Pet Blog July Archive

Some do's and don'ts for feeding your green iguana

By Kelly at 07/13/07 22:16

If you are the proud owner of a brand new green iguana, you may be wondering what you should feed him. Well, here are a few things you should and should not do:

You definitely SHOULD:

• You should check out a good iguana website and learn about the foods that make a healthy iguana. Choose greens that are the highest in Calcium/Phosphorus Ratios that are available. If there are not greens available, try vegetables that have a good ratio.

• Feed your iguana a diet that contains MANY different foods such as collard greens, dandelion greens or arugula as the three main base foods plus a variety of other foods so they have a good mix of vitamins and minerals.

• Chop all foods to the proper size for your iguana to eat. A good rule of thumb is to make them about as big as the iguana's head.

• Make sure your iguana has the proper UVB lighting. which helps Iguanas synthesize vitamin D3, which is needed to help metabolize calcium in the Iguana's diet.

You definitely SHOULD NOT:

• Feed your iguana ANY type of animal protein. This means NO dogfood, no catfood, no monkey biscuits, no crickets (the pet store owners - at least three so far) have told me SPECIFICALLY to feed them as a treat), no animal protein of any kind as iguanas have trouble digesting animal protein and this could lead to liver or kidney failure.

• Believe everything you read! (Remember this list started with the words DO NOT) Many websites, books, and so on still contain information about iguanas that has been proven to kill them. Why is this information still available? It is because these people haven't taken the time to update the information that they put up there that is wrong.

• Feed your iguana anything with LETTUCE in its name! Lettuce has no nutritional value whatsoever. The space in your iguana's belly that is filled with this stuff is just valuable space that should be taken by a healthy food.

• Count on your iguana to let you know what to feed him. You may find your iguana has a particular liking to one thing or another. Can you count on a child to always eat what is good for them on their own? Of course not! You must choose healthy foods for your iguana.

There is so much information, good and bad available to you. Make sure you pick a reputable source to learn about your iguana. DO NOT think for a minute that just because a pet store employee talks like they know what they are talking about (which they should), that it is a given that they actually know squat about the true needs of an iguana. Remember, they are in the store to SELL you an iguana. If they told anyone what is truly necessary for their iguana's health...nobody would EVER buy one on purpose. They do make wonderful pets, but make no mistake about them being a low maintenance pet.

Cold Green Iguana Broken Leg

This is Goblin the green iguana's x-ray of his poor broken leg. He climbed a tree in the backyard, which wasn't a problem since green iguanas are arboreal creatures, but as the evening progressed and got chillier, he either fell to the ground or caught his leg climbing down (I vote for the first option).

When iguanas are cold they pretty much lose their body control and can't really move around very well. I think he got so cold that he just couldn't hold onto the tree any more and fell about thirty feet down.

I honestly didn't notice his injury until about a week later since there wasn't any blood or any obvious weird behavior. I noticed the lump on his thing when I took him out to bask in the sun on the desk rail and saw how he was just kind of hanging his leg there.

The vet took this x-ray and it showed a completely broken thigh bone just a ways above his knee joint. Also note in this picture (on the positive) the perfectly formed and straight toe bones in his feet. This is indicative of healthy bone formation due to the proper diet, light and heat while his bones were forming.

Vet Soon to be Surprised by Huge Green Iguana

Goblin the green iguana is sitting on the examination table waiting for the doctor to visit him.

He fell from a tree about three weeks ago and I suspect that he has broken his thigh bone since it appears his knee isn't where it is supposed to be and he is dragging his leg.

As he sits and waits, vet tech after vet tech and the vets themselves file in to take a peek at him. They are all amazed he is so big and healthy (ther than his broken leg of course). Most iguanas that they see are sick with metabolic bone disease and have the associated problems. They take his picture and tell him how gorgeous he is and pet his head, which he handles with great patience. I am very relieved by this and am glad it is now that I am bringing him and not during breeding season when he gets a little more testy.

As the last tech filed, she says she PROMISES the doctor will be with us shortly, since every time the door opens we think it is the doctor coming in. I can't wait for the vet to come in and see how big he is since it has been 2-1/2 years since his last appointment!

All About Pet Rats Interview

Name of your website?

All About Pet Rats

Your name?

Cassi Lowe

Your Location (city, etc)

Indianapolis

When did you start your website and why?

I started it a week ago to talk about my new pet rats.

What is your website address?

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A Bark And A Meow Interview

Name of your website?

A Bark And A Meow

Your name?

Andrea Infante-Saraireh

Your Location (city, etc)

Chicago, Illinois

2006.

Offer Pet Services on the Northside of Chicago, Illinois

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Pet Care Services.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Nothing so far.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

having online.

What was your biggest mistake?

not sure

Who maintains your website and why?

myself.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

it's new, but so far not too bad.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

it's the way to go.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

not sure

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

positive, and yes they have helped.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

advertising.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

not sure yet.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

not sure

What is your website address?

A Bark And A Meow

Osamco Reptiles Co Interview

Name of your website?

Osamco Reptiles Co

Your name?

