Bringing up a juvenile iguana is the part of the job every pet owner needs to go through. This is as difficult and as simple as taking care of a human baby.
Most of the pet parents know that they should feed the iguana with fruits and vegetables as they are herbivores. But always the best diet plan is not enough to offer them full nutrition.
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Why iguanas need vitamin supplements?
Iguanas are totally dependent upon greens and to some extent fruits for their nutrition. You cannot provide them with much vitamin C or E through the vegetables or greens. To get the proper immunity, good eyesight and reproductive capacity, they need folic acid too.
However, when you are feeding the iguana with natural greens then there is less chance that it will be lacking on vegetables, but for some owners it becomes difficult to offer them fresh greens and vegetables. They depend more on the processed food, which does not contain as much vitamin as is required by the iguana.
To fulfill the need of nutrients, you need to give them some supplements. You must know about the iguanas and the supplements to know which ones are helpful and suitable for your pet.
Types of supplements
When we talk about supplements, there are two kinds available, one is of multivitamin and the other is calcium supplement.
Calcium supplements are to keep the bone structure of the iguana strong whereas the multivitamin supplement can make the iguana healthy from inside as well as immune to various diseases.
Also vitamins boost the metabolism and increases hunger. It works on the basic digestive system and thus it boosts the energy level of the iguana.
The 8 Best Iguana Supplement Vitamins: Top Rated Products
Now we can proceed to the later section of this piece, where we will offer suggestions regarding the best vitamin supplements available in market for iguana:
1. Fluker’s 73030 Insectivore/Carnivore High AMP Boost Reptile Supplement
The brand Fluker’s offer the best quality vitamin supplement for the iguana and other various kinds of reptiles. This supplement is Abalone free and it is available in pellets form. When you wish to provide your reptile with adequate energy and healthy body, feed this vitamin and see the change in your pet.
This package includes powder, cup, feeding syringe and a spoon. You need water to mix it and you will be able to give it to the iguana. When the iguanas are newly brought to a place they become agitated and eat less. This supplement will replenish the nutrition and make the iguana feeling healthy and energetic.
Even pet owners with sick and weak reptiles have found this supplement useful. The reptiles that are facing disordered eating habit, can be benefitted after consuming this supplement, as it will increase their metabolism and improve the digestion power. Even this supplement is able to cure the dehydrated underweight iguanas as claimed by the pet owners.
Pros:
- Beneficial for sick and agitated iguanas
- Can improve metabolism
- Gives energy
Cons:
- Needed in large portion for adult iguana
Also Read: How to Trim Iguana Nails?
2. Rep-Cal SRP00200 Phosphorus-free Calcium Ultrafine Powder:
This vitamin supplement is phosphorus free, so it is good for iguana of all ages. This is powder in form and is easy to feed the pets. This supplement contains vitamin D3 and calcium. So it will be able to provide the iguana the needed calcium which is good for the bone density.
This powder is scientifically formulated and thus it will provide right amount of vitamins to your pet iguana. You can give this to your pet iguana mixed with the salad, and also you can give them with the fruit pieces. Vitamin D3 provided in this supplement is enough to make the product iguana friendly.
This supplement is inclusive of all necessary nutrients, so when you give this in your food, you do not have to provide with any other supplement. You should spread it on their food and cover the food with the layer. Later you can give it a good mix so the powder does not taste bland.
Pros:
- Mixes well with vegetables and salads
- Good quality supplement
- Offers quick improvement in health
Cons:
- Sometimes Taste not liked by iguana
3. Herptivite Multivitamin for reptiles and amphibians:
This multi vitamin is offered to the iguanas that are getting lethargic and refusing to eat the full meal. There are every kind of essential elements, and minerals. It does not contain any vitamin in excessive so there will be no chance of getting toxic effects for your iguana.
The vitamins that are present in this multivitamin are naturally sourced, so the side effects caused by this supplement are minimal. This supplement is available in powder form and thus you can easily mix it with the food of the iguana. The taste is not distinct so the iguana will not refuse to eat it.
This supplement can improve the health of the reptile within a few weeks. You will see your skinny iguana getting healthier and lively. You can continue feeding your iguana with this product for years, if the pet of yours is picky eater. This powder will supplement the nutrition that your iguana may be lacked on.
Pros:
- Good price
- Naturally sourced
- No chance of toxicity
Cons:
- Weird smell
Also Read: 6 Best Substrate for Iguanas
4. Zilla Reptile Health Supplies Calcium Supplement Food Spray
This vitamin supplement offers the much needed dose of calcium. The calcium present in this item will offer relief from the bone diseases found common in iguanas. As this supplement is found in spray form, it is much easy to feed the iguanas. There will be no specific taste found in the food.
You should spray the product 15 seconds before serving the food. The time taken will be enough to dilute the spray within the food. Also it gets absorbed in the bloodstream much easily than other supplements.
When you find your iguana too ill and skinny, you can directly feed this supplement in drops. 2 or 3 drops are enough for one time, and you can repeat the process for a week to see the difference in its health. This supplement is great for treating calcium deficiency, but along with this supplement, getting ample UVA and UVB rays are mandatory.
