Desert Iguana

geckoqueen · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 07:44 PM

I have three desert iguanas at work. We have had them for two years and they were nearly adult when we received them. Unfortuntely, the largest male has quit eating recently and his eyes appear glued shut. He can only open one eye just a little bit. He is now starting to lose weight. At first, I thought the problem was that he didn't have an area where he could cool down sufficiently (we didn't have enough of a thermal gradient). It seemed to help for a week, but now he has quit eating again and the eyes are worse. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should we take him to the vet ASAP? To me, I think it may be a case of old age as he has always been the largest of the group. Thanks, Margaret
[addsig]

#2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 07:53 PM

UMM..YES that Iguana should be seen by a vet ASAP Also make sure to quarantine it too.
[addsig]

eddie · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 08:09 PM

It may sound strange, with you being in Az, but are the iggys getting sunlight and or UV lighting at all?

And I do agree with Lori, he needs a vet pretty much like yesterday.

Can you give a little more info about his and the others diet?
What are you feeding and in what ratio?
Supplements being used, etc.

[addsig]

geckoqueen · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 08:28 PM

They have the Reptisun 5.0 bulb as well as the basking bulb (ESU) which gives them a temp of 112 F four inches below the lamp. As for the diet, we follow the diet from the Desert Tortoise Society. We make a mixture of escarole, endive, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, parsley, rapini, and cilantro. We throw in chard in season which we have growing at work at the greenhouse. This male will not eat the crickets thrown in the aquarium, but the other two will eat them. However, he does like wax worms which I haven't offered to him in about two months. (Yes, even the chuckawalla loves wax worms.) Unfortunately, it is hard to get the secretary to remember to sprinkle the food with the vitamins and calcium like it should be treated. And the substrate is also sand, so I am worried about impaction. We have a vet appointment for Monday morning (the soonest he had available) but will be called if there is an opening sooner. I just hope he makes it as he is the alpha male and is also the friendliest of the trio. He loves to sit on top of your head while you work at the computer.
[addsig]

eddie · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 08:38 PM

Whew!
That sounds a lot better than some I have seen!
Got me.
Good luck on him making the weekend and on getting him better.
[addsig]

geckoqueen · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 08:52 PM

Unfortunately, we had a baby desert tortoise in the cage with them which had to be removed in May. At eight months of age, he was already the size of a two-year-old desert tortoise. The vet told us he was getting too much protein on this diet. All we could figure was that he was eating the crickets. I often found him trying to chase the crickets when we first threw them in the enclosure. Maybe he would eat the ones that died. Anyhow, the tortoise is now at home in my backyard, eating a more natural diet in addition to the above mixture that is giving in the morning. His growth has definitely slowed down. But whatever is affecting this lizard is driving me nuts because I am so afraid that it may just be age-related and that there is nothing I can do. I hate being helpless. After all, I had a green anole that I got at Chirstmas 1985 that died May 12, 1993. My sister and I treated her when she was egg-bound, moved her away from any and all males and cared for her to the day she died. This desert iguana isn't that old. He can't die just yet. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]
[addsig]

Dr.Oviparous · #7 (**permalink**) 07-31-2002, 09:20 PM

Well, it sounds like your taking care of these guys, I'm not sure what it could be.<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> Unfortunately, it is hard to get the secretary to remember to sprinkle the food with the vitamins and calcium like it should be treated. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> besides this anyway. does he/she always forget, or just once in a while? -Juggalo
[addsig]

Advertisement