Choosing The Right Rep-Cal Diet For Iguanas
Most iguanas purchased from pet stores are juveniles. Juvenile iguanas grow rapidly and need a nutrient-enriched diet to support the development and growth of tissue and bone. Rep-Cal Juvenile Iguana Diet contains appropriate levels of high quality protein and calcium as well as other nutrients. Adult Iguanas require a diet which is higher in fiber for the maintenance of size and health. Rep-Cal Adult Iguana Food meets this need as well.
Determining the exact age of an iguana is usually difficult because hatch dates are unknown and size may have been affected by poor diet, faulty management, or previous ill health. Because of these uncertainties, an iguana's snout-to-vent length (tip of nose to base of tail) is generally used as a measure of maturity. The snout-to-vent length for hatchlings ranges from four to six inches, for juveniles from six to twelve inches, and for adults the snout-to-vent length will be over twelve inches.
We recommend Rep-Cal Juvenile Iguana Food for hatchlings and juveniles, and Rep-Cal Adult Iguana Food for all adult iguanas.
Rep-Cal Iguana Foods contain papaya, mango and strawberries creating an excellent tasting food.
Rep-Cal Adult Iguana Food is formulated to ensure proper growth and health by providing complete and balanced nutrition. It is a veterinarian recommended food containing natural plant and fruit ingredients iguanas love and provides the 100% complete daily nutrition they need. Rep-Cal Adult Iguana Food has been tested successfully for adult iguanas (more than 12" long from nose to base of tail) by reptile veterinarians. It is fortified with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D3 so no other food or supplements are required.
Rep-Cal Juvenile Iguana Food is formulated to ensure proper growth and health by providing complete and balanced nutrition. It is veterinarian recommended food containing natural plant and fruit ingredients iguanas love and provides the 100% complete daily nutrition they need. Rep-Cal Juvenile Iguana Food has been tested successfully for juvenile iguanas (less than 12" long from nose to base of tail) by reptile veterinarians. It is fortified with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D3 so no other food or supplements are required.
Feeding Guidelines
- Feed every morning: Offer slightly more food than your iguana can eat in a day, and allow your pet access to its food for the entire daylight period. Be sure to empty and clean the dish at the end of each day.
- Be aware of intimidation by cage-mates: If more than one iguana shares a cage, provide a separate feeding and drinking station for each animal.
- Have water available at all times: Your iguana should have access at all times to a shallow bowl containing fresh, clean water.
- Pellets can be moistened in water or fruit juice before feeding: Some iguanas find that the softer soaked pellets are easier to pick up.
Guideline For Daily Feeding
|
These quantities serve as initial estimates, since the amount of food eaten by your iguana will depend on its size, condition, and health, as well as the temperature of its environment.
|
Iguana Size
(Snout-Vent Length) |
Rep-Cal Food
(Formula) |
Amount of Food/Day
(Volume) |
| under 6" |
Juvenile |
1/3 cup |
| 6" - 8" |
Juvenile |
1/2 cup |
| 8" - 10" |
Juvenile |
2/3 cup |
| 10" - 12" |
Juvenile |
1 cup |
| 12" - 14" |
Adult |
3/4 cup |
| 14" - 16" |
Adult |
1 cup |
| over 16" |
Adult |
1 1/2 cups |
General Care Considerations
A healthy iguana is alert and may be quite active, although usually most of its day will be spent resting. It will eat and drink readily, and enjoy being misted. Green iguanas naturally excrete salt from their nose, and a small amount of white crusting around the nostrils is normal. The abdomen of a healthy iguana appears plump, not empty and not bloated. Its stools are dark and formed. The urine may be clear in part. White chalky deposits in urine are termed urates and are normal.
Food intakes will be less than optimal when animals are cold, sick or stressed. Low food intake is unhealthy for your iguana and will increase its susceptibility to serious disease. Ensure that the humidity and temperature of the cage are appropriate and observe for stressful conditions. Factors that may stress your iguana include a cage that is too small or too cold, and intimidation by a cage mate. If low food intake persists, consult your veterinarian.
