Should I sprinkle calcium on my Iguana's food?

[dja]

Back quite some time ago I used to feed my Iguana (1st one) different kinds of vegetables and I would sprinkle it with calcuim powder.

Once I got the my 2nd Iguana I fed him the kind of food you buy from the store. He eats it just fine and ive been doing this ever since I got him.

So my question is, should I still sprinkle his food with calcuim?

	Iguana Iguana

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[gemisnake]

From my experience with rescued iggys I would say yes, especially with a less varied diet. Not neccesarily every feeding but some calcium realy helps them to stay healthy. The number one factor is of course uv lighting though!

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

If you are feeding store bought pelleted food, I would use Monster--and the two Trex formulas (flowers/veggies)...they are really the best foods (with zoomed coming in 3rd). Mix with a small amount of warm water to moisten.
I feel the Trex flowers are important because unless you are growing your own flowers from scratch....it's dangerous to feed them from any store or garden considering the pesticides and chemicals florists use to keep them attractive and fraqrant. They really need this in their diets though, so this food which singles out this need is wonderful and safe. And both my igs love it.
On the days you feed these premade food you don't need to supplement with anything..those foods are perfectly balanced already...but to be honest I would still use fresh salad greens (like those found in Mesc salad) as the bulk of the diet or at least 50%.
I am a firm believer that if you balance some great pelleted foods with a variety of fresh produce supplementation is not necessary.
That being said, there are others who feel spraying fresh greens is necessary and use a liquid for this purpose. *IF* I were to use supplements I would use the spray on greens.
That powder which some use to coat crickets and other insects in my opinion is not good for vegetable supplementation because it sometimes changes the scent and taste to such a degree that some animals may be turned off by the smell/taste...
But to answer your question directly: it depends which food .
What type of food are you using?

[eddie]

The best diet for any animal is real foods, not the processed stuff
There are a few foods to stay away from though, such as iceberg lettuce and too much kale, as the lettuce has no nutrients and the kale impedes calcium absorption somewhat.

As for the calcium, yes, depending on a few things.

Does the processed food contain calcium?
Does it contain D3?
Do you have a good UV light for the iggy or do you ltake it into the sun for a bit every few days?

If the food contains calcium, then you don't want to over do it and cause calcium build up on his skeletal system.
If it has D3, then definetly don't use extra calcium as it can lead to calcium intoxification and other problems, up to and including death, especially if you are using a good UV light or taking it out for real sunlight.
D3 is synthesized in the skin by the intake of UVB. Too much can actually kill.

If the food does NOT contain calcium or D3, then supplementation is recommended at every second to third feeding, depending on the size and age of the iggy BUT it does need a good UV light source to produce D3 which converts the calcium to a usable form. D3 in supplementation really doesn't work quite the way it's intended.

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[Hummingbird2]

eddie - right on! don't feed your igs those tiny colored food balls! they're expensive, unnatural, and some igs just won't eat the crap anyway. iguanas need about 80% ripped up collard greens, turnip greens, and kale (no thick stems). mustard greens are also good. the other 20% should be chopped fruits and veggies (apples, kiwi, squash, pears, SEEDLESS melon, and mango are *great*).

never feed them spinach - it binds calcium in their bodies, thus making metabolic bone disorder almost a certainty. romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, green leaf and red leaf lettuce are bad as well - they are just empty leaves of water. no nutrition at all. tomatoes and orange are also a no-no because they are too acidic.

as for calcium powders, they are great! no ig i've ever had has ever liked it. they will just refuse to eat their food if it's sprinkled on there. i mix about 1 level tablespoon of calcium powder in 1 small jar of fruit baby food (banana, mixed fruit, yams, or something like that). mix it *really* well and put a couple tablespoons on top of the greens. they LOVE it! this also works for omnivorous and other herbivorous herps.

also, metabolic bone disorder is WAY too common mostly because people give their igs the wrong diet and because the animals are never exposed to uv rays. get a fluorescent tube uv light. the bulb should give off between 3% and 5% uv. also, keep in mind that these uv bulbs (which are vital for healthy iguanas) must be less than 1 foot away from the animal or they don't do much good. just make sure the uv bulb is placed somewhere outside the cage but facing the area the iguana spends the most time in.

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

I totally believe that supplementing is not necessary with a good balanced diet. Unless a problem exists or special conditions apply.
The salads mine eat have 15 different baby greens in them and they are a staple. They get treats, and fruit as well. Those pelleted foods are perfect additions to your program....you will find it hard to match them if you tried....they are prepared perfectly. Mine love them
I was just speaking to the zookeeper just yesterday at the reptile house about cyclura husbandry, and she thought my diet was right on the money and for the right reasons.
Also all those 5% 3% stuff that you see on bulbs---just toss them and get a meter...you might be suprised at what you find out.
At the very least read the latest findings at : UVB METER owners@yahoogroups.com
Bulbs will never be looked at the same again.

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[reptigirl04]

I have to side with Hummingbird on this one....I only feed my Ig fresh greens and veggies....
And i cant stress enough how IMPORTANT UVB lighting is!!!!
My friend and I bought our (4months at the time) iguanas together in summer of '02(an impulse buy on the boardwalk in NJ...stupid i know)...
I decided to read up and got the UVB lights, large enclosure(5x3x4tall), leafy greens, take him to the vet, etc.
She got pellet food, no uvb, and a 20 gallon tank, no vet trip...
...Her ig broke its back at 6 months old, and went to a cat/dog vet who said it had hypercalcemia ( i think it had MBD, which is sorta opposite!). Sadly, her ig died, SVL at 4 inches...it was over 1 and 1/2 years when it died.

In my opinion, variety is very important for an iggy's diet, and a uvb light is one of the best things you can do for your ig.

Nicole, where'd you get your meter at?

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[NicoleRussell]

The group I belong to---the group is a must for any herper using UVB.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/
With a great bulb--and a varied diet (which includes a supplemented pellet like monster)--and as much exposure to natural sun as possible---your animal will thrive.
If yo read in the ingredients on monster wou would see it's impossible without backing a truck into your driveway ---to mirror this though greens. I'm not saying this REPLACES fresh food---it simply supplements it.

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[reptigirl04]

Thanks Nicole!
BTW, i was in no way saying that the feeding of pelleted food led to the iguana's condition in the above post, but just that i think it should be fed at least along with fresh greens, if at all.

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

I think that Ig's conditon was overall bad husbandry---sounded very sad to be honest
I didn't take it wrong RG.
How many igs do you have?

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[reptigirl04]

Oh, i didnt think you did...
Yea, some people just wont take good advice...
I just have one, his name is Gollum. He's almost 2 years, and he's my baby!

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[NicoleRussell]

wow I almost named an animal Gollum recently. I love LOTR's....my new beardy is smeagol--thanks to everyone here