Is it safe to feed my boa constrictor an injured iguana?

A guy down the road called me to come take a look at his iguana. Apparently it had fallen or was dropped and it was dragging its back legs. It is about a 16 inches or so long. I have a large red tail boa on a live yucci plant in my living room that hasn't been fed yet this week. Would it be relatively safe to feed it to him instead of just letting it die?

Is it safe to feed my boa constrictor an injured iguana?
I'd have to agree with the above poster stick to the snakes natural diet. The main thing I'd be worried about is the claws on that iguana. As long as it is alive chances are it will struggle with the snake. I've seen the damage a live mouse can do I'd hate to see the claws of an iguana at work.



Now that we've got that out of the way contact a vet as soon as possible. If there is any chance this animal can be saved a responsible pet owner would put forth the effort instead of just letting it die...or feeding it to another pet. Chances are the iguana is in alot of pain and should be treated or put down.
Reply:take the iguana to the vet
Reply:no
Reply:I would be wary of feeding the lizard to the snake if you don't know for sure it fell-it may have some other problem that could be passed on to your snake. I would definitely kill the iquana before offering it to the snake-it could do some nasty damage.



If the snake is accustomed to mice, it may not want the iquana, don't force the issue.



I don't think, like some of the other people, that you are heinous for wanting to utilize the Iggie. If his owner is unwilling to take it to the vet, then it would make more sense to put it to use. Feeding it to the snake is returning it to the cycle of life-they are prey animals. If he dies and is buried, the worms will eat it instead of the snake-I see no difference.



If the snake is to live, other animals must die-that is the cycle of the snakes life.
Reply:I have a pet Iguana thats horrible that u want to feed it to a snake... Iguanas have little teeth and LONG sharp claw sooo im pretty sure the iguana wouldnt sit there and just be eaten! It would probably scratch you snake and snakes eat mice and other rodents not another REPTILE!
Reply:What is wrong with the owner of the iguana? There is serious neglect and possible abuse going on here. Neglect because any living being that has been injured and is in the possession of a human should be receiving treatment even if only relief from pain or euthanasia; abuse if this iguana is purposely put in a situation where it is vulnerable to harm (physical or emotional) or death. If the iguana is injured so badly it needs to be euthanized, do so and bury it in the earth where its remains can become a part of all the life it was a part of.
Reply:Maybe it would be better to take it to a vet or back to a pet store to have them look at it and see how badly it is injured. Iguana's don't move too much and can probably be kept in a more confined sace to stop it from moving too much so it can heal. And it doesn't need to chase it's food around so...

But as far as feedig it to a snake... Stick to the snakes natural diet. Giving it an animal that is not a normal in that kind of snakes diet or if you've only been feeding it mice for along time feeding something like that could impact it's sytem a great deal. I would definatly comsult your vet on this one.
Reply:yes. and depends on the health of the iguana. call your boa's vet to confirm.
Reply:The boa constrictor's diet consists largely, if not exclusively, of warm-blooded rodents. In the wild, a constrictor may occasionally take lizards, but it isn't something I would recommend as lizards are not high in nutrition.



Why did your friend call you, and not a vet? This iguana should be seeing a vet, and if the damage to its hindlegs is too extensive to repair, the animal should be humanely put to sleep. Feeding to another is not an acceptable way to just "get rid of" an injured animal.



If your other option is simply to "let it die," it doesn't sound as if either of you have any real commitment to this iguana.