my iguana is losing her scales and don't know why

[Tedo]

i haven't done any thang wrong with her she just sokes in warm water no oil or nothing and i let her run free in my room so she wouldn't be cramped in her cage i was woundering if any one nows what could make her lose her scales i put antibiotic oinment on her where the scales are missing and i have caght her rubing the spot where she is losing her scales i got her to quit rubing the spot and she still losing some scales can you help me plz.

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[wreckwriter]

Does she have good UVB lighting?

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[Tedo]

yes she does i use my black lit all the time for her that i got from a pet shop.

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

theres a problem, I don't know much about uv lights but a black light is not sufficient. I would recomend a good zoo med bulb and get one for her/him ASAP!!! Without a proper source of UV the animal will never thrive and will eventually die a horrible death. Please do research before bringing home another animal with such advanced needs. If I'm wrong please do correct me.

Jake

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[wreckwriter]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

theres a problem, I don't know much about uv lights but a black light is not sufficient. I would recomend a good zoo med bulb and get one for her/him ASAP!!! Without a proper source of UV the animal will never thrive and will eventually die a horrible death. Please do research before bringing home another animal with such advanced needs. If I'm wrong please do correct me.
Jake

You're not wrong. Iggies require GOOD UVB, not just a "black light". I suggest a Mega-Ray bulb. Check out http://www.reptileuv.com/ There's a lot more to this than your pet store told you.

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[Tedo]

thnx man i hope it will help her out i got a vet opantment tomarrow for her any ways just trying to find a way to do it my self and save some money

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[wreckwriter]

Originally Posted by Tedo

thnx man i hope it will help her out i got a vet opantment tomarrow for her any ways just trying to find a way to do it my self and save some money

Be sure to ask your vet about UVB requirements. He/she should be able to advise you based on your caging, budget, etc.

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[Tedo]

i will thnx for all the help if i have any more quiestion ill be shere to ask k.

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Hope all goes well and you can never have to much uv imo as long as s/he can get out of it. I even have a uv for my rtb and her colors seem to be getting brighter and more vibrant. I am not using it now since the bulb died so I got to go get another one. If you need to you can just take him out side for about 10 minutes if it is above 50 out and get him or her some natural uv till you can get a real bulb

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[Alika]

There are some opinions out there that black lights might actually damage skin and eyes with prolonged exposure. It seems that the UV rays present are far too intense... if I remember correctly.

UVB is only half the story. Make sure that you have adequate housing, heating (with good gradient) and diet as well.

Where are the scales rubbing off? Is it on his nose, by any chance?

It is great that you let him run around your room, but remember that little igs (don't know how big yours is) are easy to lose and hard to recover. It is also very easy for them to get too cold too fast, and then you can have problems, too. Without a total free-roam setting, he should spent the vast majority of his time in his cage where the heating, lighting, and humidity can be controlled.

If you haven't already built him a permanent enclosure, now would be an excellent time to get started!

Here is some additional iguana reading:

www.anapsid.org
www.greenigsociety.org
www.igden.com

"Green Iguana: Ultimate Owner's Guide" by James Hatfield III

"Iguanas for Dummies" by Melissa Kaplan.

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[Alika]

BTW, what size cage is he in now, how much time is he spending there, and how big is he?

Iguanas have been known to rub during breeding season or when their cage is too small... they get restless.

	Iguana Iguana

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[wreckwriter]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Hope all goes well and you can never have to much uv imo as long as s/he can get out of it. I even have a uv for my rtb and her colors seem to be getting brighter and more vibrant. I am not using it now since the bulb died so I got to go get another one. If you need to you can just take him out side for about 10 minutes if it is above 50 out and get him or her some natural uv till you can get a real bulb

Snakes do not need UV. Some feel it may even be harmful. Not certain its harmful but its certainly a waste of money.

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[Tedo]

thnx for the info alika didn't know that could be the rasion bye them being ready of breading but the spot where she was lossing scales is the bottom part, right shoulder on here bodie and my rooms temp is all ways at 75 deggrees so she will be warm and i don't have a cage big anough for her yet thats why she runs free in my room evan thow she has been pick late lee about what she eats. She hasn't been eating like she use to but doc says that it would be ok that she will get her apatite back soon.

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[Yungair23]

I dont know everything about iguanas but i do know they must have a basking area of 90-95, and require specific lighting ( uva and uvb ) and neeed certain humidity look into all care sheets there is on the web this is how i learned to care for my ig this website even has a decent care sheet

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[Alika]

Yungair is correct. Without the elevated head zone for basking, iguanas cannot properly digest their food. Over time, this could kill them.

Please make an effort to get him some UVB and some heat and read all those pages I posted aboug iguana care. They are considered by many to be one of the most difficult reptiles to care for... and one of the most expensive. They are extremely sensitive, and if anything is wrong in their environment... if anything is less than perfect... they will become very ill and their quality of life will be very poor.

If you cannot give him everything he needs very soon, please consider giving him to someone who can.

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[Yungair23]

Hows everything with him now any updates?

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