baby iguana question?

Question

I bought him 3 days ago..he isnt eating.I have gotten him and put some fresh vegatables in his mouth and he will swollow it.but is this normal. will it eat in the future do you reckon.I have its temperature about 78 degrees.how to get it to eat.?Thanks

Answer 1

NOT Carnivores! VEGETARIANS ONLY!!!!!! Don't listen to that woman! Try offering something sweet like watermelon, and it is not warm enough in the cage if it is only 78. It needs to be between 82-90 for him and he needs a hot rock to lay on. Put a thin cloth over it or a hand towel so he doesn't get burned since he is a baby. They can not digest or eat without the proper temp. Get an iguana book. They also like hybiscus flower blossoms. Lots of people try to feed just lettuce, but that gives diarrhea, mix it up. Squash, cucumber, okra,fruits of all kinds, especially mango. Make sure the bites are small enough. Lots of leafy things too like fresh spinach. Get a calcium suppliment powder and sprinkle it over the food. Get a grow light with full spectum light as well to help give the best vitamins for his skin.

Answer 2

Iguana's are total vegetarians. That means no meat products at all. No cat food either
Green are a main diet, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens. I get a pack o collard greens, one of spinach, one of a few others, etc. then shred so much of each, and toss like a salad. I then mist it, and put a hand full in his bowl. When I say shred, I mean just that, very tiny peices. The Iguana cannot chew, and if very small, will have trouble ingesting large peices of greens.
The Iguana also needs UV lights to digest his food. If he does not have this, he will not eat, and poo. HE HAS TO HAVE IT.

A proper heat source, NOT HEAT ROCKS, the iguana can get burnt on one unless used properly.

Proper humidity is necessary also.

Do an online search of "iguana care". That is where I got my information when I first inherited my son's Iguana. Read all you can find. An Iguana is a very rewarding pet, if properly taken care of. And it is not always an easy task.

Answer 3

Do not feed your iguana anything REMOTELY close to meat other than vegetables and fruits. As are many reptiles, iguanas are nervous animals. Give him some time. If time isn't his problem then make sure you aren't feeding him too late and make sure that his DAY time light is on when you feed him. They need heat to digest their food because if they don't, they grow cold and the food rots within their bellies. Also, since he's so young, take him to a vet and ask for some calcium as young iguanas lack so much of that. It is a VERY good idea to start off on the right foot so do get him some as that is a serious issue for young iguanas. Collard greens I find most iguanas enjoy but remember, they are picky eaters. Ask your vet which greens are poisonous or bad for them..Stay AWAY from ALL types of lettuce!!!

Answer 4

78 degrees is way to cold here's what you need to know if you have any more questions feel free to e-mail me.

They should be feed:

45% leafy greens such as escarole, dandelions, endive, mustard, and collards, NO lettuces or spinach! They aren't good for him.
45% hard mixed veggies such as an orange flesh squash the harder the better(acorn,pumpkin,butternut... fresh green beans, fresh peas, parsnip, and green bell peppers, NO broccoli or cauliflower, or avocado!
10% fruit such as figs, papaya, mango, pear, and berries. NO bananas, only very rarely as a treat.
NO ANIMAL PROTEIN such as bugs, meat, eggs, or cheese!

Temperature:

They need a basking area of 95-100 and normal temps of 75-85. NO heat rocks!

Lights:

They need a 5.0 UV light.

Hydration:

They should also get baths everyday or so. And should have a water bowl in their cage.

Vet:

You should take Your Iguana for regular vet checkups to make sure it is in good health. Reptiles can have internal parasites that can harm them so you should make sure the vet checks that.

Here are some good sites, the first one was recomended by my vet.

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html
www.greenigsociety.org
www.triciaswaterdragon.com/igcare.htm
http://www.baskingspot.com/iguanas/igbook/
http://www.reptilecare.com/IgCare.htm

Answer 5

Dont force him :( He'll be fine. My iggy didn't eat for about five days and he only ate when everyone was gone. So dont fret. Put the food near the basking spo, spritz the food with water, and leave him alone for a while. Make syre the basking temp is at 90* or so, they need it to digest. Also, invest in a 5.0 Reptisun lamp, if you havn't already.

Good luck with your iggy. Give him about a week to adjust before trying to tame him... It can take a while.

ps- no hot rocks, as they can damage your animal VERY badly.

Answer 6

Did you read a caresheet before buying this animal?? He needs a basking spot higher then 78 degrees. Temps lower then they need will cause them to not eat.

Here's a caresheet:
http://www.baskinglizards.com/lizardinfo.php?typeID=2

PS: Do NOT listen to the above person! Iguanas are vegetarians. She is going to kill her Iguana with crickets.

Answer 7

it is just nervous,has to get used to a new envirenment.he will eat after a while.now you need to get a heat lamp and get temp.about 78 to 90 degrees.any colder they cant digest there food.i been having mine for 4 years now,he is about 3 and a half feet long weighing about 15 pounds.i give him green lettice every 2 days,just cut it up small,and 5 crickets every week.heard can dog food was good,tried it he got sick and didnt eat for about a week.i got mine in a big cage i built inside my house,it is 6 feet long,4 feet high,4 feet wide.lots of room,bought 250 watt spotlight and put it on 1 side of cage.put food and water on other side.

Answer 8

If he doesn eat the veggies buy him some crikets and he will eat those but try to get him use to eating both crickets and veggies , also you need to buy the iguana vitamins or reptile supplement for his food, to ensure his health!

Answer 9

Hmm. . .you might want to get proffessional help for this. Try asking a vetanarian, I'm sure they will know, good luck!!!

Answer 10

Keep working with it. I have one and it eats live crickets. I have not found that he will eat anything more than this i have tryed but it's not working. Try caling the place you bought it.