Can iguana's eat verbena?

I can't find it on the internet does anyone know?

Can iguana's eat verbena?
Diet: Primarily eats vegetation such as creosote bush flowers, sand verbena flowers, and other shrubs, flowers, and fruit. Also eats carrion and insects.





i found that on a site that describes the desert iguana, so im sure your green iguana wont have any problems..





heres some iggy info





PROPER NUTRITION:





Iguanas are herbivores or folivores, which means that they are plant eaters. They eat leafy greens, fruit, and fresh, uncooked vegetables that are grated and chopped to a size appropriate to the size and age of the iguana.


Watch the size of the food chunks you feed to your iguana. Think about the size of your pet's stomach and how much more food he can get in there if it's in small bits. Grated food is best but if you chop, chop into tiny, bite-sized pieces. Leafy greens can be torn into the appropriate size. And you can grow greens in your garden for your iguana. Growing Great Greens


And, speaking of leafy greens, IGUANAS DO NOT EAT LETTUCE. One of the worst myths left over from the fifties is that turtles and iguanas can survive eating iceberg lettuce. There is no nutritional value in such a pale, watery vegetable. Likewise, commercial iguana foods. Commercial diets for iguanas are not recommended.


Give your iguana protein in the form of vegetable protein like peas, green beans, alfalfa, and very occasionally, tofu or scrambled egg. No matter what you have been told, the experts agree that iguanas should not get their protein from dog or cat food. Do NOT feed your iguana dog food. It is the wrong kind of protein and can cause metabolic changes in your iguanas organs that will eventually be life-threatening.





Read our Q %26amp; A page for letters concerning feeding issues.





The most important thing, however, is to feed your iguana a VARIED diet using the following, well-rinsed foods:





Greens (40%-50% of the daily mixture):


Mustard Greens - Collard Greens - Dandelion Greens - Turnip Greens - Rapini - Mulberry Leaves - Grape Leaves - Hibiscus - Escarole (outer, dark green leaves only - do not feed pale, bleached leaves).





Vegetables (40%):


Green Beans - Peas - Turnip - Rutabaga - Parsnip - Butternut Squash - Acorn Squash - Sweet Potato - Zucchini - Carrot - Lima Beans - Cassava - Jicama - Chayote





Fruit and Flowers (10-20%):


Papaya - Pear - Strawberries - Raspberries - Mango - Grapes - Apricot - Peach - Cantaloupe - Casaba and Honeydew Melon - Kiwi - Figs - Nasturtium - Hibiscus - Rose Petals (no pesticides)





Occasional Foods and Treats (10%):


Kale - Parsley - Beets/Beet Greens - Banana - Apple - Rose Petals - Spinach - Pasta - Bok Choy - Broccoli - Cauliflower





Do not feed your iguana large quantities of broccoli flowerettes, corn, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bananas, grapes, carrot, or tomatoes because they contain higher amounts of phosphorous, oxylates, phytates and other components that can hamper your iguana's healthy growth processes.





Tear, chop and grate food into very small pieces and mix together. Sprinkle a pinch of reptile vitamin and calcium on a small amount of chopped veggies and mix well. Put the supplemented food on top to ensure your pet eats the vitamins. Do not over-supplement (twice a week for young iguanas - hatchlings to 2 years old, once a week for juveniles and adults - 2+ years and older).


Feed your iguana a balanced, varied diet EVERY day, not every other day as some books suggest. And try to avoid feeding defrosted, frozen vegetables as much as possible. Frozen, pre-packaged vegetables lose much of their vitamin content in the freezing/storage process. Feed only frozen (defrosted, room-temperature) peas and lima beans as a protein source but all other vegetables should be purchased fresh from the market or grown in the garden. Prepared iguana food and frozen vegetable mixes do not contain the necessary nutrients for a healthy iguana diet.


Remember to wash all edibles thoroughly and never feed any plant material that has been previously sprayed with insecticide. Always offer your iguana fresh water to drink.





