Female Iguana\'s...

Crackster69 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-02-2002, 09:39 PM

I was wounder if a female Iguana living in captivity, with no mate (Male), come breeding season would she still bare eggs, and lay them, even if they are infertile?
At what age would this happen, or most likely to happen?
If So what kind of substrate should I use in the egg laying box?
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hisba · #2 (**permalink**) 04-02-2002, 09:59 PM

Good question and I"m glad you asked..
YES, female iggys will still lay eggs (usually every year) even with no male iggy present..
(it's quite a pain! and you have to make sure to provide a laying box so they don't
become egg-bound. Once the eggs are laid, you can just throw them away)
Here is some reading for you... good info here:
Female iggys, harder to tame?
Breeding Season Basics

Female iggys reach sexual maturity usually at about 2-4 years of age, or about 3-4' in length.
Please, read this link if nothing else...
Preparing for egg-laying
Basically, you need to provide a large box for her to deposit the eggs in... they burrow and
lay the eggs down in soil usually, so you need to try to re-create this. Directions on how to
do so are at the link... There are many problems that can come up with females during
the egg-laying time.. All About Egg Binding

Also, very important, the female needs to have good amount of calcium in her system.. they
take a lot of calcium when they shell the eggs inside their body, and if the female has
low calcium levels, she could get MBD (metabolic bone disease) from using up all the
calcium for the eggs.
Hope some of that info helps...
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Dragon · #3 (**permalink**) 04-02-2002, 10:25 PM

Has anybody ever tried eating the infertile eggs?
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hisba · #4 (**permalink**) 04-02-2002, 10:39 PM

Actually yes, someone on the old IML (Iguana Mailing List) did before... I don't
remember if they hard boiled or scrambled them... I seem to remember that they were
fine to eat but not all that tasty? I know in Mexico and South America, they eat the
iguanas themselves (chicken of the trees).
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Crackster69 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-03-2002, 07:51 PM

hisba-In my construction of an egg laying box, I'm still not too sure if I should use dirt/Vermiculite? My Iguana likes to lick everything and anything, and I was worried she might lick the dirt and possidly become impacted... could this be a possibility?
What would be my best bet choice as a substratet in her box??

There are so many Iguana Products out there, what do U suggest to use as a calcium suplament?? I'm useing pure calcium that I bought from a local herp meet.

Eatting Iguana eggs- I took some books out of my library a few days ago on Iguana's and one Chapter in the book, was about how to cook a Gravid Female Iguana, with a side dish of eggs ....? Humm I didn't feel too hungry after reading that...

I have been thinking about getting another Iguana (Maybe adopting and unwanted one) in the near future, and was wounder about housing?? Right now my iguana Shares my Bed room with me, I have a sleeping box built into my roof, for her to sleep with PCV Pipe(Covered in outdoor Carpet) Wraped around my room for her to climb on and 3 basking lamps, where she love to bask & 1 UVB 5.0 Lamp I also use a humidifier in my room. .

In a few months I'll have a 4foot by 6foot room that I could use as a Iguana Enclosure. Dedacate it to my Iggy's, now I was woundering how many Iguanas could U house together in a 4 by 6 room (After they have been quarinteened)? And what are the best conbanations (Male/Female Female/Female)?
I would love some input on housing iggys together....weather its a good idea or not? I don't have enough room to house 2 Iggys in different rooms so 2 in one room would be the best I would be able to do.

Hisba thanks for all your help so far much apreciated!
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Crackster69 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-03-2002, 07:53 PM

One more quick question, should I keep the egg Laying box year round or just come breeding season?

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hisba · #7 (**permalink**) 04-03-2002, 08:18 PM

Hihi...
I would not use vermiculite (just read more last night..) just use soil.. the best way is
to mix 15 parts potting soil (peat) with 1 part sand (sterile.. children's playground sand
is good and can be got at toys r us), and water. Yes, the iggy will probably lick up a little
of it, but it shouldn't be so much where it would cause a problem. A female iggy wanting to
lay eggs will be more intent on digging and laying them than eating the soil... (from what
I have read, and other people have done this for years so I think it's ok)
The egg-laying box only needs to be in there during the season, not year round.

