep his cage warm enough. Any suggestions?
2006-09-26 03:35:27 · 11 answers · asked by robbie347 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
So far I have gotten many great answers and it's hard to pick one. I know I am suppose to check one answer that helps and that will be hard cause they are all good. Thanks
2006-09-26 05:45:37 · update #1
your iguana has metabolic bone disease just giving him calcium on his food wont help enough it absolutely has to have uvb rays that are not obstructed by glass or plastic, the reason for this is that the vb rays are what will actually turn your iggys food and supplements into useable calcium and d3. by far the best bulb i have ever used is t-rex's active uv heat bulb, it is a mercury vapor bulb that puts out 20xs more uvb than reptisun bulbs. this bulb by itself can reverse mbd. sandfire dragon ranch, a well known bearded dragon breeder, has used these bulbs with great success. i use these on all my dragons and iguanas. if it gets too bad your iguana will have to go to the vet to get calcium shots. and as someone said to feed him spinach, dont it has been proven that something in spinach will actually keep your reptiles from absorbing the calcium i know i found out the hard way a while back.
2006-09-26 12:09:31 · answer #1 · answered by reptileking 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I noticed others posted regarding uvb lighting. That is so very important to the health of an iguana. It's critical that they have a uvb light (I have had some people say they provide natural sunlight to their iguana by setting the cage in front of a window--which is useless because the glass pane filters the uv rays). Also, is the cage too small? Igs need large cages so they can get enough exercise. If the cage is too small, he won't be able to get enough exercise and that will also cause the problem you are describing.
2006-09-26 05:03:43 · answer #2 · answered by goldieburm 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is a possiblity that he may have a metabolic bone disease from not having the right light on him like the full uvb light. they need that as well as the calcium vitamins. i have 2 of them and 1 of them i rescued from the shelter and it had that disease and took me at least 3-4 months to get him to use his legs, he can use them but not as well as he could if he was given the right care from the begining. put the uvb light on and just give him the food with the vit on it and make sure that you keep him warm with the heat light as well. the other thing you can do is put him in the tub with luke warm water high enough for him to swim, because he will have to use the legs and this is good exercise for them. good luck
2006-09-26 04:23:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First if you are using a hot rock...take it out and by a regular heating pad. put it on the low setting under part of his tank/cage so he can go above it if he needs and away from it if he needs. hot rocks are notorious for burning reptiles.
as for the back legs, it could be any number of nutritional issues, keep it up with the calcium, try to get some protein into his diet and make sure he eats dark leafy greens, like spinach as soon as you can buy it again. also try some fruit. if he won't eat the stuff you put the calcium supplement on, get a hibiscus. make sure it has no pesticide on it and sprinkle the supplement on that. nothing ever kept any of my iguanas from eating a hibiscus flower.
2006-09-26 03:43:33 · answer #4 · answered by fish lips 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like MBD, like other people have said. It is VITAL that you have a UVB light on him, all the calcium in the world won't help him if he doesn't have the proper lighting (it helps them synthesize vitamin d3, which they absolutely must have in rder to metabolize calcium). If you don't have a UV light yet (in which case it sounds like whoever told you he needed more calcium doesn't really know what he/she is talking about), get one on him right away, and take him to the vet to see what they can do. MBD can be fatal, but hopefully you caught it early enough.
2006-09-26 06:21:09 · answer #5 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Iguanas are very suseptible to bone disease and arthritis, I would suggest taking him to a vet maybe you are not doing anything wrong and he just needs to be checked out..Also for calcium its good that you are putting it on his food..But you can also get this spray that you spray on them I buy it for my iguana it is called Natures Reptile Vita Spray it comes in a bright green bottle, it works Wonderful!! it has all kinds of vitamins and calcium in it try it out! can't hurt.
2006-09-26 05:41:06 · answer #6 · answered by beloved 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not an iguana expert, yet i might propose which you attempt to line up the limb good, then splint it with a popsicle stick or something. make particular to not tie it tightly adequate to reason any tissue harm (use cotton bandages or something). additionally, you're in a position to call a vet (in yet another city) for advice, whether you won't be in a position to deliver him in.
2016-10-01 09:23:00 · answer #7 · answered by elidia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may have metabolic bone disease if he doesn't have a UVB bulb. Most people with reptiles don't know that they need UVB rays in order to process vitamin D3. Get him some UVB and fast!
2006-09-26 03:51:12 · answer #8 · answered by Amanda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the answer, except to wonder if he's getting enough exercise.
2006-09-26 04:59:36 · answer #9 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if your doing everything that your supposed to i suggest take him to a vet. it could be early artritus. or the could be broken. just have him looked at by a vet.
2006-09-26 03:40:42 · answer #10 · answered by anioheveteric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