Iguana not growing.

[RandyRhoads]

I bought him about 6 months ago, and he's still tiny. I have a two bulb hood with reptimed uv lights. His diet consists of a combination of squash, peas, romaine lettuce, straberries, collard greens, and bannanas. I mist his enclosure every morning keeping it nice and steamy. I used blue iguana calcium supplements up until a month ago. I know he should be growing rapidly, why is he not growing at all?

The last 2 are of my adults (who is doing great) sunning cage.

[RandyRhoads]

Bump. No one sees anything wrong with this setup or has any idea why he isn't growing?

[NennaMeerkat]

I dunno enough about iguanas but would adding some protein in his diet via crickets get him growing? Or some veggie protein such as beans?

[youngster]

I don't know the first thing about iguanas but every individual is different so maybe he just has a different growth pattern. I'm 13 but I'm only 4' 9" and I'm totally healthy. That's my opinion but I don't really know anything about iguanas.

[vendettaseve]

Romaine lettuce is sort of meh for reptiles. I dont know alot about Iguanas mind you, Im more of a Beardy guy. Id suggest some Dandelion or Mustard greens to replace the Romaine.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

I bought him about 6 months ago, and he's still tiny. I have a two bulb hood with reptimed uv lights. His diet consists of a combination of squash, peas, romaine lettuce, straberries, collard greens, and bannanas. I mist his enclosure every morning keeping it nice and steamy. I used blue iguana calcium supplements up until a month ago. I know he should be growing rapidly, why is he not growing at all?

The last 2 are of my adults (who is doing great) sunning cage.

Love the sunning cage. Now even though I know nothing about Iguanas, I've looked around the net and found this link about size and hope it will make you feel a bit more comfortable: Size Doesn't Matter

Another link is a detailed diet plan which gives the type of food, what it contains, and what supplements to use with it: "MK Diet" Composition

One thing that I've read is that Iguanas can't chew their food so everything needs to be mashed enough so the tummy can handle digestion. I assume you knew that because your other Iguanas look great. Well, if nothing else, I've learned a bit more about them. Good luck and sorry if I wasn't of any help.

[youngster]

Hey look I was right, size doesn't matter! :P

[vendettaseve]

Originally Posted by youngster

Hey look I was right, size doesn't matter! :P

Your not old enough to make that joke yet.

[youngster]

Originally Posted by vendettaseve

Your not old enough to make that joke yet.

HAHAHAHA! I swear that was a coincidence! I didn't even make the connection

[RandyRhoads]

Originally Posted by vendettaseve

Your not old enough to make that joke yet.

LMAO. I thought that's what he meant at first but I think he was refering to his height.

From what i've heard Mellissa Kaplan is a joke so I wont even waste my time with that site. Green Iguana Society seems to be a great site. I switched his diet off of anything with oxalates or phytates. Crickets are a big no-no Nenna. Normally I cut the food up pretty small. The Romaine lettuce is very seldom, mainly when i'm broke it's the cheapest thing for the ammount you get.

I hope someone who knows alot about them comes along Maybe the size doesn't matter but from what i've read and I think someone posted on here they should grow at least an inch a month when young and cared for properly.

[Dehlida]

Lettuce is garbage, ditch that and feed better greens. Also, if he's not growing at all, despite lots of food offered and the proper temps/humidity- have you ruled out the possibility of parasites? Most iguanas are wild caught and are loaded with parasites. A simple treatment may clear it up.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

From what i've heard Mellissa Kaplan is a joke so I wont even waste my time with that site.

Based on what I've read across the forums, the word on MK varies. Some find her information very helpful and others totally oppose it, however, keeping that in mind I only linked the dietary breakdown, which is research based and consistent with other foods, that way you can check to see if your diet is balanced. I mean the diet of your Iguana. hahaha

[RandyRhoads]

Originally Posted by Dehlida

Lettuce is garbage, ditch that and feed better greens. Also, if he's not growing at all, despite lots of food offered and the proper temps/humidity- have you ruled out the possibility of parasites? Most iguanas are wild caught and are loaded with parasites. A simple treatment may clear it up.

Once again, it's a selom last resort, and it's romaine not iceberg so it's not complete trash. I haven't thought of parasites i'm not familiar with iguanas and parasites. What kind could it be and what type of treatment can be given? Him being wild caught would explain his apprehensive behaviour despite holding and hand feeding.

[Dehlida]

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

Once again, it's a selom last resort, and it's romaine not iceberg so it's not complete trash. I haven't thought of parasites i'm not familiar with iguanas and parasites. What kind could it be and what type of treatment can be given? Him being wild caught would explain his apprehensive behaviour despite holding and hand feeding.

There is a commercially available parasite killer used for farm animals and the like that many will use in very small doses for reptiles to treat them. I forget what it's called though and will need to look it up.

[RandyRhoads]

Originally Posted by Dehlida

There is a commercially available parasite killer used for farm animals and the like that many will use in very small doses for reptiles to treat them. I forget what it's called though and will need to look it up.

And this is safe to use on them? Anyone with experience with this know the dosage/location to buy?