Goin the Adopting route

[DonMeyer]

Hey guys...I have always loved Iggys and the local petshop now has one up for adoption! So I think I'm ready for one. Ive read my books tons of times in the past and know about all I can know. Well at least everything that the books can tell you.

I am gonna have him/her in a 20 temporarily. Then I'll be building a cage for it instead of building the Burm and Retic rack(just too much work and too much snake for me right now, my current burm is enough.)

Ya so thats about it! I might pick up a Bullfrog too:) They're like 2 for 5?

Thanks, Don Meyer

[Pixie]

Iguanas can be wonderful pets BUT they are quite a handfull to deal with and their care requires alot more time and especially, patience!

With that said, if you love them and feel you are up to the challenge, adopting an ig in need and giving it a good home is one of the best things you can do!

I have my rescued ig now for about 8 months and although she isn't dog tame yet, she has made amazing progress and she is a pure joy to have despite the many wounds she inflicts on me!!!

My best advice would be not to get too discouraged with behavior issues. Igs can be difficult to acclimate to a new home as they hate change and this is often very true with rescues.

Here are some good iguana reference sites to check out and learn more about them:

http://www.greenigsociety.org/

http://tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi

http://www.todaysplanet.com/pg/beta/lizardlover/

http://www.iguanaanswers.co.uk/

http://www.anapsid.org

Good luck and keep us posted!

Pixie

[DonMeyer]

Thanks alot Pixie! I know we have had some bad times in the past and I'm glad you dont hold grudges like some at my other sites haha.

Yes I was at a shop 2 days ago and saw Iggys for sale....but I called around to see if any were up for adoption first...and there was one! And only like 5 miles away I'm gonna take my dog on a walk up there today to check him out before I get him.

Thanks so much for the sites!

P.S. I definately know what Iggys can be like:) I had a 3 footer and MAN did his tail hurt...I cant imagine a bite from a 4 footer or larger!

[marisa]

I wouldn't do it. It sucks for me to say that but Iguanas are a pet I would never ever again recommend to anyone. I wish each day I had thought more about what I was doing before adopting Roxy. I am sticking to my commitment now and we all love Roxy but I wish I had listened or read more and not adopted one.

Everyday I have to clean up piles of messy sloppy wet poo and urine. And I am lucky enough to have one thats potty trained to a square of paper.

Everyday she eats 1-2 giant cereal bowls of fresh greens, veggies and small amounts of fruit. And I mean it needs to be FRESH. In the summer she can eat up to 6 cereal bowls of food with no problem. Including vitamins this is costly and time consuming on my entire household.

Her and many other iguanas, can be happy one day and a monster the next. I never know for sure if she is gonna jump on me, lunge at me or be a baby. She has almost broken plexi glass with her tail, she ruins ANYTHING in her cage with her claws within weeks...and that costs money to replace and time.

Even a simple trip to the vet means a GIANT breed dog cage or refridge type box. Gloves because she hates it. And two people because she is strong and croc rolls if she doesn't like something.

I beg of you to REALLY think about this. Getting an iguana automatically means by by fun snakes and lizards because guess what? You no longer have time or money for anything in reality unless you are rich and have no job. At first they are simple 3 footers, but when they reach 5 feet, your life day to day changes!

There are good points. But frankly I can't wait for the day iguanas are illegal. Roxy is my buddy and a wonderful member of the family but I might as well of adopted a horse to live inside.

Marisa

[marisa]

I also wanted to add one thing....

Roxys cage is 6 high, 6 long and 5 deep. Custom 6 ply plywood with 3 giant plexi glass windows.

We love this cage and took lots of time and money to build it.....here we are two years later....she has outgrown it.

Marisa

[Pixie]

I agree with a lot of what Marisa said but I wouldn't go to the extreme that iguanas should be illegal and that they don't make good pets period.

They ARE a LOT of work and are demanding in many respects: time, money, effort, patience, tolerance, etc. I know. Since I've gotten my ig, I've cut down my collection down and will again soon. The time it takes to care for my ig is equal or more than what I spend actively with my dogs! Thank God they're getting old and lazy! lol

High vet costs are an important thing to factor in, especially for igs and a rescue on top of it!

There are a lot of downsides to having an ig, an it is VERY important to think about it beforehand. But there are also rewards.

You don't experience as much interactivity with other herps. The fact that they're active during the daytime and have lots of daily needs makes for lots of active interaction. It doesn't mean it's always positive and fun but IMO it beats a sleepy snake! lol

They are very intelligent and VERY tempermental. Do NOT expect a cuddly pet as the majority don't like handling or much physical contact. I've been working with my ig closely for a good 8 months now and am still getting clawed up on a weekly basis (refer to my other post in the other ig thread a bit lower down).

I could almost write a book about stories of what I've gone through with my Paco in the short while that I've had her! It's been very tough but at the same time equaly rewarding for me.

I love my monster and can't imagine her not being around. It's definitely not for everyone though.

Make sure it's what you really want (a difficult, fussy big lizard with tons of attitude)!!! :D

Pixie