article: REPTILE: Metabolic Bone Disease In Iguanas

flamingo · 05-09-2006, 05:56 PM

IN PROGRESS- i'm also guessing that this is the first reptile article/ thing on here!

One of the most common diseases in the iguana hobby is the dreaded metabolic bone disease. Most iguana keepers will encounter this at least once, sometimes it'll for sure kill them unless drastic measures are taken.

The main thing associated with this disease is the lack of calcium in the bones, but there is still a lot more to this disease then you think.

Why Calcium Is important and What Causes MBD:

Calcium not only helps bones and teeth grow but is also involved in many other processes like: blood clotting, muscle contraction and nerve impulses
,and a heck of a lot more. Many foods that people feed their iguanas have high levels of phosphorus, which in high amounts, will react with the calcium and create calcium salts which cannot be absorbed into the reptiles blood stream. To prevent this the amount of calcium should be twice that (or more) of the phosphorus intake.
Not having the right amount of calcium also in turn effects the liver and kidneys, which are needed to process calcium itself.

Among all other things, the reptile itself needs to be able to produce vitamin d, which is needed to process calcium altogether. To provide an ample supply of this certain vitamin supplements can be added to it's food, the main thing to provide this though is enough light should be provided. Most reptiles need UVB lights, etc. but iguanas need this about 50 times more. In all the set-ups my family and myself have had there are multiple lights. Some things that are included are: about 3 different flourescent light bulbs, a ceramic heater ( lately have found that those cheap chicken egg incubators work better, the little metal reflector type things), and a special twist around compact UVB bulb.

msdolittle · 05-09-2006, 06:48 PM

Flam, a good thing to add is some specifics on food........for example, since youre talking about MBD specifically, you might mention to either limit or NEVER feed spinach as it binds calcium, thus preventing its absorption.... Mention the limiting of kale too, as it can cause gout if fed too often.

Very important, variety..... Greens should make up 80% of the diet (mustard, turnip, dandelion......light on collard, NO lettuce of any kind), other veggies 10% (bell peppers, peas, carrots, lima beans, etc) and finally 10% fruits (berries, mango, papaya, kiwi etc)...... It is a good idea to shave/blend these items all together so the iguana can't pick out his favorites thus limiting his overall variety.

flamingo · 05-09-2006, 07:08 PM

Thanks. I'm not even close to being done! lol. I'm just going to cover the basics on it and hot to prevent and treat it. My dad has an EXCELLENT iguana book that talks about this so i'm going to include some of that and a part about how we treated our iguana for MBD.

May be doing a basic care guide for iguanas so i'll go more into food when I do that.

EDIT: Also notice my grammar and all isn't too good so i'm going to have to fix that up too lol..........

msdolittle · 05-09-2006, 07:30 PM

Flam, I think you're doing great so far!! AND great idea!!!

flamingo · 05-09-2006, 08:15 PM

Thanks! lol

leveldrummer · 05-09-2006, 08:28 PM

one of the many reasons i dont think iguana's should be sold as pets. too many people want them and refuse to take proper care of them, these are some large, demanding, and usually turn aggresive lizards, but everyone wants one because they are cute and their friend had one, but they never get the proper lights, or diet, or anything.

flamingo · 05-09-2006, 08:46 PM

EXACTLY!!!!

I hate when people buy them and keep them in 10 gallons...how anyone can even think that's fine forever is beyond me!

msdolittle · 05-09-2006, 09:05 PM

Oh man......we saw this so much at the vet. Our office iguana was a rescue as a matter of fact! We had many iguana euthanasias too, poor malnourished and very often MBD victims.... My stepson's mom had one.....I got so tired of hearing about it. She had NO clue how to keep an iguana. She had it in a probably 30 gallonish enclosure with a heat bulb and a stick. Thats it. They fed him a regular diet of crickets......... I made a care sheet for him to give to her, but who knows if it helped.

Iguanas shouldn't be sold in random pet stores......

leveldrummer · 05-10-2006, 10:19 AM

i had a panther chameleon develop MBD, i did everything i could for the little guy, broke my heart, but it was my fauly, to much calcium and not enough UVA/UVB to help him process it right.