The highly debated topic of iguana diets. With the increased popularity of pet iguanas and the fact that there is still much to be learned about them, diets as well as many other aspects will constantly be debated and discussed. Instead of providing a specific diet or listings of foods that must be fed, the Green Iguana Society would like to provide listings of foods that may be fed, foods that have been known to be dangerous, and leave it up to the iguana owner to decide which foods should be fed. We realize every iguana is different and every iguana owner is just as different, so instead of continuing a debate on diets, we would like to state that these are only our recommendations of foods that can be chosen as a part of a complete and healthy diet. Basically, we want to provide as many facts that are known about certain foods and methods, and hope that each person will plan their own iguana diet based on the information we provide.





Iguanas are strict herbivores.Although many iguana care books and a few people still recommend iguanas be fed insects and other animal protein based foods, the Green Iguana Society would like to stress that iguanas are strict herbivores (plant eating only). The myth that iguanas in the wild have been seen eating insects can be explained in a number of ways, but the fact is that they usually only eat insects in the wild by accident along with a piece of vegetable matter or by necessity when no other foods are available. Since iguana owners have complete control of their pet's diet, the Green Iguana Society recommends that insects and other foods containing animal protein should be avoided as much as possible, if not completely. For more information on animal protein, including various views on the subject, make sure you visit our Animal Protein Issues page.





How iguanas eat and drink.Iguanas have many small teeth which they rip and tear their food with, instead of chewing it. Usually, they will take large bites and swallow their food whole and occassionally they will just tongue-flick their food into their mouths. When they drink water, which is usually only occasionally, they will dip a large portion of their head into the water, lapping up the water under the surface or sometimes they may even lick water droplets off of plants and other misted surfaces.





The importance of providing fresh food and water. Obviously, the most important thing needed in the caring for a green iguana is providing fresh food and water. Fresh water should always be available and when feeding, only fresh food should be provided. Dirty water and/or spoiled food can lead to serious health problems, as well as provide a very unsanitary environment.





How often should an iguana be fed? Feeding an iguana daily is recommended. Many books and people recommend feeding an adult iguana every other day or every few days, but the Green Iguana Society definitely recommends that all iguanas should be fed every single day. One meal, two meals, three meals or more is fine, just as long as it’s every single day and that the iguana is being fed enough to stay healthy.





How much should an iguana be fed? Depending on the size and age of the iguana, appetites will vary. An iguana can not be overfed. Basically, it’s a good idea to feed it until it won’t eat anymore. The owner will be able to tell how much food is enough after spending some time with it, getting to know how and how much it eats. If the iguana has eaten and it’s apparent that it is done for that sitting, it’s a good idea to remove any uneaten food as soon as possible, to assure that it won’t eat any spoiled or rotten food and to maintain a clean area for it to live in. This will also help keep it on a regular feeding schedule.





What times should an iguana be fed? Usually, it’s a good idea to feed an iguana early in the morning. A half an hour to an hour after it's awake is a good time. Providing food in the morning allows it to properly digest its food with the aid of proper daytime temperatures. Feeding more food later in the day is fine, but it's generally not a good idea to feed an iguana the bulk of its daily food before it goes to sleep. It can also be a good practice to feed at the same times every day. An iguana that is in a routine of eating at the same time every day will also be in the routine of defecating at the same time as well. This can be important in order to establish good litter box or even toilet training. For more on litter box and toilet training, see our Taming %26amp; Training page.





Food and water bowls. Food should be provided in a shallow bowl of some type. Bowls or dishes that are made of ceramic, glass or plastic, if cleaned regularly, will work perfectly. Iguanas tend to dig at their food and sometimes walk or climb into the bowl. Using a bowl that will not be easily tipped over is a necessity. It can also be a good idea to use disposable food dishes. Disposable shallow dishes can be found at various stores and can be affordable and extremely clean as well. When providing food and water, it's very important to consider the importance of where the food and water will be in the habitat. The food bowls should be placed in an area away from the bottom of the habitat (if possible), to prevent any problems with accidentally eating any substrate material as well as keeping it away from any fecal matter, which may lead to various health problems. Water bowls are best utilized when more than one is provided. Water bowls placed in the bottom of the habitat can and usually will be used as a place to defecate. If this happens on a regular basis (whether intentional or not), it's very imporant to provide another source of clean water. The size of the water bowls that are provided to be used as drinking water should be small enough that they will not be able to climb into the bowl.





