my iguana's color

[TimeTaker]

I bought my iguana about 6 months ago and he looked newly born, so I would gauge em at being about 7 months old. He had this vibrant green color that was birghter then well colored grass. Recently, I moved. When I moved, I didnt know where to get some greens for him, so I fed him some of my back up iguana food made by rep-cal. The "growth formula juvenile iguana food". I also placed him in a new 40 gallon cage. This was about 1-2 months ago. Whithin about two weeks of doing all of this, his color started to fade severely. As of how, his tail looks kinda of pail, and the top of his body is turning from bright green do black. The belly of his body looks as green as it used to, but everywhere the UVB hits on him is turning black. He is eating normally, and I put him back on his old food with calcium dust. He has a good basking spot, and is still energetic. His fecal matter looks the same as it used to, and he is still going regularly. He doesnt seem to have any less energy, and his eyes are still the same color. He sleeps a little bit more durring the day then I remember, but that could be just my noticing it since I am closer to his cage now, as it is next to my computer.
So, I am wondering, what could be causing his color to fade so fast, what can I do to get his color back, and how to know if my UVB is still permitting the right types of light. He rencently shed, and looked rather pale for a while before that, but his color hasnt returned to normal even after he shed. I do not know what to do, or even if it is possible to get that pretty green color back. Any kind of help is much appreciated. Thank you in advance. I will attempt to post pictures if I can find a camera.

[Patrick Kubeja]

Hello Time Taker

It sounds like a stress eschew but I could be wrong. There is nothing wrong with feeding the guy re-cal for a short time but it is better to soak it in water for a short time so you do not dehydrate the little guy plus it great for a topper for your guy’s basic salad it will help keep him hydrated.

Back to the changing color thing, what is the basking temps that? When did you buy the UVB bulb? what kind is it? Most UVB bulbs last up to 6 months and basking temps should be 92F to 98F. That could be causing the change in color as well to cold of temps. Plus you had the move that went on and the change in tanks there is a lot of stress going on there. Iguanas not good with to much Stress they will get darker they like things basically the same all the time, same route same everything. I would give it a couple of days still and watch to see if his color comes back and if it doesn’t I would take the little guy to the vet.

Talking about vets have you had your guy to one yet? That another thing that could be going on, your guy really needs to see vet at least one a year with a poop sample so they can check it for parasites

Pictures would be great if you can post them but it does sound like one of 2 things
Stress
Temps are not Right

With out a UVB meter you will never know when the Bulb is not giving out any UV
So it better to change the bulb once every 6 month.

I hope this help you some
Thanks for the post
Patrick

[timetaker]

I used a thermometer to measure the heat in various locations of his cage yesterday, and found that the area he hangs out in at night and what not is 89 degrees, he has a hot spot that goes up to 115 degrees, and the cold area in his cage is steady room temperature around 72 degrees. The UVB is about six months old. When I buy a new one, should it be a 6% or 5%? I will purchase a new one asap. Hes been being picky about what he is eating these last two days also, he hasnt eaten the kale I used to feed him entirely.. Do we suspect that it is the UVB? If it changes anything at all, in the morning he looks rather pale, and gets to be his normal black color after being awake for a few hours. Any more help is much appreciated. Thank you in advance

[Patrick Kubeja]

Hello TimeTaker

Ok it is not the temps but I would try to lower the basking temps a little bet around 98F for the high point. So it sounds like stress, give it a week or 2. What kind of UVB bulbs are you using? The recommended ones are the Reptsin 5.0 or the Iguana Lamp 5.0 www.reptiledirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=214 the 5th and 6th light down on the page and if you really want the best of the best get the Mega Ray EB kit reptileuv.tripod.com/index.html or all the links can be found in the link section of this Board.

Let Start with your Diet Kale is only good for an occasional diet Green but you would do better with Collar, mustard, and dandelion greens and sone turnip greens and then add kale once or twice a month. Here is a good place to get some diet information www.patricksiguanasite.com/Diet.html .Here is another great site to get Food information www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm but it does sound like a stress condition from moving and new environment. So give it about a week keep feeding your guy and doing the things that you always do and your guy should do ok. Keep me informed on the little guy and please post a picture or 2.

Patrick

[burns]

I could be having same problem with my Froggy. She seems not to be going too good with the change of enclosure I recently had. I'm hoping she will eat a lot better, because she's been eating too little to none at all lately. But I've read that, they do that during breeding season and when they are stressed.My guest is one of the two or both.Because I noticed that she is a bit red in color lately so I guess it must be the season...I'm hoping that she learn to love her new place because it's got a better basking spot than her previous enclosure.I also hope she wont starve herself to death...

[Patrick Kubeja]

Hello Burns

Yes it could be both. These guys do not like change and when you do it stresses them out and one of the thinks they stop doing is eating. But you iggy well get used to it and come around and start eating again and your iggy will not starve it self to death LOL!!!

[burns]

thanks for the advice...I was just worried, but early this morning I hand fed her and she actually ate...so I guess she will be fine...