As for calcium supplements, you're using what I used, human-grade calcium carbonate.
That is the best and more pure form of calcium out there and much better than any of
those reptile vitamin mixes which have D3 (not needed if the iggy gets UVB light). [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] so good job!

As far as in your room.. really iggys should only be kept alone.. they WILL fight if there
is more than one.. a male and female will fight, esp during breeding season when the
male is frisky and the female doesn't want to be bothered.. (plus in the wild, males have
access to many diff females, which helps spread out their aggression..) two females will
fight so one can become alpha, etc... it's just not worth it in my opinion, I've seen pics of
iggy wounds from fighting and they are not pretty.
Check out this site for more info on what can happen if iggys are kept more than one per enclosure:
Wong, death of an iguana..
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Crackster69 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 09:35 AM

Thats sick, I could hardly look at the pictures. It didn't even look like an Iguana. I glad U showed my that page, that completly made up my mind!

I know keeping her in my room isn't a good idea, but my spare room is being used by my sis for a month or two. When the room becomes avalibule I might make it Her room, but I'll miss having her wake me up in the morning when she's hungry. Every morning at 10:00Am I get Green Iguana jumping up on my bed for her breakfest. She is somewhat toilet trained (To my coffee table [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img] ) Usualy shes a little cranky in the morning but as the day goes on she become such a suck.

Watering-My Iguana has NEVER drank from his water bowl, I have water avalibule 24 hours a day, but never do I see her drinking. I use to have a rubber maid tub filled with water, A Filter and heater, with a log so she could climb in and out, well one day something spooked her and she droped off her basking spot right into the tub of water, *BOOM* my room was swamped.

I mist her food everyday with 50/50 pedalyte and water now. Also she will not eat unless I hold her dish for her, if I don't she's hit it with her tail and send it all over my room.
Are these normal behaviors for an Iguana?

Last Question--Summer time is rounding and I wanted to give my Iguana some natural Sunlight, is there any type of leash..?? or something to keep my iggy under control while out side...? I don't want to be chasing her up a 20-30 foot tree and find out I cant fly...

Hisba- you have been a great help Thanks!

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#9 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 10:51 AM

lmao..You should already know that you can't fly hehe. ANYWAY..Yes there is a leash that you could use for the Iggy. BUT I have found that unless they have been trained to use one since being an iglet, they are just about impossible to get to use em [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] An adult iggy will have you in for a "wonderful" time trying to get the leash on it lmao. They will bite, whip and roll to prevent you from getting it on them. BUT if you want to try it..they are available at the pet stores...
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hisba · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 07:09 PM

hee yeah I agree with Lori.. leashes are hard to get them used to, esp if you haven't
gotten them used to it as a baby. I tried with mine but gave up. lol
The only time I've seen my iggy drink from a bowl was when I'd put the tub right up
next to him... I would mist him twice a day and he would lap up a little water at that time.
As long as you're misting the food should be fine. I also gave mine treats of romaine
lettuce for extra moisture. (lettuce isn't a good food for them since it's basically all water
but it is ok for occasional treat and to add some water to the diet.)
I actually like that you keep the iggy in your room... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Does she sleep with you on the
bed or does she have a shelf? Can you hold her without her jumping down a lot? If so,
I bet you could take her outside and hold her for some sunlight without much trouble.
I used to do that with mine, just stand away from anything tall the iggy would try to jump
onto and if mine started to look like he was going to jump I'd hold him high over my head
or just keep turning so he'd get confused. Also, you can sometimes buy a cheap rabbit
or ferret cage from the classifieds (wire cage) and those make good outside basking cages
for iggys. Just make sure to cover a part with a towel so there's some shade too.
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Crackster69 · #11 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 08:18 PM

Pet-land is one of the biggest pet dealers around (and the worst for info), and I was looking for a leash, the only thing I found was a leather jacket with a string on it?? Well I bought the biggest size thinking my Iggy would grow into it, but the funny thing is I don't thing anyone could get an Iggy in one of those jackets, with out twisting the legs of him/her. I belive they are called a "T-Rex Biker jacket". what a wast of money [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
Well anyway I was thinking.......A dog harnes might do the trick....? or maybe just a plan dog coller and leash (Would that cause problems with her spikes on her back)?