Train your iguana to drink more water! Iguanas will usually drink water from a bowl or other container. You may not see it drink the water, but most generally it is drinking some amount of water. If you want to make sure that your iguana is drinking plenty of water, you can also train your iguana to drink more. A good way of training your iguana to do this is by placing a treat or other piece of food in its drinking bowl each day. A large piece of collard or mustard greens or other food that your iguana likes should work fine. When your iguana eats the treat, it will most definitely take in a lot of water and hopefully have a drink of it. If your iguana takes to eating the treat, gradually reduce the size of the treat every day for a few weeks to even a few months. The more time you spend training it to drink the water, the more likely it will keep up the good habit of drinking lots of water. By the end of the training period, you should simply be offering a fresh bowl of water to your iguana each day. Even if you see your iguana drink water, training it to drink as much as possible each day can help your iguana stay healthy and is highly recommended.





Spraying food with water. Another very good way of making sure your iguana is getting plenty of water in its diet is by spraying its food with water. This can be done by simply spraying water on the food with a spray bottle. Spraying the food with water can be done on a regular basis or just in times when you think its not getting enough water with the types of food you're providing in that particular feeding. Once again, make sure you remove any uneaten food as soon as possible, to assure that it won't eat any spoiled or rotten food.





Importance of proper temperature. No matter how good the diet is, if the proper temperatures in the habitat are not reached, the iguana will not fully digest the food it eats. After the iguana eats, temperatures of at least 85° are needed to properly digest the food. For more on how to keep the proper temperatures, refer to our Habitat page.





Variety, variety, variety! Providing a wide variety of good quality foods is the key to a good diet. Iguanas in the wild are known to eat a large variety of plants and fruits, and iguanas in captivity should have the same opportunity. Besides, no one likes to eat the same foods all the time, and your pet iguana should be no different. Over time, you'll figure out its favorites and you can supply these more frequently, as long as the diet remains well balanced.





The importance of the calcium to phosphorus ratio. An iguana absolutely needs strong, healthy bones in order to stay healthy. One of the most important factors in providing a well balanced diet is maintaining a calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio of about 2 to 1. This is critical in order for the bones to properly grow and remain strong. Some foods are high in calcium and low in phosphorus, while others are low in calcium and high in phosphorus. Both types can be good additions to the diet, just as long as the total overall diet has at least a 2 to 1 calcium to phosphorus ratio. Please refer to Food Information Chart for more detailed information on the Ca:P values for various foods. One word of caution about the calcium to phosphorus ratio: Many people get so caught up in making sure the Ca:P is 2:1, they end up feeding their iguanas the same diet with very little variety in some foods that may improve the overall diet. This is just another reminder that the most important part of feeding an iguana is to provide a wide variety of the "good foods", while maintaining an overall calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2 to 1.





How sunlight and UV rays are needed to help with a proper diet. Along with proper diet and temperature, proper lighting and exposure to natural sunlight will most definitely help in utilizing the calcium provided in the iguanas diet. Iguanas produce vitamin D3 when they are exposed to proper amounts of UVB rays and vitamin D3 is needed in order for the calcium to be absorbed. This may sound a bit confusing, but as long as the proper amount of quality UVB lighting and sunlight is provided, vitamin D3 should be produced and the calcium in the diet will be fully utilized.





The good foods. The following is a table of good foods in six different catagories: greens, other vegetables, fruits, grain-based foods, supplemental proteins, and other occasional foods. Based on several other very popular diet recommendations, the Green Iguana Society's recommends the following percentages. We hope that iguana owners will develop their own diets based on the information we're providing. Once again, using a variety of these foods as the main portion of the diet, along with a variety of other vegetables on occasion and in moderation, is the key to providing a good, well-balanced, healthy diet. On occasion and in moderation means that you should only provide those foods as a small part of a meal or a group of meals, every few months. A food that is recommended only on occasion and in moderation can also be an acceptable snack or treat, but only occasionally. These are only a few of the best foods and there are many other foods that are also very good parts of a diet. For more detailed information about the foods listed here, including nutritional information and photos, make sure you look at our Food Information Chart.





