Does anyone know much about Iguanas?

[SenoritaSarah]

I have Green Iguana thats around 8 years old and I am concerned about her. Lately she has been behaving really strangly. She has always been a really sweet creature that loves being petted and all that good stuff, but recently its like she is going crazy. I will observe her from afar and she will be shaking her head as if she is irritated. She also hasnt been eating regularly. But what worried me the most was when I went to feed her she started shaking her head at me like she was mad...and then a little while later I went to pet her and things were fine for a few minutes...then all the sudden she open her eyes and went in defense mode.

I dont know whats going on or what would cause this. Is there anything I am doing wrong? Anything I can do?

Here are a few pictures of her...I think she looks really skinny, especially down where her tail is...there are bones protruding out that I have never noticed before.

 

[jarrell]

In mating season Iguanas get more agressive.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

hmmm...intriguing...when is this mating season you speak of over?

I dont feel like being mauled by my angel!!! And does the mating season make her go Anorexic? Is she just getting trim for the potential mate?

 

[jarrell]

how irregually is she eating? iguanas do seem lose there appetite when in breeding season. When a iguana head shakes, its called bobing. Iguana bobs there head to declare domninace. when she bobs is she relaxed or in a defensive postion? if she is relaxed shes doing it as a greeting.

when she gets aggresive sees if shes responds to your tone of voice. say in a low tone bad iguana, like what you would say to a dog.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

She only eats like once a week, if that. When shes bobbing, she doesnt seem that defensive, but it still freaks me out. Its just not something she has ever done before. But she does seem to respond to my voice if tell her to calm down, she'll close her eyes and chill out.

More than anything she just seems a lot more on edge...like if I walk by her across the room, she hits her head against the cage...or is she hears the slightest sound of anything around her. I dunno...perhaps it is just a phase. I will observe for a little longer

 

[Reptiteen]

when she gets aggresive sees if shes responds to your tone of voice. say in a low tone bad iguana, like what you would say to a dog.

Tone of voice is a good idea, but you're recommending the wrong one. She's a wild animal, not a dog. Picture yourself as a lizard, and some giant started rumbling at you while you were already upset. The "bad dog" tone is meant to be threatening as it's a way of showing your dominance to the dog. But the lizard doesn't want to be dominated. It wants respect.

So on the contrary, use a soothing tone and make slow movements. From what I understand, breeding season varies in captive environments, but it usually lasts up to 30 days for males and about a week or two for females. How long has she been acting like this?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Watch out for what's known as being "eggbound".

http://iguanaden.org/care/gravidity.htm

In short, iguanas can produce eggs even without a male around (they just won't be fertile). Decreased appetite and agitation are some of the symptoms. You need to get her to a vet for x-rays as soon as possible. If she DOES have eggs, the link above will tell you how to set up a nesting box.

If she becomes eggbound, ie cannot lay the eggs, she could die.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

Can Iguanas do that more than once? She got surgery 6 years ago for the same thing...I thought she got everything taken out...but perhaps not. That would be unfortunate if it happened again.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Can Iguanas do that more than once? She got surgery 6 years ago for the same thing...I thought she got everything taken out...but perhaps not. That would be unfortunate if it happened again.

Unless you actually had her spayed, then it most certainly can happen again.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

Shes been like this for what seems like a while. Its definitely been more than a couple weeks. Is she supposed to be green? If so, she hasnt been in a long while.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

Unless you actually had her spayed, then it most certainly can happen again.

Well poo on that! Does she have to get surgery again or can she just lay them and move on?

 

[IguanaMama]

She looks a bit dehydrated to me. It's been very warm up here, so I assume down where you are too, that could dry her out. You must make sure she not only has enough water, but that she is in a humid enviornment. Are her UBV lights fresh and is she basking under them enough? Coloration has to do with both where they are from (locality) and what they are eating. She should be eating only deep green leafy greens, some other vegetables and alfalfa for protein. I only kept males so I don't know about being egg bound, but if it happened once, it could certainly happen again.

 

[IguanaMama]

I just noticed the bumps. Are you dusting her food with repti-cal? Is she getting a vitamin suppliment? Does she have any of those bumps on her toes? How is her jaw? Is it nice and tight or is a bit wobbly?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Well poo on that! Does she have to get surgery again or can she just lay them and move on?

You'll have to provide her with a proper place to lay them. But if she's been like this as long as you say, it may be too late, and she may be eggbound. Get her to the vet.

