View Full Version : Iguana
Im getting an Iguana in a few minutes, there on sale so i though why not get one. Im about to leave to go get him. Does anyone else have any iguanas and would like to share there pics and expiriences?
HeatherRose
08-14-04, 12:01 PM
LOL. Oh, dear.
Hey Rikki , I hope this Iguana is not a purchase made on a whim just because they're on sale. We have an Ig that we have had since the day it popped his head out of the egg, and although Shade has made a good pet, he is strong, full of nasty claws, and can poop like it's going out of style, not to mention the huge light requirements and the crazy amount of food he can put away each and every day. Oh yes and the cage requirement as well can start getting a bit ridiculous, I think his cage in the end will be bigger than my kids bedroom.LOL! Another scary thing is that if taken care of properly they can live for thirty years, and when I actually say that man, 30 more years of making salad-yikes! Anyways Rikki I will go try to find a picture-don't think there is one in my gallery right now, but I do have one elsewhere. So if you do "pick" one up in a few minutes, Good luck I guess.
CDN-Cresties
08-14-04, 12:17 PM
Originally posted by PuNkuPoNAsTAR
LOL. Oh, dear.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Oh, no i typed that way to fast lol. I have been thinking about getting one for a while and i have a cage ready with all fixtures, i have the food and calcium suplements. Its a 10gallon tank though i will be placing him in a 29 gallon after i see hes good to go. Im very expirienced with them, dont get me wrong ;)
And, i my self have had a 5 foot iguana in the past which i sold when i was moving.... I know what im doing ;)
HeatherRose
08-14-04, 12:30 PM
NO, you're not very experienced with them. You're putting it in a TANK? A 10 gallon? Nice job. *Thumbs up* ...
Go read a book.
im not really into iguana's and stuff, but isnt a 10 gallon a bit small for one.....................an 29 gallon to for that matter.
Are you sure you aint talkin about gettin a gecko or something?
Rikki, you may have owned one in the past, but you really need to consider your motives for getting one now... Please do some more research and give this animal everything it deserves...
Hey Rikki, I would definately skip the 10 gal and go right to the 29, and as for the food you already have, I would not use just that, as Fresh is best, and I'm assuming you just failed to mention the most important fixture of all, when you said you had all the fixtures ready (full-spectrum, heat etc). Anyways here is some pictures of Shade, she just turned three this past March.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_014-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_007-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_026-med.jpg
Thanks for looking, Allison
Hey Rikki, I would definately skip the 10 gal and go right to the 29, and as for the food you already have, I would not use just that, as Fresh is best, and I'm assuming you just failed to mention the most important fixture of all, when you said you had all the fixtures ready (full-spectrum, heat etc). Anyways here is some pictures of Shade, she just turned three this past March.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_014-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_007-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3839HEMIShade_026-med.jpg
Thanks for saying that puNkuPoNAsTAR!!!!
Oops sorry for the double post!
This is from Melissa Kaplans Caresheet on the Green Iguana (yes, I know people have their problems with her.. too bad)..
The costliest initial mistake made by iguana keepers is starting off with too small an enclosure.
Enclosures aren't cheap to begin with, but you save nothing by buying less expensive small
enclosure. Kept properly, iguanas grow fast and need lots of room to move around in while they
are doing that growing.
When you start off with the usual 10-40 gallon enclosure, it may look large enough to you,
but it isn't large enough to provide the thermal gradients the iguana needs. It cannot provide the
open space they need just to move around in without constantly banging into food bowls, water
tubs, branches, etc. Finally, as you will find later when reading about taming and socialization,
iguanas are highly territorial. Keeping them in a too-small enclosure at any age intensifies their
reaction to their territory being invaded, even when the "invader" is your hand and arm putting in
fresh food and water. This territorial response kicks in about the time that the iguana finally
realizes that you aren't going to eat him. So, to give both of you the best opportunity early in the
relationship, start off with a large enclosure, even if the iguana initially looks "lost" in it. Hide
boxes and visual screens during the first couple of months will give him secure-feeling places to
go when he's feeling over-exposed to prying eyes.