Catagory of good food types








Food





Greens


(40-45%)








Collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens (with flowers), escarole, water cress.





Other vegetables


(40-45%)








Green beans, orange-fleshed squashes (butternut, Kabocha), snap or snow peas, parsnip, asparagus, okra, alfalfa (mature, not sprouts), onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, sweet potato, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots.





Fruits


(10% or less)








Figs (raw or dried), blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, mango, melon (cantelope, honeydew, watermelon), papaya, banana, apple.





Grain-based foods


(less than 5%)








Cooked rice or pasta, whole wheat bread (makes for a great treat)





Supplemental protein


(less than 5%)








Alfalfa pellets (rabbit food) or recommended commercial diets (see below).





Other occasional foods


(less than 5%)








See below for lists of foods that should not be fed in excess, but can still be an excellent way to provide variety and fun. Mixing in other foods on occasion is recommended.








Oxalates and phytates. Many foods contain oxalates and phytates. It has been proven that they sometimes bind to calcium, inhibiting it from being properly used by the body. It's not a fact that this is true in iguanas, but better safe than sorry is always a good practice in iguana care. Below is a list of foods that contain oxalates or phytates and should only be fed occasionally.





Foods that contain oxalates or phytates to be fed only on occasion and in moderation.





Spinach, beets, beet greens, swiss chard, dock, sorrel, whole grains, celery stalk, kale, carrot tops.








Cruciferous foods and goitrogens. Many foods contain goitrogens. Goitrogens are substances that has been shown to bind iodine. This may lead to hypothyroidism. The foods that usually contain goitrogens are members of the cruciferous family of vegetables. These foods can be fed on occasion along with a balanced diet that will compensate for the effects of the goitrogens, but only occasionally and not in excess. The following is a list of cruciferous vegetables that contain goitrogens.





Cruciferous vegetables and other foods that contain goitrogens to be fed only on occasion and in moderation.





Kale, brocolli, cabbage, bok-choi, turnips, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, rutabaga, tofu.








Foods to avoid. There are many foods that should never be fed to an iguana. Below is a chart of various foods that should usually be avoided, although some of these foods can still be given occasionally. Many of the foods listed here contain animal protein. For more information on animal protein, make sure you read our Animal Protein Issues page. Note: Although we recommend that several of these foods should never be fed to your iguana, if your iguana happens to eat any of these foods by accident, you need not worry too much about the effects of it. We are simply saying "never" to stress the importance of how harmful these foods will be, if fed on a regular or semi-regular basis.





Foods to avoid








Information








Recommendations





Insects, worms, mice, pinky mice








Animal protein, not a natural food.








NEVER!





Dairy products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.)








Dairy products are intended for mammals, not reptiles.








NEVER!





Eggs








Animal protein, very high in phosphorus and fat.








NEVER!





Dog food, cat food, monkey biscuits, monkey chow and other pet food








Animal protein, intended for dogs, cats and monkeys. Sometimes high in fat content.








NEVER! We do not recommend these because of the animal protein they contain. Some still recommend that they are okay on occasion, but we do not agree.





Meat (beef, chicken, etc.)








Animal protein, not a natural food, intended for carnivores...not herbivores.








NEVER!





Rhubarb








Poisonous and should never be fed to iguanas.








NEVER!





Lettuce (iceberg, romaine, Boston, butter)








Lettuces are a common staple of many malnutrioned iguanas, most lettuces (especially head lettuce) are very low in nutritional value.








Occasionally is fine, but there are many better foods to provide instead. Romaine lettuce is the better of all the lettuces, but still lacks adequate amounts of nutritional value.