Mahmoud A

Your Location (city, etc)

Cairo

What is your website address?

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spectacularpetstuff.com Interview

Name of your website?

spectacularpetstuff.com

Your name?

Nancy Swartzentruber

Your Location (city, etc)

Shreve

When did you start your website and why?

2006

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Spectacularpetstuff.com is dedicated to sell only the finest pet products. Dynamic Accents,Ltd., an Ohio based manufacturer, handcraftes and handstains all of the pet products. Quality is a must. Everything is made in the USA. We carry the full line of Dynamic Accents, Ltd. pet products such as elevated pet feeder, the most spectacular elegant pet eatery, freestanding wooden dog gates.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

finding a good affordable host, getting help to make the site visible and foundable for customers, good ranking, and so on

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

feed the software with contents and images

What was your biggest mistake?

i don not know yet. i am still in the process to learn.

Who maintains your website and why?

myself, because of the money

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

not yet

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

internet is a big industry -

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

again a big industry, science i have just encountered

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

i don't know

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

too early to say

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

too early to say

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

small businesses have no chance - the more money you have the more successful you will be. paid ads, ppc, and everything else paid makes you popping up on the first two pages...

who would like to help me?

who?

What is your website address?

spectacularpetstuff.com

Paragon Equestrian Centre Interview

Name of your website?

Paragon Equestrian Centre

Your name?

C.J. Weldon

Your Location (city, etc)

Palmyra

When did you start your website and why?

Two weeks ago, to promote our business in the equestrian industry locally.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

A full care facility, offering boading, lessons and training, in the Dressage and jumping disciplines. World class staff, friendly environment.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

exposure to the public

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Creating the physical pages

What was your biggest mistake?

Too early to tell

Who maintains your website and why?

Paragon's manager, because I know the business

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Too early to tell

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I believe it will ultimately become the best option

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Difficult to find perfect wording to maximize results

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Hopefully helped

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Linking to other sites

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

search engines

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

more specific responses to searches

What is your website address?

Paragon Equestrian Centre

PetPalio Interview

Name of your website?

PetPalio

Your name?

Aaron Rodrigues

Your Location (city, etc)

Auckland

When did you start your website and why?

I am a 17 year old student from Auckland New Zealand and I started PetPalio about 3 months ago as I have always been a Pet lover and have alwyas known the need for pet owners to find information and connect with other pet owners online.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

In a nutshell, Pet Palio is the worlds first matchmaking and socializing website for pets. It connects pet owners online and lets them have pet profiles for their pets.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Constantly promoting it on the internet, creating buzz.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Designing the website. And Watchin new members sign up. :-P

What was your biggest mistake?

Not had many mistakes at all, so far everything is going quite well.

Who maintains your website and why?

I myself mentain the website. I am a web designer and a Pet Lover

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Its been great, some pet business have talked to me about advertising on Pet Palio

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I think it will always increase. Without a dought. People have look pased the fear of buying stuff online according to me which was previously the biggest factor stopping them from trading online

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Its great, a lot harder than it used to be but It can be time consuming sometime, specially getting good quality backlinks

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Yes and not. They have to a certain extent but not that much since my website is new

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Blog Buzz and ofline media such as news papers

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

paid ads on google

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

increased protection for people who try to do things the write way and get banned for stuff spamers do.

What insiperd you to start PetPalio

I was looking for a friend and other pet owners for my dog lasie, However it proved to be very difficult. So with a bit of experience on the web I took on the project of starting petpalio

What is your website address?

PetPalio

GaelicGlitter Bengals Interview

Name of your website?

GaelicGlitter Bengals

Your name?

Fiona Rhind-Heley

Your Location (city, etc)

Falkirk

When did you start your website and why?

We started our website about 3 years ago. This was one of the best ways to be able to show off our cats and let people now about our kittens that are available for sale.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Our web site is the main way we advertise ourselves. It is the place were we can update people with how are cats are doing at the shows and let them now when we have kittens available for sale.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

The most difficult part is keeping the site updated with relevent info to keep people coming back when there is nothing realy happening between litters.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Updating the website with the new kittens. This is probably the easiest part because it is my favorite. The kittens always look so cute when they are old enough to be put on the webpage.

What was your biggest mistake?

Not setting the webpage up soon enough to get it listed on the search engines intime for our first litter.

Who maintains your website and why?

My husband maintains the site because he doesn't cost anything!!

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Without our website I doubt we would be able to sell our kittens. It is the best form of advertising because it is totaly customizable.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

E-comerce is going to keep growing. The internet is here to stay.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

I don't realy know that much about SEO. I just know that it is important to provide a good website for you potential customers and if you have a good website with a little optimization can do well.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Search Engines are deffenetly a big help. It is one of the best ways for people to find your website as if it is returned in a search engine it will be on the topic that they are searching for.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Makeing sure the content is good and uptodate and getting other websites to link to ours

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

relying on search engines alone without activly submitting our site to directories.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

The internet is such a huge place with limitless posibilites. It is continualy changing.

What is your website address?

GaelicGlitter Bengals