Pros:
- Good supplement for calcium deficiency
- Works perfectly
- Spray absorbs in food immediately
Cons:
- Slight smell
5. Royal Pet Supplies Inc Zoo Med Repitive:
This supplement is available in ultra fine super stick formula, as claimed by the manufacturer. The calcium phosphorus ration is ideal in this supplement and it offers adequate amount of all the necessary nutrients. This is a pure product which if free from any fillers. Thus your pet iguana will get no adulteration but only the pure form of vitamins from this supplement.
You can give this supplement twice a day to your pet iguana, though in small amount. Mixing it well with vegetables and greens is a good idea. You must not keep it just as a layer on the food, as the iguana will be able to taste it and may not eat the food then.
This supplement can rejuvenate a sickly iguana and it will make the pet living healthy life if you feed the supplement on daily basis. The pet owners did not complain much about its smell, so hopefully you will be able to feed the iguana with this product.
Pros:
- Makes the pet healthy
- Works immediately
- No side effect
- No particular smell
Cons:
- Packaging in some cases were faulty
6. Nutribac Dietary supplement for reptiles and amphibians:
This one is a patented probiotic supplement which offers protection against any kind of illness to the iguanas. This is vastly recommended by herp vets due to its superb healing power and natural ingredients.
This is a dietary supplement, which means it will offer your pet required nutrients that are lacking in the daily diet. This will also increase the appetite of the reptile and the skinny pet of yours will be eating more. It will improve the health of your pet in no time.
The supplement works wonderfully with the intestinal micro flora. This one stimulates the helpful bacteria so the iguana gets rejuvenated. There will be no chance of side effects, which is a great benefit of this supplement. A shot of this supplement daily will make your iguana one lovely and healthy creature.
Pros:
- Natural
- No side effect
- Helps to improve appetite
- Stimulates good bacteria
Cons:
- Not very tasty
7. Natural science- Multi Vitamin Supplement
This multivitamin is great for the matured iguana but is not suitable for the baby dragons. There are different kinds of important nutrients which will do well to all kinds of systems of the pet’s physique. One of the most beneficial omega-3 fatty acid is available through this supplement.
It works on the overall good health of the pet. Along with omega 3, it also contains omega 6 fatty acid, which keeps the heart health in good condition. You can offer this natural multivitamin supplement mixed with their dish of vegetables and it will not be noticed by the iguana.
This supplement is available in chips form so you can get them dusted to feed the iguana. the amount should be a pinch or two for every meal. There is no particular smell or flavor of this vitamin so it will be consumed happily by the pets.
Pros:
- Naturally resourced
- Works on sick iguanas
- Contains Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
Cons:
- Not for young iguanas
8. Exo Terra Calcium Liquid
Though the name of this supplement contains only calcium, but it also contains magnesium in it. This is available in liquid form and thus is easily absorbed in the body of iguana. There is least time taken in assimilation and it directly reaches the intestine of the iguana.
Along with vitamins, minerals like calcium and magnesium plays an important role in the well being of iguana. The minerals along with a healthy and nutritious diet, offers healthy and energetic pet. Also it contributes to the strong bone structure of the creature.
Essential calcium is available from this supplement. It will keep the bone structure of the creature in great condition. It does not expire any soon and that is a great benefit for the pet owners.
Pro:
- Helps to boost immunity
- Energizes the pet
- Fast absorption
- No expiry date
Cons:
- Sometimes out of stock
How much multivitamin should be given?
There is no specific amount specified for the iguanas. But you can ask your vet or follow a general rule. It depends upon the size and maturity of the iguana.
Mostly giving the powder by a pinch or two is enough for the iguana, as exceeding the quantity may make the food tasteless. For a juvenile one you can give 4 to 5 times of multivitamin where as a gravid female iguana will need 2 to 3 times of it in a day.
How to feed multivitamin to your iguanas?
When you are giving the multivitamin, which is mostly available in powder form, try to mix it well with the food in the dish. Many owners make this mistake of sprinkling it over the food that is salad mostly.
This way the powder does not mix with the chopped vegetables and if your pet is choosy and picky, it will omit those parts layered with multivitamins. The reason being, the powdered multivitamin supplement often seems tasteless.
So the best way to give them the supplement and making sure that they eat it, is mixing the powder thoroughly.
What is the effect of over supplementation?
Even the good things are not good when given in high doses. So do not give the iguana more and more amount of supplements hoping that it would grow sooner or bigger.
When the iguana consumes large amount of vitamin A or D it causes toxicity in their body. Also metabolic bone disease can be caused due to overfeeding of vitamin supplements. Among other side effects, there could be liver, eye and skin related issues.
Summary
It is not enough to provide the iguana with vitamin supplements. They will not be able to synthesize the vitamin if it is not getting enough natural sunlight. Do not depend upon the sunlight that comes filtered by the window, as that does not contain enough UVA and UVB rays. Unfiltered sunlight is most helpful in this process, and that will be only possible when you take the iguana out for a walk daily.