Wild plants and flowers








Possibility of being contaminated with herbicides and pesticides, could be a toxic plant








Occasionally, ONLY if there is absolutely no chance of being contaminated or toxic. Very risky and not at all recommended.





Acidic foods (citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, limes, kiwi fruit, lemons, pineapple; and tomatoes)








Some iguanas may not like eating acidic foods and it may be likely that the iguana can not properly break down the acid in the food, not a natural food choice.








Occasionally is fine, only if the iguana doesn't have any negative reactions to it. Some people offer these foods for more variety and color.





Tofu








Although high in plant protein, tofu is very high in fat. Also contains goitrogens.








Occasionally is fine, but in excess, can lead to serious health risks.








Where to buy food. So, now that you've decided what foods to feed your iguana, you must now figure out where to buy them. Most commercial grocery stores and markets will carry a wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits. It's not uncommon for iguana owners to suddenly realize that there's a whole section in the store with fresh vegetables. In rural areas and small towns, getting the variety you want may be difficult. Many people who live in small towns make a weekly road trip to another town that may offer more variety. Although small town stores may lack in variety, there may be farms or farmer's markets in the area that can also be an excellent source for very fresh food. Many foods are very seasonal and can only be found in certain parts of the year, so you may have to adjust the diet during those times. If you're having trouble finding certain foods in your area, the best thing you can do is to ask people where to go. Many markets and grocery stores that don't carry all the foods you're looking for will point you in the right direction. Simply tell them that you're a regular customer and that you're looking for something in particular and most of the time, they will be very helpful.





Commercial frozen vegetables. Bags of frozen vegetables can be thawed and fed from time to time. These can serve as an excellent emergency food when the fresh food is gone, or if there is no time to go to the store or market. It's not a good idea to rely on commercial frozen foods as a regular part of the diet, but occasionally is fine. Also, remember to add crushed vitamin B1 tablets or brewer's yeast. For more information on adding supplements to food, please visit our Vitamins %26amp; Supplements page.





Eating habits %26amp; picky eaters. Some iguanas will prefer certain foods and may not want to eat other foods. Do not let your iguana train you to feed it only the foods that it wants. Mixing foods that it does not like with other foods is a good way to avoid a problem with a picky appetite, and eventually its appetite will change. Grating and chopping up the food you provide in a mixture will also help eliminate picky eating habits. Don't give up on trying to get your iguana to eat the right foods or you may end up with an iguana with a very unhealthy diet. It's not uncommon for an iguana to constantly change its taste and desire for certain foods. Allowing it to train the owner into feeding only foods it likes should be avoided.





Hand feeding. Feeding an iguana by hand can be a very good thing to help tame an iguana. It can also turn into a very bad habit. We suggest that you feed your iguana by hand from time to time, but don't do it all the time or your iguana may not want to eat any other way. Also, it's very important to be extremely cautious when feeding by hand, especially with large iguanas. Even iguanas that never attempt to bite their owners can have accidents and serious injury may result if you aren't careful and paying very close attention when hand feeding your iguana.











Wild foods and growing an iguana garden. Although it can be risky to feed wild plants and flowers to a pet iguana, it can be a very good and economical idea for iguana owners to grow their own vegetables. This can also be a very good way of absolutely knowing that the vegetables are fresh and free of any harmful substances. Planning and growing vegetables can also be another enjoyable part of iguana ownership.





A note on house plants and toxic plants. Since we are providing information on foods and feeding, we would like to mention the dangers of iguanas eating house plants that may be toxic. There are many common house plants (and even some vegetables) that can be toxic if an iguana happens to eat them. If the owner is unsure about the toxicity of plants that the iguana has access to, it is important that the iguana's access to these plants be restricted until the plants are researched by the owner and deemed safe. Visit our Toxic Plants page for a list of toxic plants.











The Iguana Pages by Jen Swofford contains her Complete Guide to Keeping Giant Green Iguanas in Captivity. This incredible guide contains a great deal of excellent information on nutrition, including diet recommendations, several charts, and just about all you need to know to properly feed an iguana. She also has in-depth charts on the nutritional content of most commonly fed foods.


