Any Iguana experts here?

[BenBurch]

A friend of mine has a very large 16 year old Iguana.

The poor thing has stopped eating and is "logging" in the bottom of his enclosure and will not climb or move around much.

She's afraid its too late for him as once they show signs of illness they are pretty much far gone, but I thought I would ask here in case somebody had some good ideas on how to revive this poor fellow.

[JWideman]

I'm no expert, but I've had a few amphibians and reptiles. Assuming your friend isn't overfeeding it, which could be the case, this usually means the end is near. I'd take him to the vet at the least, of course.

[rjh01]

Ask the vet what qualifications and experience they have with Iguanas.

Could ask at your zoo where a good Iguana vet is.

[Miss_Kitt]

Oh, dear. Doesn't sound too good. Assuming that no sudden changes in diet, heating, etc. have occurred, it's probably getting to End of The Line for poor ol' Iggy.

We had a 4-footer named Diane that didn't get to pass from old age. We ignorantly put her in a borrowed cat cage to display her for Hallowe'en, and her guano apparently interacted with the cage's metallic paint such that she absorbed it through her skin. She died of metal poisoning (and this many years later, I don't remember if it was lead, or zinc, or which) a few weeks later. Poor Di! We felt terrible. We usually didn't cage her, but figured that the local kids would like to see "the dragon" up close when they got their candy--the little ones refused to come near and we had to take their goodies out to them--so we caged her. We should have left her to sleep on top of the hot water tank as usual. Sic transit gloria mundi.

I concur with the rest of the group, getting a good herpatologist's opinion would be valuable. Call the local zoo and/or college and get a referral.

[BenBurch]

Thanks, folks. I have directed her attention to this thread.

[Miss_Kitt]

Ben Burch --

Do we have a status on our iguana friend? I have been concerned.

Thanks for the update, Miss Kitt

[BenBurch]

I just found that he died.

:(

He was a cute thing, he and I had several stare-downs.

[pgwenthold]

My wife is an exotic animal vet, and her general response for any reptile problem is that it is usually (as in, almost always) hypocalcimic.

Even apparently healthy reptiles are generally hypocalcimic.

[Miss_Kitt]

Please give my condolences to the owner.

Until you've known one, you don't realize what good pets lizards make. As my kid gets old enough to be responsible, I keep looking at adding a scaly dude to the family.

Best wishes for the season, MK

[JWideman]

This is one of those times I wish I were wrong. :(

[SteveGrenard]

My wife is an exotic animal vet, and her general response for any reptile problem is that it is usually (as in, almost always) hypocalcimic.

Even apparently healthy reptiles are generally hypocalcimic.

This is the case in vegetarian reptiles, not carnivores which get plenty of calcium from ingesting mice, etc. Iguanas, of course, are vegetarians and metabolic bone disease from poor dietary intake of calcium is common. Dusting their food with a good calcium supplement powder designed for iguanas is important. Since this animal was 16 years old, its caretaker must've been doing something right. I'd blame old age. The oldest iguanas in captivity are around 20 years (extreme), 16 years is an excellent record.

If your friend is thinking of getting another iguana they might like to search Melissa Kaplan's website on the net and get her manual on iguana husbandry. It's probably the best reference of its kind.

http://www.anapsid.org/

[mikeyx]

I just found that he died.

:(

He was a cute thing, he and I had several stare-downs.

I've lost one, it sucks......