UVB enables these lizards to synthesize vitamin D3. Without vitamin D3, they will be unable to metabolize calcium that they consume in their diet. Calcium deficiency is a serious condition that will make your iguana very susceptible to metabolic bone disease. Metabolic bone disease can easily be fatal.

Now that you know why proper lighting for iguanas is important, make sure you purchase a bulb that specifically states that it produces UVB. You should have plenty of options. Since your iguana will also need heat, you can kill two birds with one stone and buy a bulb that also provides heat.

The very best lighting to provide for your iguana is natural sunlight. So, you should try to give him outside time as much as possible. Just make sure he has access to a shaded area so that he won’t overheat. Also, you shouldn’t take him outside if the ambient temperature is lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Iguanas are up during the day and sleep at night. Like us, it’s hard for them to sleep with a bright light on. This will make them very cranky and stressed. Therefore, you should put a timer on your lights. Leave them on for 10-12 hours to simulate daytime, then turn them off at night. If you don’t use a timer, you will have to manually turn the lights off and on.

If you buy fluorescent lighting, you should know that the effectiveness of the UVB rays diminishes over distance. You want to make sure that your iguana is receiving the full benefit of the lighting. Therefore, you should setup a basking branch no more than 12 inches away from the light.

Besides lighting, there are many more important aspects of iguana care. The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care will teach you everything you need to know. Make sure your pet lives a happy and healthy life. Check out the iguana care guide now to make sure you’re caring for your pet properly.

It’s important that your iguana’s enclosure has two distinct warm and cool areas. This allows them to regulate their body heat like they would in the wild. The warmer area should have a temperature ranging between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler area needs to be between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

You have multiple options when setting up heating for your iguana. Two of the most common options include radiant heat panels and ceramic heat emitters. Radiant heat panels are installed below the substrate. Ceramic bulbs generate heat without light. You can also use a heating pad designed for humans to provide extra heat. However, make sure you keep it on its lowest setting.

Hot rocks should not be an option for your iguana. A defective hot rock could easily kill your lizard. Since they don’t detect pain very well on their bellies, your iguana could be killed or severely burned before he realized there was something wrong.

If you want to be a good owner, you need to learn about many more things besides providing the right temperature/heating. You need to check out The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care to ensure you’re caring for your pet properly. Every owner wants to make sure that his/her pet will live a long and healthy life. So, go ahead and download your copy of The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care today!

Bladder Stones

Urine contains minerals that are supposed to be broken down naturally. If instead it accumulates, stones may develop in the urinary bladder. This usually causes symptoms such as lethargy and straining during urination. If the stones get too long, the abdomen may swell in response. The veterinarian will have to perform an x-ray to determine if bladder stones are indeed the problem. Upon successful diagnosis, surgery is required to extract the stone.

Egg Binding

One of the next common iguana health problems is egg binding. This potentially life-threatening condition affects females and occurs when they can’t expel an egg from their reproductive tract. Egg binding can occur due to various illnesses, malnutrition, or eggs that are too large or malformed. Again, an x-ray is required to diagnose the problem. The two main methods of treatment include surgery and medication.

Mites

Mites are external parasites that live on your iguana. If they are left untreated, they can cause more serious problems. They can also infect your other pets if you have any. You may notice little brown, red, or white specs moving around. In addition to treating your iguana, you will also need to treat the surrounding environment so the problem doesn’t recur.

Burns

All iguanas need a source of heat and light. However, heat lamps and light bulbs can also burn your lizard if he’s not too careful. Therefore, you need to install a protective device when using light bulbs or heat lamps to prevent burns.

Nose Abrasions

Nose abrasions are one of the final common iguana health problems. This occurs when your pet repeatedly bumps up against the walls of the enclosure trying to get out. Over time, this causes abrasions to form on the nose. This can sometimes can serious and permanent injuries.

If you care for your pet properly, you can avoid most health problems. Download your copy of The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care today. You want your iguana to live a long and healthy life, right? Then do the best thing for your lizard and check out the iguana care guide right now!

Size

One of the most important things to consider when setting up your iguana’s housing is size. Baby igs can exist fine in a regular aquarium. However, these lizards grow very big, so you’ll have to upgrade the aquarium as it grows.

A healthy adult can grow up to six feet and will need an enclosure that’s at least six feet long, three feet wide, and six feet high. Sometimes it can be pretty hard finding cages large enough in stores that are relatively affordable, so most owners end up custom building one or having it done for them.

Substrate

It’s also important to think about the substrate when setting up an iguana habitat. Suitable materials include carpet, paper towels, and newspaper. Make sure the newspaper has non-toxic ink though.

You should avoid using loose materials such as dirt and sand. Sand and dirt can easily be ingested since iguanas frequently flick their tongues. The ingested materials can lead to a blockage in the digestive tract.

