Lump on iggys leg

Question
Ok well ive had my iguana (iggy) for about a year and month or so, he has great coloring a nice enclosure he is eating right and everythings about right with him. except about a month ago we noticed a large lump on his right leg. my father thinks that its from calcium defficentcy n i told him to go get sum calcium powder from the reptile store but he got sum from cvs and told me to crush it up and sprinkle it on his food. I havent done that yet because i am afraid thats not good for him. If that lump on his leg is not from lack of calcuim do you know what it is? and should i crush up the calcium pills dad bought from cvs and give it to him?

Answer
Natalie,

Well, where exactly is the large lump? Is it on a joint or is it on a muscle? What does it feel like? Hard, squishy, etc?

Calcium deficiency is very common in captive green iguanas. It will cause hard knobs and disfigured joints/bones over time. If you do not have a UVB bulb on the iguana for 10-12 hours per day, then your iguana cannot digest calcium regardless of how good his diet is.

Not all reptile basking bulbs have UVB. The cheap ones you buy at the store are generally just UVA bulbs. Iguanas require UVA and UVB. You usually have to buy them separately and have 2 lights or else you can buy a combination bulb, which are usually upwards of $40-50.

A UVB 5.0 strength bulb is good for most iguanas. If you aren't sure of which type you have or if yours is over 6 months old, get a new UVB bulb that you know is UVB.

Anyhow, so like I said it doesn't matter how great of a diet you have your iguana on if there is no UVB because the body cannot use the calcium.

Let's move on to the diet, assuming you have corrected the lighting issue, if there was one to begin with.

Good Foods: Collard greens, Mustard greens, Turnip Greens, Escarole, Dandelion Greens, Parsnips, Orange Squash, Green Beans, Hibiscus Flowers, Alfalfa, Avacado

Foods to Use Sparingly: Carrots, Spinach, Broccoli, Celery, Peppers, Fruits such as banana, mango, oranges, strawberries, etc.

BAD FOODS (Never Use): Any type of lettuces, cabbage, any type of animal protein to include human food meats/cheeses/insects.


Anyhow,
If it is not calcium-related, it could be an abscess, which needs to be removed by a vet.

Lastly, you need to use a reptile calcium supplement. Preferably something containing phosphorous free calcium-carbonate. Human calcium is different and formulated differently, do not use.

If you are not sure how to use the calcium, don't use it, just focus on the lighting and diet and if your iguana has Metabolic Bone Disease, it will gradually improve over time but any disfigurements will never go away entirely.

Sara J Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA