how long does an iguana shed for?

Question

ive had my iguana since christmas,and she hasnt finished sheding yet.is this normal(shes 6mths old)shes in good health,and shes eating and drinking fine.

Answer 1

Give it a warm bath to help with the shedding.

http://www.greenigsociety.org/shedding.htm
http://anapsid.org/shedding.html#ig

INFO:

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!

Cage size:

Minimum length (side to side): 2-3 x
Minimum depth (front to back): 1.5-2 x
Minimum height: 1.5-2 x


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 2

How often does my Green Iguana shed their skin?
It varies with your Green Iguana's age, size, environment and overall health, so sometime you will found that your Green Iguana shed their skin few time a years.

UNLIKE SNAKES, IGUANAS DON'T SHED THEIR SKIN in one long piece. A healthy iguana, in the proper environment and with a healthy diet, can seem to be shedding all year long. As an iguana grows, it's skin must be shed to allow the body to expand and grow. This process, triggered by hormones, is called ecdysis. Resist the temptation to pull off shed skin that is not dry. Removing shed skin before it is ready can damage the delicate scales underneath. You can facilitate the shedding process by misting your iguana with warm water daily and giving it a good soaking in in a tub of water every few days. Make sure you mist early in the day so your iguana will dry completely. It is really important to take all the shed off of the toes of a young iguana. As the shed skin dries, it tightens and constricts the flow of blood to the toes. This constriction can cause the toes to die and sluff off (necrosis). If your iguana doesn't seem too shed very much...especially if it's young...then it isn't growing properly and needs a change in diet and environment. Shedding is a very important process in the life of a healthy iguana and the end result is a beautiful, soft, and colorful new skin.

Answer 3

A healthy Iguana should pretty much be in a constant shed, It does cycle though, It will start to shed, it will all come off the it starts again.

A good way to help your iguana shed it to let it swim it the bath tub. This will help soften up the dry skin. Sometimes I would use a little Utter cream to soften up the spine caps so they would come off easier.

Answer 4

You should have a large bowl of water available, or if to big, try a spray bottle, with a fine mist, it will soften the skin for removal, or you can use a store bought chemical, but even as a Pet Shop owner, some ain't worth the cost. Good Luck !!

Answer 5

Listen to sexy. Mist several times daily and soak in warm water in the bathtub. Make sure the water is shallow enough that your iguana can rest.