Start with a least a 60 gallon US (50 gallon UK) tank with a secure lid or a similarly sized
wood and glass/Plexiglas top-, front- or side-opening enclosure. Glass enclosures are available
with a securely fixed screen across half the top of the tank and a hinged glass lid securing half of
the top. These tanks are easily cleaned and disinfected. While a 60 gallon tank may seem huge
for that teeny baby iguana, a properly cared for hatchling will outgrow that enclosure by the end of
its first year, and outgrow a 100 US (83 UK) gallon tank shortly after than (see Determining Iguana
Age and Size).
Enclosures not suitable for iguanas are those that are primarily mesh, as mesh does not
hold in the heat. While this may not be a problem during hot summer days when the room air
temperature is in the mid-80s, it is a problem the rest of the year as you have to heat the entire
room to tropical temperatures--day and night--in order to keep your iguana warm enough. If you
aren't the one paying the electric bill, or have no idea how much the additional heating and lighting
equipment will cost, you can run some calculations before you get your iguana to see if the
monthly cost is something you can sustain. The Calculating the Cost of Electricity article
discusses how to do so.
Mesh is also a problem if the wrong type of mesh is used. Fine mesh, such as window
screening material, will shred under persistent iguana claws--and iguanas are very persistent.
Poultry wire (also called chicken wire) has large holes. The wire itself is stiffer than window
screening, but thin and sharp enough to cause serious injury to iguana noses and toes when they
rub against it (that persistence thing again) and climb it. Hardware cloth (woven wire), especially
the plastic-coated ones, are suitable for ventilation panels or outdoor enclosures. You can also
use it to make a "convertible" enclosure, one that is mostly hardware cloth to take advantage of
the summer heat, with easily attached solid wood and Plexiglas panels that will hold the heat in during the cooler nights and seasons.
If you would like to read the complete caresheet, you can find it HERE (http://www.anapsid.org/pdf/icfs.pdf)
Hope this helps..
-Matt
Hes 4 inches long guys o.O
CanadianJackson
08-14-04, 12:56 PM
Iguanas are bigger than 4 inches right out of the egg
Yes so was ours, actually a bit smaller and until we had his cage built he lived in a 66 galon for 1 or 2 months even that seems a bit odd putting this beutiful exotic free roaming grazer in a glass box!
I guess ours head to tail was 5.5 inches, actually
DragnDrop
08-14-04, 01:10 PM
I'd like to make a suggestion based on your post
"Does anyone know of...." (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51028) in the General Discussion forum.
Does anyone know of Reptile Resuce organazations that need to find homes for reptiles? that are really cheap or free? I have alot of extra space and could offer some homes....
Contact one of the rescue organizations that were mentioned in the replies, and see about adopting one of theirs. Rather than getting a 'new' one get a 'used' one and save a life that way. There seem to be an awful lot of iggies waiting to be adopted. Even if none of the Rescue operations around you have one now, they probably will soon enough, so you can use the time to get the set-up ready.
If you still get the new one at the store, at least give him lots more space than a 10 gallon. If you've got the room to take in rescues, then use it to set up the new one properly without stressing him from cramped quarters.
I just measured, with his tail he is 5 inches. He actually was brought in from a woman who did not take care of him.... Hes with me now though and i can assure a good home.
Hes doing great, hes eating, and hes very easy to handle. Hes beautiful. :p
If he has his whole tail (its never been dropped) and WITH his tail he is 5 inches, then you have yourself a brand new Anole. Not Green Iguana. I have seen them almost right out of the egg, and they are longer than five inches.
But he may be 5 inches, with a dropped tail.
Marisa
Size as hatchlings can vary depending on a lot of things. Size of parents, size of clutch, how much mom ate while gravid, what mom ate while gravid etc... The important thing is he now has the iguana so some positive feedback without arguing about everything would probably be in order. Good luck Rikki, just don't forget how important proper lighting and diet are and give it some room and you should have an impressive living dino sharing your room!
Dave
Don't you think positive ID would be a good idea as well? Lots of people can accidently mistake an anole for an iguana. No one is attacking him. The "stop attacking posts" are getting worse and larger in number than the ones that are actually out of line these days.