 

[SenoritaSarah]

She could be dehydrated...all she does is bask in her light....the light is new. I always water her food...there isnt a dish in there. I spray her with water a couple times a week. She likes that. I give her lots of fruits cause she tends to eat those more than the greens...the greens just dry up.

 

[Stylopidae]

I did some googling for you:

http://www.greenigsociety.org/breedingseason.htm

http://members.aol.com/ignews/preart.html#anchor1816397

http://members.aol.com/ignews/preart.html#anchor479248

Not for green iguanas, but gives you an idea of what egg laying boxes are like:

http://www.cyclura.info/artikels/txt_bfasciatus_eng.htm

 

[PrincessToad]

I created an egg box for my female iguana out of two cat litter boxes. I put one on top of the other, clamped them together and then cut a hole in the top of one. I filled it about 1/2 to 2/3 full of soil and kept it damp. My ig always used this box when she was ready to lay her eggs. Digging and digging until she thought she had it right. I also fed my igs, I had a male and female pair, daily fresh greens like mustard greens and spinach dusted with a vitamin supplement. My female would go through fasting periods when she was about ready to lay eggs. The only way I could get her to eat was blanch some brussel sprouts, slice them and hand feed them to her. When my female was full of eggs she was huge and had very little room for food. I also always provided a water dish and about once a week I would let her have a soak/swim in luke warm water in the tub. She loved this.

 

[aerodyke]

any questions you may have about your iguana you can call this number 618 210 2606 ask for Matt (it's his cell phone) or visit this website www.thetyedyediguana.com its his store...we own a family buisness all about reptiles and the education of them..He has a 7 foot iguana and he loves talking about them so if you still need some help he'll probably be able to answer any questions you may have...

 

[SenoritaSarah]

So, she isnt egg bound (thank goodness). I think you were right Jodi, she wasnt drinking, and it has been excruciatingly hot down here. Just a couple days ago i stuck her in the tub and she LOVED it, and she started drinking and didnt stop for like 20 minutes aside from her taking a quick beather after gulping it down. Then when I took her out, I stuck a bowl of water in her cage and she went right for it and drank half that up in one sitting.

She isnt looking much better, but she is still drinking, not eating so much...but I took some new pics of things that I dont know if they prove her to be dehydrated or something else...I just noticed these blotches on her side and they stick out, I could feel them when I was petting her...they arent burns cause there is nothing in her cage that could burn her, so I dont know if its from dehydration/malnutrition or what. Also, she hasnt shed her skin in a while...i dont know if thats something they do less of as they age or if its a sign of something else.

Her tail is also wrinking horizontally in the second pic, and it hasnt always been like that, it seems like thats something that would happen from dehydration.

BUT, she has finally stopped freaking out with me, she is loving all the attention she has been getting lately, so I guess things are getting better...at least from what I can tell

 

[Barbedwirecat]

One word. VET. SOON. I have previously worked in a vet clinic (5+ years head vet technician), so I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

There are SO many things that can go wrong with these guys. She look really yellow to me, which can be a big indicator of liver disease. It is possible she could get eggbound again, but when they perform this surgery they normally spay the iguana at the same time as a preventative measure. I would call your vet and ask if they did that they will have a record of it or at least be able to tell you they normal procedure.

Iguanas like it hot. So I really doubt the heat has alot of play in what goin on with your baby. She should live about 20 years with proper care so by mo means is she an old timer yet. Reptiles can get dehydrated mostly for either lack of water avalible to them or internal issuses IE diseases, organ malfunction etc. Reptiles can also naturally harbor MANY internal parasites so getting her poo looked at would be a really great idea (bring a fresh. not dry sample to your vet they can look at themselves or send it to a lab) Parasites are one of the leading causes of death aside from improper UV exposure in reptiles. Speaking of which...do you have UV bulbs on her? If so, have they been changed every 6 months? UV lights (even tho they are still bright and shining) will decrease in the amount of UV output over 6 months, best to change them every 5, or purchase a mercury vapor bulb (Active UV) that produces both UV light and heat.

The worst thing about this is when reptiles start to show signs of of illness outwardly it has normally been going on for quite awhile. They are one of those critters that don't let you know somethings wrong until they are very sick which is why I advise this be done soon.

Please do the best thing for you girl, take her to the vet an have them perform an exam. fecal float/smear, and a bloodscreen to see if her organ values are normal.

Let me know what happens, feel free to e-mail me with any questions.