getting an iguana to eat on it's own

I recently got a C. palearis or Houndruan/Guantamalan/Paleate spiny tailed iguana. It refuses to eat on it's own no matter what I put in the cage and no matter how long the food stays in there. I have been feeding it iguana diet and superworms but I have to hand feed it to make sure it eats. Does anyone know how get an iguana to eat on their own?

Hi,

I couldn't find much info on these guys at all - but there was a page saying the only book worth having on them is german?

And this caresheet;

Link.

There was a guy on the kingsnake forum that seemed to be regarded as the go to guy by the name of mark (didn't take a link sorry :oops: ) so it might be worth your while trying to contact him on there.


dr del

yeah I got the Iguana Handbook and it had everything on the care for them and I also checked out the Iguana conservation site for more info on the area. Hum is 55% and bask is about 100-110. Unlike other iguanas they like a dry forest climate. It eats if I hand feed it but if I just put the food in the cage, even if it is in there all day, it refuses to eat.

Hi,

Does it matter what height you place the food in the tank?

Can you "lead" it to the food?

let it eat from your hand just above the food container then gradually hold it lower until, when it takes a bit of the bit on your hand, it gets some from the bowm as well?

Sounds a daft idea I know but would be easy enough to try. :)


dr del

two things come to mind... one, how long have you had it? it may need time to settle in further.

two, natural sunlight... this is a species that needs it. do you take him outside ever? that could be a key to spurring it's hunger and desire to eat.

good luck!

[quote]two things come to mind... one, how long have you had it? it may need time to settle in further.

two, natural sunlight... this is a species that needs it. do you take him outside ever? that could be a key to spurring it's hunger and desire to eat.

good luck! [quote/]

I have had it for about a week and when I got it, the iguana was a bit thin. For three days now it has been nice and health but taking it outside is a bad idea. This species is only 14 inches long and it runs everytime I get near the tank. I have moved to food to different locations and hieghts but it just ignores it or moves the food away.

yeah i don't mean just let it loose outside... i just meant pop him into an old bird cage or something that's not glass or plastic for a short period of time to allow the sun to stimulate appetite. it's a trick zoos have done for decades with agamids and varanids.

I have a green iguana and when i first got her she wouldnt eat unless I hand fed her... She slowly started eating on her own, it took about 3-4 weeks of feeding her and trying to get her to eat alone. Just keep trying. You are trying to feed it greens right? Collard, Mustard, and Dandilion greens. I also feed mine grapes and apples from time to time... she goes crazy over em

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lewdogg3

I have a green iguana and when i first got her she wouldnt eat unless I hand fed her... She slowly started eating on her own, it took about 3-4 weeks of feeding her and trying to get her to eat alone. Just keep trying. You are trying to feed it greens right? Collard, Mustard, and Dandilion greens. I also feed mine grapes and apples from time to time... she goes crazy over em

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No, I use the Nature zone soft iguana diet cubes. It eats them if I hand feed but otherwise nothing. The bird cage thing would be a bad idea because the head is so narrow and it's so jumpy it might try squeezing through the bars.

Maybe it’s not eating because it doesn't recognize what your offering as...food.
Have you tried Mixed greens and some butternut squash?
Chop the greens up to small pieces about the size of a nickel. Finely grade the butternut squash with a cheese shredder. For Iguanas food texture and color are important.

Here is a good Recipe
Greens like Collard or Mustard.
Chopped Green Beans
Butternut Squash (Super high in Calcium)
Strawberries (Only a tiny bit for flavor)

I buy in bulk them shred/chop it all up and throw it in zip lock bags and freeze.
That way I have a huge supply of food. I thaw out what I need under hot water then drain it all. Sometimes ill add some supplements but it’s not really needed.

Also get a good Mercury Vapor bulb for the UV light and replace the bulb every 6 months.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shimmer

No, I use the Nature zone soft iguana diet cubes. It eats them if I hand feed but otherwise nothing. The bird cage thing would be a bad idea because the head is so narrow and it's so jumpy it might try squeezing through the bars.

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You really need to get him an a diet of greens, That iguana food stuff wont cut it. It's much easier to get your iguana to eat greens then it probably would be that diet stuff. Your iguana is taking it from you now because your shoving it in his face probably...

I tryed a mix of the diet and some romaine lettuce but it still refused.

Romain lettuce is not what iguana's eat. Try Collard greens and Mustard greens.

It is eating the Iguana diet now. I put some red and green lettuce in and that seemed to get it going.

Hi,

Is the colour of the food a good appetite stimulant for vegetarian lizards?
I just wondered is all. :)


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is the colour of the food a good appetite stimulant for vegetarian lizards?
I just wondered is all. :)


dr del

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I have not proved it myself but when i was breeding rhino iguanas i was told several times that color and texture were important. But rhino iguanas are strong feeders so its easy to take care of them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shimmer

It is eating the Iguana diet now. I put some red and green lettuce in and that seemed to get it going.

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Throw that iguana diet in the trash. Go out and get some fresh greens,butternut squash,greenbeans. Its not expensive and its what will keep your iguana healthy and alive.

And do not feed him lettuce of any kind. He will get nothing out of it.

It eats the diet now and it is not a Green Iguana. It is a Paleate/Guatemalan Spiny tailed Iguana. Their diet is very different from other iguanas. I had to call the local zoological society for the diet on these guys and the zoos said they do best on the iguana diet I have been feeding it and insects.