My iggy is still very young A Year and 3 months old. give or take a month. My little baby Girl! I think shes a girl but not sure.

I was woundering how an Iguana sheds its skin? My Iggy takes at least 3 days to shed completly. She sheds in sections like her leg,will turn all white, while the rest of her is bright green, then her back will fade and shed, then her head, and so on. Is that how an iggy sheds, in patches?

Feeding- My iggy eats better than me, but I was woundering about CHEESE. My iggy loves cubed cheese, I don't feed it to her everyday, just 1 or twice a week small servings, could this be bad??

Chicken- I have been told it's good to feed your iggy chicken cubes, once in a while, how often should chicken if at all be offered? I have been giving my iggy a small chicken brests choped up in small fine cubes, only 1 per month?

Last one [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Brewers yeast, I have heard is good for them once in a while, should I be sprinkling her food with brewers yeast? if so how much and how offten?

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hisba · #12 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 08:59 PM

Eek!! OK!
NO CHEESE, NO CHICKEN!
Animal protein (chicken) causes renal failure and kkidney damage to iguanas, it is not
something that shows up fast, it takes years (3-5) to kill the iggy... Iguanas are
vegetarians and should never get any animal protein. (this means no cheese, milk, dairy too)
Dr. Britton's article on Animal Protein
The ARAV (association of reptile and amphibian veteranarians) now agrees that no animal
protein should be fed. (which is one reason those canned pre-made iggy diets are bad,
they contain insect larva (animal protein) and should not be fed to iggys)
Most pet stores and many books have BAD information about iguanas.. I highly suggest
you pick up this book:

It's $32 and well worth it, you can buy it at Iguana.com
Or pick up "Iguanas for Dummies" By Mellisa Kaplan, another really well done book with
really good care info.
Mellisa Caplan's Iguana Care Site
Also, read the link above, check out the feeding, diet pages... lots of info, and it's free.
Just because the iggy will eat something (cheese, etc) does not mean they should or that
it's good for them. (heck, cats love anti-freeze but it kills them..) If you want to give
her some treats, you can try rose petals and hibiscus flowers, even dandylion flowers,
just make sure there were no weed-killers or fertalizers sprayed on them. Fruit is a nice
treat too (should be 10% of the diet in general), mine *loved* raspberries.

Lizards shed in pieces, so your iggy taking time to shed is completely normal.
You can make a leash if you want, out of string or something, design it like one of those
cat harnesses, where the string goes under the legs and NOT around the neck... it will
work the only thing to watch out for is damage to the spines on the back.
Please, get one of those books or at least read as much as you can at the site listed above..
you'll be doing both yourself and your iggy a big favor. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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hisba · #13 (**permalink**) 04-04-2002, 09:02 PM

oh yeah, and the brewer's yeast is ok to use but not really neccessary.. the main reason
it's suggested is for use when feeding frozen veggies.. (after they are thawed of course..)
freezing causes the veggies to lose some nutritional value, which the yeast replaces...
but if you're feeding fresh veggies, it isn't needed.
(my iggy got a diet of collard and mustard greens, green and red chard, escarole, chopped
up green beans, green onions, red and green bell peppers, sometimes mushed up beans,
melon, raspberries, butternut squash shredded up, etc..)
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Crackster69 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 12:54 PM

My iggy get's mostly fresh foods, but some times I mix in some frozen (Corn, Peas, Beans & Brocolie).

I never knew Dairy products were bad for iggys, luckly I now know. I have been told by many people chicken is a must at least 1 time a month. i have even read of iggys living off mozzarela cheese. It dosen;t sound like a healthy diet, but i never knew it was that bad. Had I known I wouln't have fed it to my iggy!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] I guess the wrong people giving you the wrong information causes most of the problems......or is it lack of information?

