What kinds of foods are more \'fattening\' for an iggy?

Squirgle · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2002, 11:42 PM

I'm asking this for fellow employee who recieved an iggy for free a while back and quite honestly did a Real crappy job raising it thus far. For a while it was very skinny and wasn't eating well but after myself and someone else who used to work with us fixed some of her problems it started eating well again...the thing is, it still looks pretty skinny. So, she wanted me to find out what kinds of foods could be added to its daily mix as a 'treat' that would help fatten the iggy without being too unhealthy. I'm also wondering if its possible that it may have worms? I've told her to take it to the vet several times, even given her the name of a good local reptile vet and directions and everything, but she "Doesn't have enough time." [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] So maybe if I could get a few suggestions....well [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Squirgle
[addsig]

DogVsRaptor · #2 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 12:07 AM

I've had my iguana for a year and a half. I just always keep fresh food in his cage.
His steady diet is made up of colard greens, yellow squash, green beans,
cucumber, and fresh fruit. My iguana doesn't eat 'iguana food' from a pet store,
though some do, he won't touch it. I think these foods help with a lot of calcium and vitamins,
but calcium powder and lots UV rays will seriously help, plus a UV bulb in the enclosure.
The fresh food is always around for him, he will eat 2-3 times a day, usually once in the morning/early afternoon
a big meal, then a snack or two during and evening. Stay away from iceberg lettuce (salad lettuce)
and any type of protein. Crickets are not good for iguanas, some books say monkey chow is a good treat,
but I've never tried to feed any to my iguana Chino. The protein reallys screws up their diet and
they cannon process protein while digesting. Mine eats a good selection of foods, I've found
when he eats more darker foods, his color is a little darker and lighter when more colorful food are fed. Good
luck with him.

Nick
[addsig]

eddie · #3 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 12:07 AM

If they don't have enough time for a vet then they don't need an iggy!

Weight gain on an herbavore will take time.
There are some fatty foods for them, such as the fruits they can eat, but it would lead to more harm than good for this animal as it is already in a weakened state and doesn't need a lot of fatty build up around its heart and lungs.
[addsig]

Squirgle · #4 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 12:27 AM

Eddie, I agree with you totally. She really pisses me off with this entire situation but I can't force her to do anything really.

I didn't really think there would be any fatty food that wouldn't be unhealthy at the same time but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask...I don't really know much about iggy's so I don't want to give advice when I really don't know so...yeah

Anywho, thanks guys...I'll just make sure that she keeps fresh food in there at all times.

Squirgle
[addsig]

#5 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 03:44 PM

The May issue of Reptiles had a huge article on Green Iguanas written by James Hatfield (writer of 'Green Iguana: The ultimate Owner's Guide'). I skimmed his book this weekend actually, as it was a coffeetable book at an associate's house (who, not coincidentally, has an adult iguana) and it seems pretty decent, although I did only skim it.

Protein recommendation is only 1-3% of total diet. Vegetables are incomplete proteins (they do not contain all 23 amino acids) so mixing is required to allow a meal that results in complete proteins required to build muscle mass and growth. IF you now the amino acid composition of various veges, you can combine the right ones together and rule out the need for animal protein.

Depending on the level of 'skinniness', a very small amount (maybe once a week) of protein might be beneficial...perhaps zero-meat, low fat dog food, the stuff for older dogs. The addition of a little complete protein will also greatly increase the useability of the other incomplete vegetable proteins.

_________________
Rome did not build a great empire by having meetings, they did it by killing all who opposed them!

Jay

RevMojo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-22-2002, 04:06 PM

avocados have higher levels of monounsatured fats than most vegetables. I dont know if an iggy would eat it, but might be worth a shot.
[addsig]

#7 (**permalink**) 07-27-2002, 05:38 PM

<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> you can combine the right ones together and rule out the need for animal protein.

Depending on the level of 'skinniness', a very small amount (maybe once a week) of protein might be beneficial...perhaps zero-meat, low fat dog food, the stuff for older dogs. The addition of a little complete protein will also greatly increase the useability of the other incomplete vegetable proteins.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually..The introduction of any of thiese types of proteins would NOT be beneficial to the iggy unless you are trying to kill it off. Iguanas that are fed dog food usually wind up with renal failure as a result of such too. The iguanas digestive tract does not have any of the organism needed in order to digest any animal type proteins and if fed to them the food would just sit there rotting away is all. other health problems would also come to play from feeding such to the iggy.
In order to increase the weight on an iggy, one must be patient and offer a varied appropriate diet of vegetation to the iggy. Maintain a fresh stock supply of feed available for the iggy at all times. With time & patience the iguana will gain weight as long as there are no other health problems presenting in the iggy such as worms.

Now as far as avacodos go.. I am not sure if the iggy's can actually have them or not. i will check on that and get back to it for ya.
[addsig]

Advertisement