Iguana Care, Feeding %26amp; Socialization by Melissa Kaplan is an excellent guide to iguana care. The entire article, as well as her entire site, is an excellent source for all iguana owners.


The House of Galahad Quick Iguana Nutrition FAQ by Catherine E. Rigby-Burdette is another excellent source for more information on iguana diets, including charts, photos, feeding recommendations, and links to other sites.


Sammy J. Eguro is a site by Marie Eguro that has a perfect example of how unique an iguana's diet can be. Her two iguanas are fed a wonderful variety of foods that she tailors to their likes and dislikes and with her recommendations, your iguana will without a doubt be provided with a fantastic variety of healthy foods.





Along with feeding your iguana the most nutritious vegetables, it is important to feed a variety of vegetables. This serves several functions. First of all, it will help stimulate appetite. No person wants to eat the same few foods all the time, and no iguana does either. Additionally, it is closer to what an iguana would experience in the wild. In the rainforest habitat of an iguana, there are thousands of species of plants that an iguana might consume, so it makes sense to include as many types as possible in captivity. Feeding your iguana a wide variety provides it with many different phytonutrients (chemicals plants contain that are not essential in the diet but do seem to provide so me health benefits; the cancer-fighting lycopenes in tomatoes are one example), which are attracting a lot of interest in the human nutritionist community at the momento Lastly-and perhaps most importantly-by including a wide variety of vegetables in the diet you minimize the possibility that the amount of any nutrient is too low. Feeding the most diverse foodstuffs you can helps ensure that your iguana will not lack any nutrients in his diet.





An iguana's diet can be broken down to a few major components: greens, other vegetables, fruits, and other items. We'lllook at each component in detail. In each section, there will be a number of examples of specific items that can be fed to an iguana, and we'll note which ones are the best. Keep in mind that iguana nutrition is not an exact science, and future studies may result in changes as to what types of plants are good or bad for these lizards.





Feeding Your Iguana





Now that you've just read all the bits about what to feed and what not to feed your iguana, you need to know how to feed him. There is nothing really complicated about this, but





there are some things to do and some things to not do. We'll be talking about the feeding schedule, food preparation, and a few minor points.











Preparation





If you are familiar with reptiles, you may have noticed that they don't really chew their food. Iguanas are no exception. For the most part, they chomp off pieces of leaves and swallow. This lack of chewing does present a choking hazard, although wild iguanas do not seem to suffocate in any numbers. Still, it is best to chop or shred all the food items into bite-sized pieces. Leafy greens can be torn and the other vegetables and fi:uits chopped. Hard vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets, should be grated before offering them. Alternatively, you could lightly steam the hard vegetables, let them cool, and then chop them into small chunks.





Aside %26amp;om helping prevent your iguana %26amp;om choking, chopping up the food allows you to thoroughly mix it. Mixing the food keeps your iguana from separating out the items he prefers and leaving the other items. While it is nice to feed your iguana the food he likes, this can lead to nutritional problems. After all, a child left to his or her own preferences would be likely to eat little besides cakes and candies. Your iguana is no different.





Presented with an abundance of food and the ability to select the items he likes, he will do so, usually selecting the bits of colorful fruits and vegetables and leaving most of the nutritious greens behind. Chopping and mixing stops most of this. If you have a really picky iguana or one that is particularly adroit at sifting out only what he wants to eat, you can put all the food items into a food processor and make a thick sludge out of them. This may look unpalatable to you, but most iguanas will eat it without much fuss.





For a really picky eater, one that do es not like certain nutritious foods or likes one food to the exclusion of others, you can slowly bring him around to eating more variety. To do this, offer mixes mostIy of the food item or items your ig likes, adding a tiny bit of the food item he won't eat. As the days go by, gradually increase the proportion of the disliked item. 800n you will find your iguana accepts that item without a problem. If you want or need to do this with more than one item, you will have the most success if you try to coax your iguana to eat only one of the items at a time. If you try to hide more than one unwanted item in the food bowl, your iguana will likely catch on and reject the entire dish.