iguana uvb and supplements

Question
Hello Sara,

Before I begin to ask more questions I'd like to take this oppurtunity to thank you for all your wonderful advice. My iguanas and I appreciate it greatly, and i wouldn't even dare to imagine what kind of problems and worries id be caught up in if it weren't for your help.

I was just wondering a few things. Today, unexpectantly, the pet store called me to pick up my iguanas early due to space requirements. As I mentionned in my previous letter, I am on vacation in Atlantic city for another 8 days. Unfortunately, my parents can't spend too much money, so we are keeping them in a 12 inch plastic container from the pet store. I feel absolutely terrible about it. they do have heat lamps with day and night bulbs for warmth, and they have substrate and a climbing and hiding spot, but i don't know if it's ok to keep them in there for 8 days. I really need your oppinion on this situation, and any solutions are appreciated. At home though, I have a large tank with everything they need, so all i need to know is if they will survive in this for 8 days.(P.S. They are very active and eat and drink greatly, and they bask under the lamp happily.) I try to interact with them as much as i can outside the cage to stretch their legs but i am still worried.

Another problem i have is concerning a uvb spectrum light(fluorescent tube light). i have one at home, but on vacation i dont, im worried about their health and about metabolic bone disease. Will they survive 8 days without one? If not, i found an item on petsmart.com that seemed convenient in this situation, but id appreciate your insight first:

Is it too dangerous for babies, and how much should i put?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752427&lmdn=Reptile

Next i am concerned about the calcium supplement. i found one on petsmart.com that is phosphorous-free called jurasical. It is a powder added on top of food for calcium, but i am not sure about the dosage for babies:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753918&lmdn=Reptile

Thank you sooooo much for all your help. Here is a link to the whole supplements and medication page for reptiles on petsmart.com:

http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2769289&lmdn=Reptile&f=Taxon...

Which would you reccomend for a begginer owner of baby iguanas?

Thank you so much once again.
I seriously thank you for putting up with all my questions, and i greatly appreciate all the help that you have provided me with.

John (:

Answer

Exo Terra Solar Glo John,

Do not worry so much about them being in there for 8 days. Metabolic bone disease begins to take hold after about 2 weeks of insufficient diet/lighting. They will need to be under a UVB bulb for 10-12 hours per day once you return and place them in their permanent terrariums. I think JurassiCal is a good choice. I have used that myself in the past. I like it. Basically, you want to lightly sprinkle the dust over the greens kind of like putting Parmesan cheese on spaghetti. It helps also to spritz it with water afterward so they  don't eat straight powder. Plus, by spritzing their food with water, you are ensuring they stay hydrated. Iguanas get most of their hydration from their food. They don't generally drink from their water basins, but rather tend to use these as toilets. That is normal and perfectly acceptable. So I wouldn't worry so much about those 8 days. Just make sure you get a UVB light on them ASAP. I recommend the Exo Terra "Solar Glo" Sun Simulating lamp. It is quite expensive but it provides UVA, UVB and heat all in one, so you just need one bulb. This bulb is specifically formulated to prevent and treat MBD and I have had nothing but success using this bulb on my MBD patients. IF you don't want to do that route, you can get a plain basking bulb that emits just UVA and a separate UVB bulb, usually the 5.0 strength is sufficient.
I think you are going to do a wonderful job with these iguanas when you take over their care. Also remember, that natural sunlight is much better than than artificial, so take advantage of any opportunity to put them outside, except not in a glass terrarium, because it will essentially act as a convection oven and cook them. I have built several wire cages for the summertime and my iguanas stay outside all summer in these terrariums. It is truly invaluable to allow natural sunlight. If you cannot offer that, be sure you get a good sun simulating lamp like the one I recommended. Also the Zoo Med "Powersun" lamp is another superb choice, but it tends to be more expensive. The good thing about the Exo Terra "Solar Glo" is that it has an automatic shut-off feature once it gets too hot and that it has a 6 month warranty, so if it burns out before 6 months, you can take it back to where you got it with a receipt and get a new bulb.