I have seen lots of photos from people holding newly hatched iguanas as well as some newly hatched ones, maybe some are tiny but the ones I have seen WITH full tail are a few inches longer. That's just me though.
Marisa
I know the differnce of a anole and an iguana ;)
Tim and Julie B
08-15-04, 02:51 PM
Hey there. Good luck with the new addition. Are you using the 10 gallon as a quarantine until you are sure it is healthy? And then switching to the 29? That's what I understood from your first post. Anyways, just keep in mind it will probably need a bigger home in a couple months, but it can be quite fun building one:D I see that you used to have an adult, so I guess you know how big they get anyways. Again, good luck and post some pics if you get a chance.
Julie
I will when i get my new camera.When hes larger, i have a spare room in the house for him ;)
Tim and Julie B
08-15-04, 03:28 PM
Very cool!:D
Julie
Well that's good news.
Just make sure you fill him to the brim with good foods like:
Collard Greens
Mustard Greens
Winter squashes such as butternut, spaghetti squash, all types....
What I like to do is make sure our iguanas get like 80% standard diet which would be the Collard Greens/Mustard Greens and squash....then on top of that they get around 20% extras for variety such as peppers (of all colors) sweet potato, fruits, etc.
The staples are important though. I feel as long as mine get those, they can have treats once in awhile. My Roxy LOVES a treat of bread once in a blue moon on top of her food (rarely, like one piece a month or less, and normally wheat bread)
Marisa
bistrobob85
08-15-04, 03:53 PM
Rikki, please, STOP SAYING YOU'VE GOT EXPERIENCE!! You're 14 years old and have had herps since you were 10, big deal! We've had a talk about this, and now it's the 4rth forum in with i see you telling you've got big experience!
''Im very expirienced with them, dont get me wrong ''
Very? Where did you find such experience between your 10th to 14th birthday????
phil.
Please go trash another topic ;)
Tim and Julie B
08-15-04, 06:41 PM
Experience lies not within age, but in the ability to learn, listen, and be patient. So far, Rikki, you have been more mature in your posts than some of the "adults" here. Not only that, what do you people want? Schooling? There are several people in here pushing 30 who have only kept reptiles for a few years also, and I don't see everyone berating them! This site is about sharing information and helping each other answer questions. So far, all I see people doing is harassing Rikki on every post, and failing to give any info at all. Give it a rest.
Marisa, thanks for the dietary info, that's awesome.:D
Julie
beanersmysav
08-15-04, 08:44 PM
Yeah I agree, no reason to be harsh, but four years is alot of time, especially if its spent reading and cramming every bit of information you can. But it's true the best experience is time with an animal in my oppinion, but still you cant judge untill you know, I ask more questions than anyone else I've seen but I just like to double check my info with people on here its the best varity of oppinions.
Anyways congrats with your new pet hope he's has a good home
CamHanna
08-16-04, 02:16 AM
In my experience, which I DON'T have very much of, iguanas love hibiscus. I certainly wouldn't feed it as a staple but it is a fun treat, especially the flowers. At times I fancy myself a bit of a horticulturist and I always liked to vary the diet of my iguana, not so much for health but more to stop her from locking onto a few key vegetables and refusing all others. I've never had that problem myself but I do know people who have. Dandelion greens are good in the summer as well, as long as there are no pesticides, fertilizers or anything else. Such a varied diet isn't necessary but if you decide to offer it then it is absolutely crucial that you know every plant that you offer and are certain that it is non-toxic. Evan if you don't intend to do this it's still a good idea to identify the toxic plants in your house and steer your iguana clear of them. I've attached links to some toxic/safe plant lists. It's hard to say which are accurate and which aren't so it's maybe best to reference as many as you can and err on the side of caution. Perhaps you should read up on oxalates and goitrogens as well.
Good luck, be sure to keep us updated.
http://www.anapsid.org/resources/edible.html
http://www.anapsid.org/resources/plants.html
http://www.iguanaden.com/diet/toxic.htm
http://www.iguanaden.com/diet/notfeed.htm
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/9008/toxicmf.html
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxiguana/iguana.html
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