Baby Parenting Guide

Tips and help on baby iguana care?

I just got a new baby green iguana, what is some basic care tips? Please only answer if you have had past experiences with iguanas or have an iguana. Thanks!

Public Response to Tips and help on baby iguana care?

1. So you didn't research at all? To take care of a very large and advanced reptile? Anyways, I would look at different care sites and buy a few books, I suggest, Iguanas for Dummies. I hope you know what you got. This lizard needs lots of care and a cage almost the size of room, if not a room, which is better.
2. There is no such thing as basic when it comes to iguanas. Brace yourself for a long, hard run for the next twenty years. He's eventually going to be four or five feet long. He needs a fresh, calcium rich diet of real vegetables. (no, those are not the greenish things on top of a burger) He'll need a cage that's probably only a bit smaller than your bathroom at the smallest acceptable size. A room would be best. When he reaches maturity, he's going to turn in to a vicious little devil when he goes into season. That, or he is actually a she and you have to work through the egg-laying process. He'll have talon-like claws that will shred flesh like knives if you aren't careful and don't keep them clipped. He needs a great amount of heat; around 90 degrees in his basking area, plus UVB radiation. You must seek out a good reptile vet (and most vets are not one) and have him examined. You will need to spend months socializing your new iguana so that he'll make a good companion. If you aren't in doubt yet, try these resources to get you started. http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/icfs/index.html http://www.baskingspot.com/iguanas/igbook/ http://www.greenigsociety.org/
3. Here is the basics that I give to iguana owners on here: Young iguana (8-12 months of age) should not live in anything smaller the a 55 gallon tank. Smaller the tank you can not process the correct temps threw out. Enclosure needs to be at least 1.5-2 times it's total length ... an adult you will need a space of 6-7ft tall x 8-10ft long x 4ft wide. Temps: never let drop below 70F ... basking 92-96F if temp is too low digestion is slowed too high food digests too fast and nutrition is lost medium/middle (overall) 88-92F cool 75-84F at night 73-84F ... having a temp gun works the best to know what your igs body temp truly is. *** NO HEAT ROCKS PLEASE ... they can cause major burns on the under belly ... igs dont feel heat from below so they will sit there not knowing they are burning themselves *** - Depending on enclosure size, depends on wattage, but for basking light (along w/ UVB tube) you can use a house bulb for heat during the day, you don't have to use one of those costly basking bulbs you buy at the store (night if your house gets below 70 a CHE should be used - produces heat no light) - Stick on glass thermometers do not work, they can read incorrect, get a good thermometer w/ a probe at the end, and place where your iguana is basking under and at his/her level, you will get more of a correct temp reading Humidity: Iguanas are tropical and do need humidity. Spraying/Misting a few times a day will help some, silk fake leaves (bigger then your igs head) will help hold some humidity, having a humidifier or vaporizer next to the tank will help (figure out a way to pipe inside would be better but think child proof also), daily baths will help and learn to go potty in the tub less mess in tank. UVB: (12 hrs on during day - 12 hrs off during night no light) US: ReptiSun 10.0 distance 8-10 inches from your igs body Repti Glo 8.0 distance 6-8 inches from your igs body ReptiSun 5.0 distance 6-8 inches from your igs body UK: Arkadia distance 6-8 inches from your igs body - You will need to adjust the distance as your ig grows - Using a shop light from a home improvement store works the best, get one that has 2 tube plugs and using 2 UVB tubes - The UVB listed are in tube form, using the 36-48inch tubes are the best more length for your ig - Surface under the UVB tube lights need to be a flat surface if at an angle your igs body will not get the proper UVB threw out - There are UVB's out there on the market now that can cause eye damange to your ig (do not use the compact or the coil type - see the uvguide.co.uk for further information) - W/out UVB your ig may end up w/ MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) - UVB information that you may find interesting: http://www.uvguide.co.uk Floor covering: BAD floor covering: bark, dirt, moss, sand, pellets are all bad ... at some point your iguana will try and lick swallow and then possibly cause blockage which will then need to be surgically removed or possibly death ... SAFE floor covering: newspaper (unprinted), paper towels, towels, vinyl flooring, indoor/outdoor carpeting - if you have any lose fibers from the carpeting or the towels please remove and replace - unprinted newspaper if you possibly can use is safer just in case your ig likes to try and eat the newspaper some ink may contain soy Food: Daily food should have 5-7 good staple greens (2-3 cups a day if not more younger igs may eat less then 1/4 cup) ... collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens (if you can find), endive, radicchio, arugula, mache (if you can find), watercress ... some greens to give occasionally kale, bok choy, escarole ... adding basil for young igs sometimes helps them eat ... romaine is mostly water no nutrience, you can add small amount and occasionally in w/ the good staple greens (collard, mustard, etc) but do not make romaine just your iguanas choice of greens (or any other type of lettuce most of us humans eat) ... some things to add (small amounts) snap peas, bell peppers (every now and then), parsnip, sweet potato/yam, acorn squash, butternut squash, buttercup squash ... fruits should only be given every now and then once or twice a week type of thing fruits are like junk food to iguanas ... some fruits to try papay, kiwi, mango, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, honeydew (great water source), canalope (great water source), 12 grain wheat bread ... if anything has seeds make sure you remove seed before you give it to your iguana anything w/ small seeds like strawberries wait like 3 days before giving anymore ... watermelon (seedless) can be frozen and then shaved onto your iguanas food helps w/ hydration everyday ... there are some foods that aren't good for your iguana: spinach has oxalate acids bind to the calcium, so even though spinach is high in calcium, almost none is actually available for the iguana to use, also the oxalate acids can form oxalate crystals which can and do build up in the kidneys causing kidney damage/failure ... some ig owners do give there ig spinach but in very small amounts and only once a month ... corn igs can not digest ... carrots can block calcium absorption ... bananas are low in calcium best to give another type of fruit ... apples too much acid - appetite suppressant ... rhubarb is poisonous ... food should be cut/chopped/diced no bigger then the iguanas head, if they are small having a chopper chop them up, or slice them into very small pieces ... spray/mist food to help w/ water/hydration Animal protein: Iguanas are plant eaters, they should not be feed any animal protein. No meat/bugs, no dairy. If you ever give your ig iguana diet dried food, please read the ingredients there are so many products on the market today that clearly puts meat protein in there ingredients, usually w/ in the first 10 ingredients. Some that I am aware of that do MonsterDiet, TRex, Zilla, Wardley. RepCal Iguana pellets is one that is safe to use. Soak pellets before offering to help w/ hydration, only give a few pellets for you want the greens to be main diet. Vet: When you get an iguana you should take your ig to a herp/reptile vet that knows about iguanas. Just for a new pet check over. Your ig may have mites, parasites or other nasty things carried from the pet store. Plus if anything was to happen you know who to call w/out looking threw the phone book hoping you find a vet who knows something about iguanas. http://www.herpvetconnection.com/ - http://www.anapsid.org/vets/#vetlist Sites for you to read: http://www.greenigsociety.org/ - http://www.iguanaden.org/ - http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html A great book to read and have on hand: Iguanas for Dummies by Melissa Kaplan Yahoo has some great sites for Iguana owners... these groups helped me and still help w/ questions .. if you'd like to join: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BabyIguana/ - http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/IguanaDen/
4. you had better get reading and fast coz u may have an adorable baby now but they grow fast as hell, i know i have 2!the others who have replied you'd better start reading as you'll soon have a monster on your hands