-----Iguana Care
River Road Veterinary Clinic
Box 309
Norwich, Vermont 05055
Phone: 802-649-3877 Fax: 802-649-1345
email: RRVC@Valley.net.com
www.rrvetclinic.com
Dr. Christine Pinello - Dr. JoAnne Giel - Dr. Kathy Ling Newcomb
IGUANA CARE
Iguanas are tree living reptiles that can reach 6 ½ feet in length. They are prized for their color and tasty flesh. A female iguana lays 25 to 40 eggs in sand, which hatch in two weeks.
Diet: Normally the green iguana is completely plant eating but captive juveniles should be fed a relatively large amount of animal protein. Juveniles should be fed once a day with 1 part animal protein (water packed tuna. Cooked chicken, hard-boiled egg) and 2 parts vegetable (broccoli, Swiss chard, spinach). Add a vitamin mineral supplement, as Calcium deficiency can be a problem. This can be avoided by adding guinea pig or rabbit pellets soaked in water to the diet. Older iguanas should be fed 2 to 3 times a week with just the plant material. Young iguanas must have access to the feces of the adults.
Hygiene: Keep them clean! Newspaper, paper towels are good bedding. Pea gravel, corncobs and kitty latter are poor bedding. Do not offer shavings, as they will eat them. Keep them clean and dry; do not use Pine sol or Lysol as disinfectants as they are highly poisonous to iguanas!
Housing: Walls should not be glass unless covered, provide a place to hide and a place to climb. The temperature should be between 85 and 105 degrees. Provide a covered hot rock to bask on and increase body temperature. Iguanas must receive either direct sunlight or a UV light to absorb calcium
Water: Water should be available at all times. Spray water
on the iguana or allow it to swim in a tub or pool.
IGUANA DISEASES
Metabolic bone disease: malnutrition is the most common cause of this disease. Lettuce is calcium deficient and should be avoided. Spinach and beet greens as well as adequate sun light are necessary to prevent this disease. Signs of this disease are swollen jaw, fractures, swollen limbs.
Nose Abrasions: provide a large enough cage with several hiding places. Cover the lower portion of the cage.
Thermal injuries: light bulbs or malfunctioning hot rocks should be covered.
Parasites: Mites are a frequent problem. All iguanas should have a fecal done yearly to detect intestinal parasites.
Salmonella: all reptiles can be infected with salmonella. Unfortunately, this is a zoonotic disease and can infect people.
Infections: Since reptiles are very cold blooded animals,
their metabolism is slower than warm blooded animals. This means that
they will heal more slowly and may prove difficult to treat in some
situations.