I got my iggy from on a spare of the moment kinda deal, I went to look at a iggy and saw her living conditions and such, and decided to purches an iggy. to start off with I knew nothing??? I thought it would be a easy pet not much trouble no time(Nothing like a dog??) Little did i kno. Until I got her, then I found out how much money she realy costs!!!cShe eats about as much as me a week...takes up all my spare time. feels like I had a kid! I went from living it up to 24-7-365. There is always something to do with my iggy, weather feeding, cleaning, bathing, taming(Quality time). I have had my iggy for 8 long hard, months of work, but I woun't cange anything!!! Shes my little girl, no mater how big she gets.

It's realy sad how such a beautiful animal can be sold and bought by people who know sooooo little about them. If i never asked questions on here I would be still feeding my iggy chicken and cheese, in with her diet. I had no intention of harming my iggy but lack of information can lead to anything. Even taking my iggy to the vet I feel like my vet only knows about as much as I do. which dosen;t make me vary comfterbul ( Being one of the only 3 exotic vets in the city). I payed $250 to find out she was in good health, and a deworming. I feel I could have made the judgement she was in good health. My vet couldbn't even tell me fo-show the sex of my iggy (being about a year and 3 months), I'm not sure if you can sex an iggy that old or not but i don't feel to sure about my vet, but what can i do... nothing.
I have to say Malissa kaplan's iguana care site is the most complete, str8 forward site/read about iggy's that I have seen. I have been reading and reading her site over and over again and love it!

Redtailboa.Net rocks! I heve to say this place is by far better the best place to get information on all reptiles! With out this site and people where would I be..................... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Thanks for everyone's help!
My iggy want to thank Hisba, for pointing me in the right direction! thanks alot!
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#15 (**permalink**) 04-07-2002, 12:04 PM

Weell sounds like your on the right track now with her. As for the feeding thing on her..here's a page from my site on FEEDING IGUANAS
Take a look at that. It's all broken down for you. NOTE the broccoli and where it falls on that page also..hehe
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Crackster69 · #16 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 09:45 AM

What age is a iggy concidered young and at what age are they conciered old? I know this is kinda a stupid question but I'm aking any ways.
The reason why I'm asking is Feeding.. My Iggy eats every day and I see her growing all the time, Last month she shed 5 time! Now 1 week later she's shedding again.
As a young iggy you feed them everyday. So as the iggy matures how often should they be feed??

Thats not funny where the brocolii (??) is listed [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] !! I have been feeding my iggy brocolii twice a week since I got her, Could that have been a bad thing, and is there anything I should do or watch for??? Another vegi/fruit that I have been feeding in very small amounts to my iggy and did not see listed on your page is Avacado's. Once in a while I offer her a bit of avacado, is it safe to feed to an iggy?

Best way to trim an iggys claw's- Would it be best if I cliped my own iggys claws or should I take it to a vet to be done???
I have dog clippers, and was wounder if that is a good tool to clip a iggys claw.
Her claws haven't grown too much, Because there is lots of things for her to wear them down. I'm not sure if I realy need to trim her claws, because I have had her for a good 7 months now and I haven't had her claws trimed yet and They are not sharp. I alos have several bird (pecking rocks) that I have seen my iggy scratching her claws on.

If they are getting warn down naturaly shoud I bother clipping them????

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hisba · #17 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 05:44 PM

