davejr

Hello again group,

Just wondering what a good iguana diet would be? I've tried the Malissa
Kaplan 'basic diet', however, it usually turns to icky muck just after a
couple of days of being in the fridge. And they would often turn thier
noses up at it. I have been feeding them mostly collard greens with some
mango, some papaya, some fresh raw green beans, some yellow squash,
occationally some multi-grain good bread in little bite size chunks and
occationally some strawberries.

All I'm asking is what is a good ruitine?

Dave Jr.

fsuguy

Try making the salad of mostly collard greens, fresh raw green beans, orange
(not yellow) squash if you can get it, and freezing each ingredient
seperately. Then, you can pull each frozen ingredient out (breaking off a
chunk if it freezes solid)and mix it in a bowl, and let it thaw for an hour
or two. Then it never turns into muck, and it stays fresh MUCH longer. Be
careful though, I've heard that Thiamin is lost when things are frozen, so
look for info on Thiamin supplements. Bread is not neccessary (except as a
treat) and fruits are good sources of hydration. Make sure also that their
temps are right, because if they can't digest their food, they may not want
to eat. Also, how many iguanas are you housing together? Sometimes iguanas
housed together will cause them to stress out (which means they don't eat.
Finicky ****ers)
-Ben
PS How do you guys think that smileys in parenthesis should be handled?

davejr

I have two. Male and Female. Pogo and Xena. About 2 years old.
Housed in a 75 gal tank that I extended straight up to the ceiling with wood
and open mesh. Good heat, good lighting. However having trouble keeping
the humidity high.

Dave Jr

julian hales

i just mist mine with a spray

fsuguy

Try putting a tray of water under their basking light. The evaporation
should help with the humidity some. And spray them too.
-Ben

david hall

Hi,

I would cut out the bread, and maybe increase the berry part of the diet.
While collard are best, try varying it with mustard, turnup, etc. greens.
Variety really helps my 5 ft. and 20 some pound ig stay that way.

Figuring out fave foods (he will perform for stawberries at outreaches)
helps, too.

snakebuster

The skin of the mango fruit contains the same chemical as poison ivy,
urushiol

later, the Snake Whisperer

Teach the Children
"Back to The Garden"

whattheheck

You can also try Dandelion Greens.
Mine loves them and they make up 50-70% of his diet.
(You can buy them in some stores but none carry them here)
I purposely let one corner of my backyard get over run
and only weed out the edges to keep it in the right place.
I dont use any insecticides or fertilisers so it's good for him.
I always have alot on hand and it grows back quick. I even
take extra every day and add it to freezer bags to stock it up
for winter. As long as you rince it good and then dry it on a
towel afterwards, it keeps for ages frozen and doesnt go to
mush when you take it out.
A no-cost main food source right at your finger tips!!
And it's one of the best for them!!
They can eat all parts and tend to love the flowers!!
I just add in a bit of cantelope, carrot (he loves orange colors),
green beans, bean sprouts, green onions, pear, parsley and a
tiny bit of spinach (not much or it binds the calcuim). I also
sometimes throw in a bit of bok choy, kale and such.

Rob

davejr

Hey group. I have read that tofu is recommended to include in an iguana
diet. What is the professional opinion of this? And which kind
specifically?
I was also wondering about recommended enclosure dimensions. I was thinking
about PVC tubing this time instead of wood. PVC tubes and pieces/parts are
dirt cheap.

PS...I found that an electric coffee grinder works very well for turning
alfalfa tablets into powder to sprinkle on their food.

justin williams

Hi Dave
1- We don't use it for our igs. For a source of protein we stick with
alfalfa
2- Dimensions: We've built several terraria: one was 8 feet tall, 6 feet
wide and 3 feet deep; another was 3 feet by 3 feet by 7 feet tall; a
third was 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep (that one we have
found too small)
3- electric coffee grinders do work well. Be careful, though. We've
had blades (or parts of blades) break off, and have gone through 3
grinders in the past 2 years.