My iguana's skin is turning black! Help!?

Question

Philip, the iguana is young and was not well taken care of previously so i took him in, but his skin on top is turning black. He also has multiple white-ish bumps on him. He eats all his food, but I don't think he drinks water cuz his bowl is always full. I have a black light in his cage that I leave on all day for heat and his cage is right next to th window so he gets sun. I've never had an iguana...please help!

The blacklight is specifically for reptiles. It's not just a regular blacklight.

Answer 1

First take the Iguana to a reptile vet. You have not mentioned having a UVB bulb (no, the black light does not count). Iguana's need extremely high UVB input compared to other pet reptiles.

Here is some help on daily care.

Diet:
Iguanas are herbivores; they do not eat animal protein of any kind. Commercially available Iguana food is not suitable for use as it usually contains animal protein. An Iguana's primary diet should consist of Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, Escarole, parsnip, winter squash, alfalfa, strawberries, figs and a calcium supplement. The greens should make up the majority of the diet.
The Iguana should be feed early every morning. They will spend the rest of the day digesting the food. Additional feeding may be made if the Iguana shows interest in eating them. Water should be provided, preferably in a dish too small for the iguanas to immerse themselves in.

Size:
Iguanas can grow to 6 foot in length.

Age............... head to vent…..total length
Just hatched……...2 in ………….6-8 in
3 months……...….4 in…………..12 in
6 months…………6 in…………..18 in
1 year…………….8 in…………..24 in
18 months…….…10 in…………..30 in
2 years…………..12 in…………..36 in
3 years……….….16 in…………..45 in
4 years……….….18 in…………..54 in
5 years…………..20 in…………..60 in
6 years…………..22 in…………..66 in
7 years…….up to 24 in….....up to 72 in


Housing:
Where x is the length of the iguana, housing should be x tall, x deep and 1.5 x long. Iguanas are arboreal and need to have something to climb on. A bathing area is also desirable. Iguanas instinctually poop in water and they are likely to consistently use the bathing are to do so.

Heat:
Iguanas need a basking area, normally at the top of the climbing area that has a temperature of 95F. The lower areas of the cages should be cooler as a lizard regulates his body temperature by moving to warmer or cooler areas. The lowest temperature, nighttime, should not be less than 75F. Nighttime heat can be provided using ceramic heaters or night bulbs. Never use heat rocks with Iguanas as they can cause burning.

Light:
Iguanas live in equatorial areas. They should have 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. They also require high quality UVB lights (such as reptisun 10) to facilitate vitamin D production to allow calcium absorption. Vitamin D drop are not a suitable replacement due to problems with dosing and lack of evidence on their effectiveness. Daily trips outside, in a suitable enclosure, are desirable when temperature permits.

Handling:
Iguanas must be handled daily to socializing them. As they can inflict injury with their tails, teeth, and claws the purchase of protective gear for the forearms is often considered (my son uses a leather jacket and gloves). They are not domesticated animals so this behavior is instinctual on the Iguana's part. The daily handling is to show them that you are a friend rather than a threat. Never punish an iguana, but at the same time do not let them win. If the Iguana learns that tail thrashing will cause you to put them down, they will always tail thrash when you try to pick them up.

Health:
Iguanas require reptile vets. Regular vets do not have the training needed to understand what is happening in an Iguana, or any other reptile. You can find a list of reptile vets in the US at http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html.

Lifespan:
In captivity Iguanas given proper care can be expected to live 20 years.



Please be sure to visit anapsid.org. It is the website of Melissa Kaplan, author of Iguanas for Dummies.

Answer 2

Are you misting your Iguana? I have an Iguana and you need to mist them several times a day! His skin is drying out. just take a water bottle and spray it on him. A few sprays twice a day. Make sure the water is a little above room tepature. I also would try and find a different light. I have just a regular heat lamp that is white. I used to have the black and re done but did not like them. If he is not drinking water spray his food with water this will help. an Iguanas skin turns this color for many reaons.. He also could be shedding. Shedding with lack of misting him would do this. I remember my iguana was shedding and his whole tale and back legs turned black. it was becasue he never got rid of that old skin. I took a pair of tweezer and helped it along gently and he was back to normal color. so please check for that also. I hope this helps! Good Luck, Take Care :)

* Also Do you have aheat rock? Iguanas can not servive on a heat lamp alone. Iguanas use a rock that is sitting in the sun in there natrual inviroment to digest there food. So hopefully you have one. Also I have lots of Iguana stuff.. I would be more then willing to send it to you via mail. I have no reason for it anymore :( I have a heat rock and water bowls and so on.. Here is my e-mail just let me know [e-mail]

Answer 3

...dear god.

you've got a black light on iguana ALL DAY? You're killing him with ultra violet rays (which is all black lights are). Turn that light off now and go get him a heat lamp. You're cooking your lizard,man.

Answer 4

Buy him some hip-hop CD's and some bling.

Kidding aside, black lights are not for reptiles. Go to a pet store and get a heat lamp, they are usually made of metal or aluminum and use regular light bulbs.

Answer 5

I RAISED IGUANA'S FOR OVER 10 YEARS I KNOW ALOT ABOUT THEM AND HOW TO CARE FOR THEM!!

WHEN A IGUANA TURNS A BLACK COLOR ITS MAINLY STRESS IT COULD BE DUE TO THE:

FOOD
LIGHT
SIZE OF CAGE
CARE
IT CAN BE MANY THINGS

*BE SURE TO GIVE IT LOTS OF GREENS (NO ROMAIN LETUCE) AND STRAWBERRIES THEY LOVE THEM AND GREEN GRAPES SEEDLESS

*MAYBE GET A BIGGER CAGE OR MORE ROOM TO ROME

*HE NEEDS THE HEAT ESPECIALLY IF ITS COLD!!!

*BE SURE TO MIST YOUR TANK IF ITS IN A TANK AND OR MIST THE CAGE ITS IN THEY ALSO DRINK THE WATER THATS IS A MIST AND DRIPPING OFF!

*A TRICH TO GETTING HIM TO DRINK WATER IS WHATEVER GREEN HE LIKES THE MOST LET A PIECE FLOAT ON THE TOP OF THE WATER BEFORE YOU FEED HIM HE WILL BE HUNGRY AND GO RIGHT TO IT AND DRINK THE WATER WHILE EATING THAT GREEN FLOATING!!

Answer 6

Why do you have a blacklight? That does nothing for any reptile. First off, get a heat/UVB bulb. They are around 40 to 50 dollars and that should help him. He needs uva/uva blub to process calcium.

Answer 7

Take him to the vet. Maybe hes blending in with his surrondings. Or maybe hes sheading to grow in a new skin. This kinda creeps me out. I would take him to the vet a.s.a.p or go call the vet now and ask for info. biii

Answer 8

If its black its either too hot or under stress you should let it cool down for a little bit.

Answer 9

That has happen to my friends, throw away the black light, and just get a heat lamp, make sure he has things he needs, heat rock, heat lamp.

Answer 10

Maybe it is just changing its skin color like most reptiles.