Hi again! Tell your iggy thanks! hee (what's her name?)
The shedding thing, that's ok.. they shed all the time, esp when young.
Iguanas live for an average of 12-15 years (like a cat).. the oldest iguana I think was 29?
Anyways, they are considered young at birth-2 years old.. at about 3 they reach the
"teenage" years (basically they enter full sexual maturity and sometimes have to be extra-
trained at this time as they start to act out).
I know some people (books) say to feed adult iggys every other day, but I believe they
should be fed every day... in the wild they forage all day... and if the iggy isn't hungry, it
won't eat but best to offer something every day.
Don't freak out about the brocoli, twice a week is not too bad... just make it a little less,
like maybe once a week or twice a month as a treat. I'm sorry but off-hand I don't know
about avacado.. it's probably ok, but I'll try to find out for sure.
Trimming, I use those cat-claw trimmers (just like what you have). I always found it was
easiest to let the iggy crawl up some wire mesh, then go from the other side and clip the
claws as the iggy hangs.. but it can be done while the iggy is in your lap too. Best to start
now so the iggy gets used to it... just try a couple claws at first, then maybe one whole
foot and build up to the point where you can do all the feet in one sitting. Make sure to only
clip off the tip, if you cut up too far it could bleed. There is a product called "Kwik-Stop"
which works great if one of the claws starts bleeding, just dab some on and it'll stop.
If they aren't too bad, and are getting worn down, then don't worry about it. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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Crackster69 · #18 (**permalink**) 04-10-2002, 07:48 AM

Her Name is "SATIVA" , she's my baby girl! And I'm sooo lucky to have her(I love her!), She makes every day great just look at her, she's so brightly colored.
I heard that what you feed your iggy show's in his/her color....Is this true? I feed my iggy all colors of food, To try to keep her colors bright. She is quit a pickie eater, if she dosent like it she'll slap her dish with her tail, and usual it ends up all over the floor.

The last few days, I noticed my iggy, going infront of my mirror, and looking at her reflection, and she started bobbing her head. Could having a mirror in my room with her cause her stress, when she sees her reflection? Should I move the mirror out of my room?

I have some Pictures of her in a photo album at photo room.com but I'm not sure how to post a pic here.. If anyone can help me out in this confusing computer world I will try to post some pics of all my babies!

Now I have a question, I love to go camping, on some weekends. I have never left my iggy for more than a day, she has always had food. I think she is use to me feeding her by hand, and only on a blue moon will she eat from her dish. how would I, be able to go camping for say 2 days with out being able to feed her..?
I realy enjoy feeding her by hand, and I feel it help's our trust between each other. And I don't want to stop this. My geckos & snakes are fine for 2 days, provided water. but my iggy eats everyday. I have been looking around for a reptile baby sitter but haven't found any yet.
Would I be able to leave her if I left out a bowl of fresh food, along with some commercial iggy food, & water? I have only feed her commercial food once, and she didn't seem to like it too much, you know where most of that ended up [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
Lighting is all controled by my timers.
Calgary,Ab,Canada is kinda lame in the way of reptiles, dosen't realy offer too much..well at least from what I have seen...
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Crackster69 · #19 (**permalink**) 04-11-2002, 02:44 AM

I have been woundering, sometimes in the early morning or night, she becomes very cranky. In the morning after feeding her, I always handle her, usualy she is very cranky and lashes out with her tail, and on 3 occasions has bitten me pretty good. Why dose she because so cranky in the morning and night, through out the day, she's "Puff The Frendly Dragon" I don't have to worry about anything. I use gloves to pick her up in the morning to avoid getting bitten too much. After I get her on my arm, she's fine, It's like a totaly different Iggy.

IS Puffing up her mouth, and moving her (Dulap ??) Flap a sign of her being scared or taratorial? Because if I bring someone who she has not yet seen, she'll run to her highest, perch, and she'll streach her head as high as she can and begin to puff up her mouth,(In and out) and her (dulap ??) In going in and out.. Sometime this happen in the morning & Night when I try to play with her too.

I invest alot of time into my iggy, and we interact through out the day every day! I have read that alot of people have the same problem with there iggy's , when they bring them out of there cage to let roam, they are usualy a little agressive at first then they settle down, is this a common thing with iggy's?

I just don't understand, why one minute, she a psycho Iggy, and the next she is the most lovable iggy I have seen..

[img]null[/img]

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Crackster69 · #20 (**permalink**) 04-11-2002, 02:50 AM

Here's my girl(Sativa) & me Surfing RedTailBoa.Net, Always havin fun together!
(Hope it works)

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