Branches

Iguanas live in trees in the wild. They love to climb. Therefore, it’s important that you provide your ig with plenty of branches and perches to climb around on. The perches and branches can also be used for basking. Just make sure that everything is sturdy enough to support the weight of your iguana. This can become a problem as they grow larger.

Heat

Since they’re tropical creatures, you’ll need to provide plenty of heat for your iguana. You should setup a basking area with a temperature between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the rest of the enclosure should be upwards of 80 degrees. Make sure that you have multiple thermometers and humidity gauges setup.

Food

It should go without saying, but make sure you provide food and water dishes in the iguana habitat. It’s important that these dishes are shallow enough for easy use. For your sake, it’s best that they can be cleaned easily too.

Besides having a suitable enclosure, there are many more important aspects of iguana care. To learn everything you need to know, make sure you read The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care. Every owner wants to make sure that his/her pet will live a long and healthy life. Then make sure you get your copy of the iguana care guide right now.

Vegetables

Vegetables should be the staple of your iguana diet. It’s best to feed dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, parsley, and collard greens. You can also give collard, mustard, and dandelion greens to him. Other suitable vegetables include carrots and squash that have been shredded.

Plants

Iguanas also eat plant material in the wild, so you should provide him with some. Just make sure that the plants have not been sprayed with any fertilizers or chemicals. The most common choice is dandelion leaves and flowers. Your other options include carnation flowers, hibiscus flowers, and rose petals. Just make sure that you never feed azaleas because they’re toxic to iguanas. Your local pet store should carry edible herbs and flowers.

Fruit

Providing fruit is also a necessary part of feeding iguanas. However, this should only be given occasionally. Berries, apples, peaches, pears, and bananas are all fine. You can also give him grapes, plums, and melons.

Water

You need to make sure your iguana always has plenty of fresh water available. If you allow the water to sit, it will eventually get dirty and contaminated. This may cause serious health conditions. The food also shouldn’t be allowed to spoil in the enclosure.

There are many more important aspects of iguana care in addition to providing a proper diet. The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care will teach you everything you need to know. Make sure your pet lives a happy and healthy life. Then make sure you get your copy of this iguana care guide right now.

Metabolic Bone Disease

One of the most common ailments that affect iguanas and other reptiles is metabolic bone disease. This illness results from insufficient calcium in the body. Owners are usually to blame as the disease is often caused by improper lighting, diet, or housing.

If your pet is afflicted with metabolic bone disease, he will show a variety of signs. They include general lethargy, swollen tail, and swollen limbs. The lower jaw may also become swollen which will cause your iguana to have trouble eating.

Paralysis

One of the next common diseases in iguanas is rear leg paralysis. It is usually caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1. However, an insufficient amount of calcium in the body can also cause this problem. If vitamin B1 deficiency is to blame, your iguana will need to take B vitamins via injection. You will also need to improve his diet so the problem doesn’t recur.

Blister Disease

Blister disease is characterized by the formation of blisters around the body. The condition is caused by prolonged exposure to bacteria. This is often due to poor hygiene or sanitation in the living area. Blister disease can especially be a problem when the enclosure is particularly moist. Your iguana will need to take an aggressive course of antibiotics to treat blister disease.

Mouth Rot

Lizards that are in a weakened state and also suffering from malnutrition are particularly susceptible to mouth rot. This disease is caused by a bacterial infection. It leads to signs such as increase salivation, swelling, and the formation of pus in the mouth. Most iguanas have trouble eating when suffering from mouth rot. The veterinarian will have to identify the specific bacteria and treat it with antibiotics.

Dry Gangrene

One of the final common iguana diseases is dry gangrene. It is caused by a bacterial infection throughout the body. This is a serious condition. Dry gangrene usually affects the toes and tail, moving slowly up from the tip of the tail towards the base. You will have to give your iguana an aggressive course of antibiotics and make sure he has good hygiene.

These are a few of the most common diseases in green iguanas. As mentioned earlier, you can prevent many by taking proper care of your lizard. Make sure you download your copy of The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care today to make sure you’re doing the right things. Your iggy will thank you for it.

One of the simplest ways to maintain proper humidity for iguanas is to use a spray bottle. You can use this to mist the enclosure as well as your iguana a few times each day. An expensive yet more reliable solution would be to buy an automatic misting or fogging system. One of these systems would automatically mist the enclosure a few times each day.

You can also give you iguana a shower or bath on a daily basis. This will greatly help the amount of moisture he has available. However, you need to be careful if you use the tub yourself. Iguanas can carry salmonella bacteria which can cause a serious bacterial infection in humans. Therefore, make sure you disinfect the tub after your iguana has had a bath.

While it’s important to have a relatively high iguana humidity level, it’s also important that it’s not too high. This presents an excellent breeding ground for the growth of fungus and mildew. Not only will it grow around the enclosure, but it can also grow on the iguana itself.

