brokenbluetears
New member
I've had a green iguana for 6 years, he's quite big and never any health problems... but i've recently gotten a baby iguana and was looking up diet on the net to see what i could find out... well, half this stuff that i've found to give an iguana i've never heard of... maybe you could help me out and let me know what bogus and what's true? thanks!
Calcium rich vegetables (60-70% of the diet, 2 or more items per feeding) escarole
kale
collards
bok choy
Swiss chard
parsley
clover
alfalfa pellets
dandelion greens
turnip greens
mustard greens
beet greens-only occasionally
spinach-only occasionally
NEVER iceberg lettuce
Other vegetables (20-30% of the diet, a variety weekly)
broccoli
okra
peas
green beans
zucchini
squash
grated carrots
sweet potato
bell pepper
frozen mixed vegetables
Grain/fiber (0-5% of the diet)
whole grain breads
natural bran cereals
Fruits (no more than 10% of the diet)
figs
kiwi
papaya
melon
apple
grapes
dates
peaches
apricots
strawberries
plums
tomatoes
bananas (with skin)
and on another one i found this:
A high percentage of the iguana diet should consist of dark green, leafy vegetables. Eighty to ninety percent of the diet should be chosen from collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, bok choy, Swiss chard, clover, red or green cabbage, watercress, savoy, kohlrabi, dandelions, escarole, parsley and alfalfa pellets. Beet greens and spinach contain oxalates that may bind dietary calcium should be offered only occasionally. The same goes for kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower because these bind iodine and may cause thyroid problems. It is best to provide variety to the iguana's diet to prevent any nutritional deficiencies or excesses. The darker, outer leaves of most vegetables are more nutritious than the more pale, inner leaves. Iceberg, romaine, butter and Boston lettuces are all poor nutritionally, and should be fed sparingly, if at all.
Ten to fifteen percent of the diet should be chosen from frozen mixed vegetables (which are great to feed on those busy mornings), squash, sprouts, carrots, cooked sweet potato, cucumber, okra, parsnips, spineless cactus pads, asparagus, mushrooms, green and red peppers, peas, beans, corn and green beans. Backyard weeds and grasses can be offered as forage. Fruit should make up the remainder of the diet. Fruits are usually preferentially consumed, but most are mineral-poor. Figs are one of the only fruits high in calcium, and these, along with apricots and dates, may be relished.
Canned or dry commercial iguana diets can be offered on days when you don't have time to prepare the daily smorgasbord. Occasionally, they can be used as the entire daily diet, but it is better to combine them with some fresh food.
As treats, hibiscus flowers and leaves, rose petals, geranium flowers nasturtiums, carnations and dandelions can be fed. Life food is not necessary. Some iguanas relish crickets, mealworms and pinky mice, but these sources of animal protein are poor dietary items and should not be fed at all.
there's places in both of them that contradict each other... so i'm curious as to what's exactly right... ?
Calcium rich vegetables (60-70% of the diet, 2 or more items per feeding) escarole
kale
collards
bok choy
Swiss chard
parsley
clover
alfalfa pellets
dandelion greens
turnip greens
mustard greens
beet greens-only occasionally
spinach-only occasionally
NEVER iceberg lettuce
Other vegetables (20-30% of the diet, a variety weekly)
broccoli
okra
peas
green beans
zucchini
squash
grated carrots
sweet potato
bell pepper
frozen mixed vegetables
Grain/fiber (0-5% of the diet)
whole grain breads
natural bran cereals
Fruits (no more than 10% of the diet)
figs
kiwi
papaya
melon
apple
grapes
dates
peaches
apricots
strawberries
plums
tomatoes
bananas (with skin)
and on another one i found this:
A high percentage of the iguana diet should consist of dark green, leafy vegetables. Eighty to ninety percent of the diet should be chosen from collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, bok choy, Swiss chard, clover, red or green cabbage, watercress, savoy, kohlrabi, dandelions, escarole, parsley and alfalfa pellets. Beet greens and spinach contain oxalates that may bind dietary calcium should be offered only occasionally. The same goes for kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower because these bind iodine and may cause thyroid problems. It is best to provide variety to the iguana's diet to prevent any nutritional deficiencies or excesses. The darker, outer leaves of most vegetables are more nutritious than the more pale, inner leaves. Iceberg, romaine, butter and Boston lettuces are all poor nutritionally, and should be fed sparingly, if at all.
Ten to fifteen percent of the diet should be chosen from frozen mixed vegetables (which are great to feed on those busy mornings), squash, sprouts, carrots, cooked sweet potato, cucumber, okra, parsnips, spineless cactus pads, asparagus, mushrooms, green and red peppers, peas, beans, corn and green beans. Backyard weeds and grasses can be offered as forage. Fruit should make up the remainder of the diet. Fruits are usually preferentially consumed, but most are mineral-poor. Figs are one of the only fruits high in calcium, and these, along with apricots and dates, may be relished.
Canned or dry commercial iguana diets can be offered on days when you don't have time to prepare the daily smorgasbord. Occasionally, they can be used as the entire daily diet, but it is better to combine them with some fresh food.
As treats, hibiscus flowers and leaves, rose petals, geranium flowers nasturtiums, carnations and dandelions can be fed. Life food is not necessary. Some iguanas relish crickets, mealworms and pinky mice, but these sources of animal protein are poor dietary items and should not be fed at all.
there's places in both of them that contradict each other... so i'm curious as to what's exactly right... ?