HERE ARE SOME QUICK CARE FACTS FOR GREEN IGANAS
Diet.
Having a healthy and happy iguana starts with having a well balanced diet. There are many different things to consider when making your iguana a salad.
A few things you want to avoid are Goitrogenic foods
Goitrogens is a compound that binds to iodine in the food and prevents the body from using it. Some foods with this are grapes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, brussels sprouts, kale, tofo/soy and grains.
These foods can be given in small amounts or as treats but should not be fed as a daily part of the main diet.
What can these foods cause?
Too much of these foods can lead to Goiter. Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can also be associated with anodyne deficiency also called Struma.
With the body not being able to get a efficient amount of iodine this can cause hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism can lead to decreased activity level, reduced metabolic rate, muscle and joint aches and pains,
Vit D3 is also very important when it comes to green iguana heath. In nature green iguanas get Vito D3 from the sun but what about in captivity? In captivity they get it from supplements in their diet and the UVB lights that they have. This vitamin is what allows the body to absorb the calcium you have given them in the diet.
For example if you have a great diet but no UVB light and no supplements your iguana won't be able to use the calcium you have supplied in the diet. If you have your iguana housed inside it is important to have Vito D3 available in the diet. If your iguana is housed outside he or she will get the required Vito D3 directly from the sun. However its important to note that these UV rays cannot travel through glass so having them sit infront of a closed window does not count.
this information has come from The Green Iguana Society webpage and Melissa Kaplan's Her Care Collection
These are both amazing websites packed full of all kinds of green iguana (and other species) information. If you haven't already please check them both out.
Having a healthy and happy iguana starts with having a well balanced diet. There are many different things to consider when making your iguana a salad.
A few things you want to avoid are Goitrogenic foods
Goitrogens is a compound that binds to iodine in the food and prevents the body from using it. Some foods with this are grapes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, brussels sprouts, kale, tofo/soy and grains.
These foods can be given in small amounts or as treats but should not be fed as a daily part of the main diet.
What can these foods cause?
Too much of these foods can lead to Goiter. Goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can also be associated with anodyne deficiency also called Struma.
With the body not being able to get a efficient amount of iodine this can cause hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism can lead to decreased activity level, reduced metabolic rate, muscle and joint aches and pains,
Vit D3 is also very important when it comes to green iguana heath. In nature green iguanas get Vito D3 from the sun but what about in captivity? In captivity they get it from supplements in their diet and the UVB lights that they have. This vitamin is what allows the body to absorb the calcium you have given them in the diet.
For example if you have a great diet but no UVB light and no supplements your iguana won't be able to use the calcium you have supplied in the diet. If you have your iguana housed inside it is important to have Vito D3 available in the diet. If your iguana is housed outside he or she will get the required Vito D3 directly from the sun. However its important to note that these UV rays cannot travel through glass so having them sit infront of a closed window does not count.
this information has come from The Green Iguana Society webpage and Melissa Kaplan's Her Care Collection
These are both amazing websites packed full of all kinds of green iguana (and other species) information. If you haven't already please check them both out.