ABSTRACT

Reptile keeping is one of the most rapidly expanding areas in the pet industry. In response to this trend, several pet food companies have formulated specialized diets and supplements that cater to the unique nutritional needs of different reptile species. Since nutrition is a key variable of captive reptile husbandry, we investigated the nutrient composition of six commercially available adult iguana, Iguana iguana, feeds that are intended for use as principle diets. We compared the results of our analyses to the nutrient information provided on packaging labels and to available information on the suggested nutrient recommendations for iguanas. Crude protein contents ranged from 13.21% dry matter (DM) to 27.15% DM with two of the six diets containing a lower protein than indicated on the label. Crude fat content ranged from 1.46 ± 0.44% DM to 10.25 ± 0.05% DM with three of the six diets having fat contents below the amount stated on labels. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, a measure of insoluble fiber, ranged from 5.42 ± 0.54% DM to 13.95 ± 0.27% DM. Great variety in concentrations of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) was demonstrated.