Calcium, Calcium, Calcium

Not all plants are created equal. You will want to feed your iguana the most nutritious types and avoid some that lack nutrients or contain substances that may be detrimental to his health. Of particular concern is calcium, or actually, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus. An iguana should consume at least twice as much calcium as phosphorus. Now, this does not mean you need to study botany or chemistry in order to feed your iguana properly. If you follow the guidelines spelled out in this chapter, you will be feeding your iguana a diet with more than adequate amounts of calcium. As often as is possible, vegetables with particularly good or particularly bad calcium to phosphorus ratios will be noted as such.

Something to remember is that all the calcium in the world will do your iguana no good ifit isn't getting enough vitamin D. In iguanas and most other animals, vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium ITom the digestive tract. If there isn't enough vitamin D, any calcium the iguana ingests will just pass right through without being taken in and used by its body. There is considerable debate as to whether or not iguanas can absorb vitamin D ITom their food. If vitamin D doesn't come from the food, where does it come ITom? If you already read the section on lighting, you know that vitamin D is made in the iguana's skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet light. Be sure to read that section and follow the guidelines given there to be sure your iguana is busy making vitamin D when it basks under its lights. With iguanas-and many other reptiles-lighting and nutrition go hand-in-hand.