iguana-lizard
Iguana Illnesses
Iguana Illnesses that need Immediate Attention
Like humans, these iguanas actually also fall ill. If you have learned to love your pet iguanas, you might as well want to keep them for long. Here are some of the most common iguana illnesses that require immediate veterinary attention and proper medication or else you will lose your pets.
Fibrous Osteodystrophy or the metabolic bone disease. This iguana illness comes as a result of extreme malnutrition especially when they are not fed well. Most of the shops selling the iguanas give out worthy nutritional tips and advices to the buyers of these reptiles. Most of the pet owners prefer to feed their pets with squash and lettuce. In truth, the lettuce is a water spongemeaning there is no nutrition to be derived from it. Such shortcoming is again aggravated by the insufficient vitamin D3 and calcium intake by the reptile. When they get exposed to this dangerous situation, they might in fact die. Among the vital symptoms of the disease are a swollen lower jaw, listlessness, rubbery or soft face and lower jaw, difficulty in eating, and swollen limbs. At most times, the spine and the limbs also easily get fractured.
The paralysis of the back legs. This is the result of a deficiency in vitamin B1. The tail also gets affected. With this comes the injection of the essential minerals and vitamins to the reptile and a change in its diet is as well recommended.
The nose abrasions. The frequent attempts of the reptile to escape cause the abrasions and scratches to its face and nose. When they are in search for a way to escape, they often rub their noses on the enclosures of their tanks. The abrasions are often caused by the wire, glass, or plastic enclosures of their cages. When the nose abrasions remain untreated, ulceration of the rostrum, bacterial infection, and other deformities could result.
The thermal injuries or burns. The burns are usually acquired through the contact with the heat sources within the tank enclosures. Among the typical culprits are the hot rocks and light bulbs which are left exposed. The lights are advised to be placed above the enclosures which cannot be reached by the iguana.
The bacterial infection. There are several types of bacterial infection that can affect the iguana. The blister disease is caused by the repeated exposure to the filthy and damp environment. The dry gangrene of the toes and tails causes these body parts to turn dark gray to black, and then start to have it breaking off. The main root of these all is the insufficient sanitation. Mouth rot causes the occurrence of inflammation, swelling, and pus in the mouth of the iguana. Abscesses results in the formation of the pus.
The parasites. The parasites settle within the gastrointestinal tract just within the blood of the iguana. The parasites are the major causes of death in the iguanas which are taken captive.
Viral Infection. Researches are ongoing for the causes and cure of viral infections in iguanas.
Organ failure. Organ failure among iguanas is caused by its age or of an existing bacterial infection. The dominant symptoms are weight loss, loss of appetite, listlessness, bloating, and death.
Bladder stones. This causes the abdomen to be enlarged.
Egg-binding. This causes death among the female iguanas especially when they are unable to let the egg pass through their reproductive tracts.
These and a lot other iguana illnesses require medical attention if you do not want to risk the life of your iguana pet.
Iguana Information
Iguanas: The Different and the Similar
Green iguanas are the ones you usually bring home to take care and pamper. What you may not know is that there are different types of iguanas out there. Oftentimes, you will see these other types not in pet stores but in the forests where they live.
There are actually six types of iguanas. These are the
1. Dipsosaurus, the desert iguana.
2. Ctenosaura, the spiny-tailed iguana.
3. Lemanctus, casque-headed iguana.
4. Corytophanes, the helmeted iguana.
5. Cyclura, the rhinoceros and rock iguana.
5. Chalarodon, the Madagascar iguana.
6. Green iguana.
The famous iguana that is fast becoming a part of most households is the green iguana. These iguanas may be of different types and appearances but they all have similarities terms of diet, habits and size.
1. Herbivores iguanas.
The description of herbivores is the kind that eats only plant or plant matters. It can be noted that there are not many reptiles that can live on plant food alone. This is what makes iguanas unique from them. This may be the reason why people want these reptiles for their pet. Feeding them is not as hard as any other animals.
Being herbivores does not mean that you can just pick any plant out there to feed your iguana. If you want to maintain its health, consider giving them nutritious green and leafy vegetables. Try lettuce. You can give it to them regularly. If you do not have an abundance of vegetables to supply, consider other alternative sources of leafy plants.
2. Tropical temperature.
Iguanas are used to having tropical climates all year round. That is why you will not be able to find an iguana habitat in places where there are shifts of hot and cold climates.
This is one thing that you should consider once you have decided to have a pet iguana. You are required to monitor the temperature around your house or in shelter that you have provided for them.
Iguanas need constant heat to maintain their body temperature. Many iguana owners have realized that there is an increase in the usage of their electric heaters or gas once they have an iguana in their household.
So if you are located in locations where there is a winter season, make sure that your heater works. If you do not have one reliable source of heat, then it is a wise idea not to consider getting an iguana.
3. Tamed iguana.
Your pet iguana will not get tamed on its own. As the owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that you tame your iguana well so that they will be able to socialize well with you and with others.
A tamed iguana will be able to roam around your house without moving or eating on anything that arouses its curiosity. You can also take them outdoors or in events outside of your home. You also have the ability to caress, hold and cuddle your iguana once you are assured that it will not harm you when you do so.
4. Iguanas grow big.
You might be misled into thinking that your iguana will remain small and tiny all throughout its life cycle. This is a misconception.
All types of iguanas will grow its full size once they are taken properly care of. In 3 to 4 years time, expect your iguana to be five to six feet long.
Iguana Lizard
Tips on Proper Iguana Lizard Care
An iguana though robust and aggressive in nature needs a lot of care than most of the pet animals. Most people who got their pet iguanas for the first time do not know what to do about them or do not have the knowledge on how to properly care for them.
The most important thing to do when having an Iguana Lizard as your pet is to get to know them, read articles about the, and consult some professionals on how to take good care of them.
Stay away from bad informations that you might get from shop owners and other people who seem to know about it but doesnt.
Most iguana owners often get confused on which book to follow and which website to look at or which person to take advice from. So to have the right information about taking good care of your iguana make sure that your guidelines are approved and also check out some credible websites about the myths and misconception about taking good care of your iguana lizard pet.
Make your iguana feel at home first by not moving it from a small place first, leave your iguana in a small secluded place and observe it first for a few weeks and chart down different changes that it may project.
It may be stressful for your iguana to get used to your place for the first time so but dont fret about not being able to handle your iguana for the first few weeks, this will basically make the taming process of your iguana faster.
Next is to find a good veterinarian for your iguana. While waiting for your iguana to get accustomed to his new environment you should find a good veterinarian for your iguanas regular checkup.
Food is another issue when it comes to taking care of your Iguana Lizard pet. Aside from the iguana food that you can buy from the pet store you can also feed your iguana with vegetables and fruits
One basic rule is that Iguana Lizards are stringently herbivores, though many books recommend insects to be fed to iguanas some are still against this notion and firmly believes that feeding your iguana lizards green and leafy herbs is still the best diet.
Eventually the most important thing is to provide them with fresh food and water. And they should be fed regularly everyday the number of times is not that important as long as it is fed everyday and fed enough to be healthy.
Habitat of your iguana is also a major factor in your proper care regimen. You should have a large place for your iguana lizard, as time goes by your pet will grow bigger almost four times bigger the size when you first bought it.
Cleanliness is also an important factor in an Iguanas habitat and with your Iguana as well. Try to clean them on very regular basis to avoid parasites that can cause sickness and odor on your iguanas habitat.
One thing that you should have in mind before owning an iguana lizard is the amount of fund that you are willing to give. Owning an iguana is not an easy task both physically and financially, so be ready to shed not just some sweat but also some cash to go with it.