Making sure there is adequate ventilation will help reduce this problem. It’s also helpful if you don’t mist the enclosure too late in the afternoon. The heating lights will help evaporate excess moisture while they’re on during the day.

There are many more things to learn about iguana care besides providing humidity for iguanas. To learn everything you need to know, make sure you read The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care. Make sure your pet lives a happy and healthy life. So, go ahead and download your copy of the Guide to Iguana Care today!

Escape

You certainly don’t want your lizard to escape. If you have a baby, then you’ll need to barricade the bottom of the doorways. He can easily escape beneath one of the doors in the room if you don’t.

You also need to make sure that all windows are closed shut. Iguanas love to climb and will quickly escape outside through a cracked window. You should also be aware that screens aren’t enough to contain them. Their sharp claws and teeth can easily create an escape route.

Cords

It’s best that you don’t have any electrical cords lying around the room, especially live ones. You don’t want your iguana to bite through one and get the shock of his life. Even if he doesn’t try to bite the cord, he can try to climb it. He may pull something down on top of him and get hurt.

Plants

Live plants can also pose a hazard to your reptile. Some varieties are very toxic if ingested. You’ll need to research potentially harmful species if you have any plants in your home. In addition to the plants themselves, the dirt that houses them can also cause problems. If your iggie eats too much of it, it can cause impaction.

Cleanliness

You’ll also need to make sure that you keep the room very tidy. This means nothing lying around on the floor that your iguana may decide to eat. Potentially hazardous items include string, cloth, and hair. Make sure the carpet is vacuumed well. You should also be aware that loose threads in the carpet can be ingested and cause impaction.

Pets

It’s never a good idea to mix these exotic pets with other pets in the home. Iguanas don’t get along very well with cats, dogs, and other common pets. If you do allow them to be around each other, you should do so only occasionally. And even then, you need to monitor them closely to ensure one doesn’t get hurt.

Besides ig-proofing, there are many more important aspects of iguana care. To learn everything you need to know, make sure you read The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care. Every owner wants to make sure that his/her pet will live a long and healthy life. Then make sure you get your copy of the Guide to Iguana Care right now.

Causes

The most common reason iguanas develop this condition is because they lack enough calcium in their diet. Without enough calcium to fulfill the body’s needs, it will start taking it from the bones. This dramatically weakens the bones and causes very easy fractures.

However, a lack of calcium isn’t the only reason iguanas develop metabolic bone disease. It can also occur if you don’t provide our iggie with enough UVA and UVB light. Without this light, they are unable to make their own vitamin D, which is necessary for their bodies to metabolize calcium properly. Improper temperatures and health conditions that cause hormonal imbalance can also lead to metabolic bone disease.

Signs

The best way to determine if your iguana is suffering from this condition is to feel his lower jaw bone. It will feel soft or spongy. Be careful that you don’t apply too much pressure, or you may break it. The jaw may also start to swell which will make it pretty hard for your iggie to eat. He will probably stop eating altogether.

If this disease is allowed to progress, your iguana may start having episodes of tremoring and twitching. This most often affects the muscles in the legs and toes. When he walks, you may also notice a rather jerky gait.

Treatment

Treatment of metabolic bone disease in iguanas depends on how advanced it is. If caught early enough, it can usually be treated successfully. However, you should know that some deformities are permanent.

Most iguanas have suffered broken bones which lead to a diagnosis of this condition. The bones will need to be set and allowed to heal. A strong calcium supplement will need to be prescribed if a lack of calcium in the diet is the underlying cause. If other types of improper care are the reason, then they will need to be corrected.

The area around an abscess will swell up considerably. This should be the first warning sign that there’s something wrong with your iguana. The site will also ooze a yellowish substance and become crusty. Sometimes, an abscess forms deep into the tissue. The overlying skin may not be affected much, so you would have a hard time seeing that something is wrong.

If you feel your lizard has developed an abscess, it’s vital that you take him to a vet as soon as possible. As long as the bacteria are present, it will get reproducing and spreading throughout the body. If left untreated, internal abscesses may form.

In order to treat this condition, your iguana will have to undergo surgery. During surgery, all abscess material will be removed from the wound. Sometimes, the vet won’t be able to remove the material all at once. Multiple surgeries are required for these cases.

In addition to surgery, your iggie will also need a course of injectable antibiotics. Hopefully, this will be enough to get rid of the infection. It’s very difficult to treat your iguana if the condition has advanced far enough to produce an internal abscess.

The formation of an abscess is just one thing that may go wrong with your iguana. You need to check out The Comprehensive Guide to Iguana Care to ensure you’re caring for your pet properly. You certainly want your pet to live a healthy and long life. So, go ahead and download your copy of the Guide to Iguana Care today!