An Iguana Quest!

[bubbles]

Hello... my name is Bekah..... I just signed in a minute ago, as you may tell I am new to this site. I have had hundreds of reptiles, thousands of animals, and am d**n good at taking care of every one of them. But, just recently I got a dump off....... an Iguana was brought to me for need of rescuing and I have a few questions about him!

this is my baby! His name is Buster, and he has been used and abused, passed around from bad owner to bad owner.... I have promised every thing to take care of him, and I will do just that and more!

[prismwolf]

Poor baby. Except for the obvious signs of either past MBD...or current...his color is good and his tail is chunky.

What kind of questions do you have?

One thing about climbing the tree if he still has MBD. If he falls...and the MBD is bad enough...it can break a minor bone at the least, paralyzing him is very possible...and killing him is even something to worry about. If he no longer has MBD and this is just a left over deformity, then let him climb away...:-D

[bubbles]

I'd like to know what type of Iguana he is.... he's all healed up and every thing, all his injuries and such are like 2 years old.

I'm thinking that he is a red iguana, but I'm not possitive.


oh, and the tree is only 2 feet off the ground, and he runs right up it himself, he just loves it!... I give him lots of calcium supplements so he should be pretty set for the bone stuff.

[ChamZilla]

He is a commin green iguana. And he is lucky to have found you. Also if he has MBD it doesn't matter if its 12" off the ground instead of 2 feet. The iguana I rescued showed NO signs of MBD then she fell and broke her back. She is unable to move her back legs now, use the washroom on her own and she has fusing of the joints in her tail. (her tail is stuck a certain way)

Have you taken him to a vet yet? It is important to do that and get his blood checked for calcium phospherus levels. Too much calcium is just as bad and can be harmful to his health to. His poor jaw Sad to see igs treated badly and end up like that.

Can we ask what you are feeding him and what UV lighting you have for him ward off the MBD?

Welcome to the site And hopefully Barney keeps doing well

[ChamZilla]

This is my rescue with MBD that wasn't diagnosed by a vet until it was too late. If you look about 8" before her tail she has a lump and curving of her spine, that is where she has a spine fracture. And the bend in her tail is perminant. This is why it is important for them to see a vet. Weather they have MBD or not, and if they are post MBD it is just as important as it can come back if not taken care of properly.

We just don't want him to relapse and get worse He is cute though



This is what she looked like when she arrived. No sign of MBD. And she was put under UV lighting and given a proper diet. But the damage was already done and came out almost a month later.

[bubbles]

omg..... this all scares me sooo much.... I love him and I really hope he doesn't get worse! No I have not taken him to a vet, but I talked to one on the phone and she got lots of pictures of him.... she says that he looks great for having it, and that he is on the road to recovery. I have him in a glass tank that is not fit for him, he came in this awful thing and has been in it since birth unfortunetly I can't get to town to get him a new home untill saturday. I have been researching and talking to people about his diet needs and this is what I'm giving him..... Due to his jaw injury I was afraid to give him big foods and the salads he should be getting, he hasn't had any thing other than pellets, which I know aren't great for a permanent diet. So what I did was I whent out and I bought him calcium/phospherous supplement powder, and lots of dark green veggies. I made him his very own, all organic, all natural, all iguana safe baby food. I took a couple apple slices, a hand full of fresh green beans, some spinach, some parsely, some grapes, and some cactus fruit.... I stuck it in the blender (leaving it kinda chunky) and I fed him a bowl full (along with his powder. HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! He took a nice warm bath today, he's going to the bathroom really good and normal.... and he seems to be very happy..... I got over my fobia and I've been giving him long cut green beans and a nice salad he seems to enjoy alot. It's all new to him though, he hasn't had any of this!!!!


As for his light and heat.... I switch him with 3 differnt sources.

durring the day, EVERY day, he is put under a basking lamp (on a regular basis at the same time every day when I wake up in the morning) it's a 75 watt UVA Basking Spot Lamp. I also take him outside every day for at the least 2 hours.

At night every night at the same time on a regular basis he gets put under a ceramic heat bulb that keeps him and his whole tank well warmed.

but, when it isn't that cold and the ceramic bulb is too much heat he gets a 75 watt red basking heat lamp that keeps him warm but doesn't let off any light that he can see so that he can still sleep normal. this light is also a UVA light.

[bubbles]

I've only had Buster 5 days, so he's leaping huge in the food change department!



your iguana is beautiful even if she is hurt..... thank you for all the info it's really great... I haven't had an iguana since I was like 5!!!! Really it is great that you guys can help!

[bubbles]

Buster is looking very good, his color is improving soooo much!

[prismwolf]

Buster really looks comfortable in that second photo...:-) He sure doesn't look happy with you in the first one! He was lucky to have been dumped on you. You're doing good by him, for sure...:-D.

[ChamZilla]

LOL I agree he deffinatly doesn't look happy in that first photo. But you can really see the damage done to his poor mouth. He's a lucky guy thats for sure. Its funny how some of them have so much fight in them and others don't. But I have to agree with Prism he looks very happy and comfy in the second picture.

Just be sure to do the best you can for him and keep up the good work. Natural sunlight is the best for him. But you could visit www.reptileuv.com and they have the BEST UVA&B lights available. THey are wonderful for MBD animals and for other animals to help prevent it.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted