iguana eating progress

02SXViper · #1 (**permalink**) 06-25-2005, 11:12 PM

woo hoo...he actually ate, and i think a good average amount too. last night at pet co, i bought some generic food, zoo med gel or something for "turtles iguanas and other amphibians" and its like not healthy or a solid meal at all, it just smells good like strawberrys and looks like puree'd fruit...anyways, to determine what kind of food he likes the best i took his dish, which is not round, its like a cresent half coom shape(like jay leno's chin, lol).

i put a tablespoon of pellets, and adder a tables spoon of water to them on the far edge of the platter, the i put a small scoop of that fruit gel, then next to that mixed green/vege with that fruit stuff mixed all up, then just pplain green/vege and then on the far edge just a scoop of tht fruit stuff.

i set it in there and set him next to it and he imeditly started eating the plain greens, and then after like 10 minutes he laid in the tree, then about 1-2 hrs later he was back eating for a 2nd time and then at 4:30 again for a 3rd time, this is incredible! woo hoo

also- i put a pillow in fron of his cage so he can now NOT see out from any direction but up...i think this helped to settle his nerves a bit, so he feels more comfortable and stable eating? anyways, what do ya guys think?

NicoleRussell · #2 (**permalink**) 06-25-2005, 11:54 PM

hey congrats!
Now try and ttie up those loose ends with the diet slowly...give him a salad mixed with all the items your iguana needs to stay healthy! Do you have a starting point?

02SXViper · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 12:12 AM

what do you mean a starting point?...and did you see the picture o him? on the other post? just wondering if you guys think he looks healthy? i think so, but stuff i've read just kinds says ya know, some iguanas limbs look like strong muscly legs but are actually swollen....talking about sick iguanas....but i think he looks good

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 10:11 AM

he seems to be fine.
When I say a starting point I mean this: when I started keeping my iguanas I had one or two references that respected. I then tailored my choices as I learned more and came up with what was ideal for my situation and animals.
What typeof greens are you feeding?
Are you following any one diet right now?

Nexus · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 01:19 PM

Their is a lot of information on Melissa Kaplans site and also a specific PDF document for Iguana's on the page link below, it covers feeding requirements in quite some depth.

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/icfs/index.html

Regards
Nick

02SXViper · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 05:59 PM

jeeze, no specific diet i guess...but im trying to use a lot of greens for most of his food....it consists of this, 60% collard greens, about 20% romaine and red lettuce, 10% pellets (the good one's i think that have little or no corn and animal fat or whatever) and 10% gel fruit crap...he only eats the geens and lettuce...and when i throw in some kiwi or strawberry, he seems to take that also, i think on tomorrows menus, im gonn leave out that gel (i left it out today also) and leave out pellets and just add some banana and try mango i think, or papaya...maybe add some bulk vegies? i have only given a few tiny slices of carrots because i heard iguanas eating method is easy to choke on harder foods

NicoleRussell · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 06:12 PM

try to stay away from anything with "lettuce" int he name.
Not that it will kill your iguana---in small quantities it's all ok I guess. But why waste the space on the plate with something that does nothing for your lizard?
Try to check out some diets---visit the iguana den---and some other sites (if you need some let me know). Try and mix it up as much as possible ---get rid of the gel and try some realfruits.
You can also try a balancer like iguana dust by Trex.

02SXViper · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 08:40 PM

hmmm, ok....i just thought the color of the fruit gel, and the smell would intise him a little more....but he wont eat that or the pellets, he only eats the collards and lettuce...and i rip the greens into pieces, about the size of my thumb nail. 25 pieces of collard 3 pieces of romain and 2 pieces of the red stuff....where can i find mustard greens...grrr

NicoleRussell · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 08:52 PM

I get them at my local market...dandelion greens ---chards---so many great greens

02SXViper · #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 09:24 PM

hi, i've looked at all the ratios and like EVERYTHING on the iguana den, and they seem rather smart there, here is the diet i am following

BASE: collard greens

PICK 1 of these- dandelion greens or Arugula
PICK 2 of these- Escrole, endivine, chicoy, cilantro Mustard greens, water cress, turnip greens tops

PICK 1 in SMALL AMOUNT- kale, napa, bok choy, beet greens
2 vegetables-peas, green beans, parsnips, yams squash
2 fruits- mango, kiwi, blue/rasp/strawberrys, grapes, and water/musk/cantelop melon

thats the options, and then it also gives amount like, 1 cup or 2 cups and dry it blah blha....

heres what im going to buy or prepare

collard greens, mustard greens, endivie or escrole(which ever i find), and dandelion greens, a small amount of bok choy and definitly green beans, mango, kiwi or grapes, and squash (acorn)....i will use the appropriate proportions and i guess dry it all out and seal in a air tight thing so it dont go the spoil...

i think that sounds like a gooda very wide variety with a even better Calcium/phos ratio- i will have BIG healthy....fat...lol....iguana

02SXViper · #11 (**permalink**) 06-26-2005, 09:25 PM

i guess the kale is easy to come by, but it contains too much of that oxilate stuff, and thats just bad, so is broccoli

tachichick · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 01:22 AM

try taking the food list with you the store and get the produce people to help you.. Also at the Iguana den there is a picture food list as well...
I always say..get to know your local produce person... if they know that you will be in the store all the time to buy produce they will try to keep what you need in stock.
Rule of thumb with carrots, pumpkin, squash is to grate it.. makes it easier for iggs to chew... you can also steam the squash and pumpkin to make it softer.
Just remember that no mattter what is on the list, your igg will let you know what he likes and dislike.... take your list and check off items that you have tried and what igg did, that way you dont spend $$ on something igg wont eat.

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