Is it normal for a baby Iguana to eats its poop?

Question

If I don't clean his poop out of his cage fast enough then he'll eat it. Is tht normal? Will it hurt him?

Answer 1

Yes. It's normal for it to eat it's and other iguanas feces.

Iguanas carry beneficial bacteria that helps in the digestion of their food. They're not born with this bacteria, it is aquired from eating the feces of other iguanas (passing it on).



RFoxx: This isn't a fairly recent discovery, I knew about it 15 years ago. That must be a fairly old article.

Answer 2

It is actual critical for iguanas to eat fecal matter from mature iguanas so they can acquire the necessary bacteria to breakdown the plant matter that they eat.



Some vets recommend that you get some fecal matter from a healthy adult iguana and feed it to your juvenile iguana.



So in other words, yes it is normal but he should be eating adult poop instead of his own.



See the following from Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital:



"Requirements in Captivity



Intestinal Inoculation



A fairly recent discovery has provided a probable explanation for the premature deaths of young iguanas despite apparently adequate diets. In the wild, young iguanas obtain needed intestinal bacteria and protozoa by eating the feces of adult iguanas. The microorganisms acquired this way are essential for digestion of plant material. Baby iguanas are not born with these microbes, so young iguanas reared in captivity never acquire them. All newly acquired, domestically raised (not wild-caught) iguanas should receive fresh feces from a healthy, parasite-free adult iguana (preferably wild-caught). One dose should inoculate the iguana for life. Some veterinary hospitals are prepared to assist new iguana owners with this process. "

Answer 3

I have never had an iguana eat its own poop, maybe lick it a few times, maybe you need to start feeding him a wider and or better variety of food and some vitamins.

Answer 4

It will not kill him as long as he gets enough real food in too. Many animals eat their poop, it's a very disgusting and strange habit. He'll grow out of it.

Answer 5

NO its not normal make sure he has adequate food at all times also he may be missing a certain nutrition in his diet dont skimp if you want a healthy pet

Answer 6

yes