**TheOldSalt** · 08-15-2006, 04:53 AM

Bumping to current

05-09-2006, 05:56 PM	#1
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 16 Posts: 1,892 User Feedback: (2)	article: REPTILE: Metabolic Bone Disease In Iguanas IN PROGRESS- i'm also guessing that this is the first reptile article/ thing on here! One of the most common diseases in the iguana hobby is the dreaded metabolic bone disease. Most iguana keepers will encounter this at least once, sometimes it'll for sure kill them unless drastic measures are taken. The main thing associated with this disease is the lack of calcium in the bones, but there is still a lot more to this disease then you think. Why Calcium Is important and What Causes MBD: Calcium not only helps bones and teeth grow but is also involved in many other processes like: blood clotting, muscle contraction and nerve impulses ,and a heck of a lot more. Many foods that people feed their iguanas have high levels of phosphorus, which in high amounts, will react with the calcium and create calcium salts which cannot be absorbed into the reptiles blood stream. To prevent this the amount of calcium should be twice that (or more) of the phosphorus intake. Not having the right amount of calcium also in turn effects the liver and kidneys, which are needed to process calcium itself. Among all other things, the reptile itself needs to be able to produce vitamin d, which is needed to process calcium altogether. To provide an ample supply of this certain vitamin supplements can be added to it's food, the main thing to provide this though is enough light should be provided. Most reptiles need UVB lights, etc. but iguanas need this about 50 times more. In all the set-ups my family and myself have had there are multiple lights. Some things that are included are: about 3 different flourescent light bulbs, a ceramic heater ( lately have found that those cheap chicken egg incubators work better, the little metal reflector type things), and a special twist around compact UVB bulb. __________________ Color exists only in the mind. . Am I only a thought? Last edited by flamingo; 05-09-2006 at 06:03 PM.

05-09-2006, 06:48 PM	#2
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 624 User Feedback: (0)	Flam, a good thing to add is some specifics on food........for example, since youre talking about MBD specifically, you might mention to either limit or NEVER feed spinach as it binds calcium, thus preventing its absorption.... Mention the limiting of kale too, as it can cause gout if fed too often. Very important, variety..... Greens should make up 80% of the diet (mustard, turnip, dandelion......light on collard, NO lettuce of any kind), other veggies 10% (bell peppers, peas, carrots, lima beans, etc) and finally 10% fruits (berries, mango, papaya, kiwi etc)...... It is a good idea to shave/blend these items all together so the iguana can't pick out his favorites thus limiting his overall variety. __________________ ~Angela~

05-09-2006, 07:08 PM	#3
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 16 Posts: 1,892 User Feedback: (2)	Thanks. I'm not even close to being done! lol. I'm just going to cover the basics on it and hot to prevent and treat it. My dad has an EXCELLENT iguana book that talks about this so i'm going to include some of that and a part about how we treated our iguana for MBD. May be doing a basic care guide for iguanas so i'll go more into food when I do that. EDIT: Also notice my grammar and all isn't too good so i'm going to have to fix that up too lol.......... __________________ Color exists only in the mind. . Am I only a thought? Last edited by flamingo; 05-09-2006 at 07:11 PM.

05-09-2006, 07:30 PM	#4
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 624 User Feedback: (0)	Flam, I think you're doing great so far!! AND great idea!!! __________________ ~Angela~

05-09-2006, 08:15 PM	#5
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 16 Posts: 1,892 User Feedback: (2)	Thanks! lol __________________ Color exists only in the mind. . Am I only a thought?

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05-09-2006, 08:28 PM	#6
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933 User Feedback: (1)	one of the many reasons i dont think iguana's should be sold as pets. too many people want them and refuse to take proper care of them, these are some large, demanding, and usually turn aggresive lizards, but everyone wants one because they are cute and their friend had one, but they never get the proper lights, or diet, or anything. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

05-09-2006, 08:46 PM	#7
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 16 Posts: 1,892 User Feedback: (2)	EXACTLY!!!! I hate when people buy them and keep them in 10 gallons...how anyone can even think that's fine forever is beyond me! __________________ Color exists only in the mind. . Am I only a thought?

05-09-2006, 09:05 PM	#8
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 624 User Feedback: (0)	Oh man......we saw this so much at the vet. Our office iguana was a rescue as a matter of fact! We had many iguana euthanasias too, poor malnourished and very often MBD victims.... My stepson's mom had one.....I got so tired of hearing about it. She had NO clue how to keep an iguana. She had it in a probably 30 gallonish enclosure with a heat bulb and a stick. Thats it. They fed him a regular diet of crickets......... I made a care sheet for him to give to her, but who knows if it helped. Iguanas shouldn't be sold in random pet stores...... __________________ ~Angela~

05-10-2006, 10:19 AM	#9
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933 User Feedback: (1)	i had a panther chameleon develop MBD, i did everything i could for the little guy, broke my heart, but it was my fauly, to much calcium and not enough UVA/UVB to help him process it right. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

08-15-2006, 04:53 AM	#10
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,016 User Feedback: (5)	Bumping to current

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