Some Iguana help?

[oldie42]

Hey guys...there is a little traveling carnival deal downtown and there was a game where you throw ping pong balls into a bowl in the water...if you get into the green bowl you win either an Iguana, rabbit, or Cockatiel. Well, instead of wasting my time on trying to get a ping pong ball in the bowl (which I know wouldn't happen in the first place) I paid $25 for the Iguana. The lady said it's 3 months old and blah blah. I don't have any heat lamps and UVB lamps or a huge tank to put it in...so I'm trying to see if any of you have any experience with raising Iguanas. I've been reading some shit on iguanaden.com but there's too much info for me to take in at once :lol: It talks about all these lamps and shit...I'm wondering "how in the hell can you run multiple lamps and the Iguana know where to go??" See, I guess my thing is...I think you need one part where the Iguana basks in the light, one part where he goes into the UVB light, then another part that has no light so it can cool off...I don't get it. Who here can help me out?

[BIGOKE]

Your summation sounds about right Oldie. I've no experience but what I have seen at exhibits they do exactly as you describe. They create areas for warmth and shady or dark areas to cool off. I've seen them use 2 or 3 Infrared lights at different locations and they created a rockery and shine the lights at an angle so that they have lit areas and shady areas. I dont know about UV lights and the effects they have.

[Spike]

They're cold blooded so need external heat to digest food etc. It'll shuffle around the various spots to regulate it's temperature. The UV bit is so it can produce calcium.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/steve.woodward/caresheet.html

[Valk]

You should learn him some tricks, like getting your pump and lube ready in the morning.

[Bobo]

I hate it when those "carnivals" give pets as rewards, because getting a pet should be considered and studied well enough so it won't suffer too much. An Iguana will demand a lot of space when it grows up, and it will live up to 8-10 years if threated as it should. Don't get this the wrong way, Oldie, I'm sure You know what You just bought. Actually, You're in a hurry to build good enough terrarium or it will die soon. Study, study... read...read... because it certainly isn't as easy to take care of as a dog would be. I think Iguanas are cool, I also was about to get one a few years back... but I didn't have enough space to build a good enough terrarium then. I hope You do, Oldie.

[oldie42]

I hate it when those "carnivals" give pets as rewards, because getting a pet should be considered and studied well enough so it won't suffer too much. An Iguana will demand a lot of space when it grows up, and it will live up to 8-10 years if threated as it should. Don't get this the wrong way, Oldie, I'm sure You know what You just bought. Actually, You're in a hurry to build good enough terrarium or it will die soon. Study, study... read...read... because it certainly isn't as easy to take care of as a dog would be. I think Iguanas are cool, I also was about to get one a few years back... but I didn't have enough space to build a good enough terrarium then. I hope You do, Oldie.

This weekend I'm going to be buying a 10 gallon tank or so...not too big for right now. Then get some lights, etc. etc. What I'm thinking though is that the lights will be too close together or something so how does it know? Ahh...whatever.

[Bobo]

The green iguana habitat can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose to make it. As long as the key elements, space, light, heat, and security are taken into account, you can make it an expession of your own creativity.

Space is important. Make sure that one dimension is at least twice as long as your iguana, as measured from head to tail. If it is an iguana of six inches or less, remember that it should grown to twice it's size within a year. It's better to start off with an oversized terrarium than to have to change it every six months.

Lighing is critical to your green iguanas health. It requires a source of UVB light to properly metabolize calcium. Without this, it will develop bone disease and eventually die. This light must be direct, not through glass or plastic. For this reason, it is important that the top of the terrarium is of wire mesh.

Your iguana likes it warm. Remember, reptiles have no internal mechanism for controlling body temperature. They need an external heat source to keep warm, and to keep their digestive enzymes functioning. Do NOT use "hot rocks" or similar direct heating devices. These provide heating that is too hot, and too localized to be useful. Incandescent heat lamps, ceramic radiant heaters and/or under-cage heating pads or tapes work well. Make sure you have at least one, preferably two thermometers in the terrarium. Don't guess, or go by what feels warm to you. The temperature should be about 85F in the hot area during the day, with a minimum of 75F at night.

Security has two aspects to it - making sure your pet doesn't escape, and making sure it cannot hurt itself. When making your habitat escape proof, assume that your iguana is ten times stronger than you think it is, has had an aprenticeship with Houdini, and can levitate.

Making sure your pet can't hurt itself is more difficult. Make sure there is no place that a toe can get stuck and broken. Make sure there is nothing sharp inside. Keep all heat sources outside the terrarium, or the iguana will burn itself. Use a safe, non toxic substrate. Never use sand (which can be injested), or carpet (loops can tagle toes, cutting off circulation).

(source of information: http://www.petreptiles.com )

[oldie42]

Thanks for that...I've read some stuff on iguanaden.com and it helped a bit. I went out and bought only a 10 gallon tank today. It has a lot of room to walk around and whatnot...but if the tank was longer, it probably would be better. I spent $120 buying everything and I am hoping it is alright.

-10 gallon tank
-Wire mesh screen
-2 clamp lamps
-Basking bulb
-UVA/UVB bulb
-Repti-bark
-Climbing post (looks like petrified wood, except it is hard plastic or something)
-2 Thermometers
-1 Hygrometer

I haven't put the screen over the top yet because I need a place to clamp the lights, which I clamped to the edge of the tank. The Iguana has become very active...walking around, moving, etc. etc. I kept it in a small fish carrier...was a tiny tank with a lid with slits in it and a top that flipped up. It stayed in one position, moving every once in a while. Wasn't active or anything. Now that it gets heat and everything, I think it likes it more. I'm having a problem keeping the humidity at 75%+ It is about 50% right now. I guess I'm going to have to mist every once in a while. Going to go get some veggies tomorrow...I'm not sure of how much to put in there though. Oh well. Anyways, the Iguana is on the post, near the light. It can't reach the light so it's alright without a top for right now. It's pretty cool looking. I'll take a picture here in a minute...hopefully I can host it somewhere.

[Clockers]

A friend of mine had one before there neet as shit. :cool

[oldie42]

Yea...today it was kind of aggressive though. I didn't take it out of the little cage thing yesterday and not until about 4 in the afternoon today. When I opened the lid and took it out to put it in the 10g tank, the fucker was whipping his tail all over the place. I put him in and turned the lights on and all that...then after a few hours I went to pick it up and it just ran to the other side...so I don't know what's up with it.

[oldie42]

Oh yea, and I got the humidity up to 80%. I sprayed some water onto the bark and everything and I was amazed at how fast the humidity went up...it was at 40, then up up up.

[Clockers]

Take a snap'shot/pic of it and let us see it. :cool

[oldie42]

I will tomorrow...already turned the "nocturnal light" on because I'm going to bed here soon.

[Bobo]

Yeah, post some pics! Iguanas are cool, take good care of it, Sir!

[Valk]

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/blogs/static/dowbrigade/iguanas.jpg

[Valk]

http://www.haikupoetshut.com/cr-iguanas-soji.jpg

[Clockers]

I will tomorrow...already turned the "nocturnal light" on because I'm going to bed here soon.


Sounds good will be waiting.

[Valk]

By the way: Isnt a 10 gallon tank not extremely small for a reptile that will grow so much?

[Clockers]

Yes it is but if thee Iguana is just a baby or just small for now it's fine but oldie will have to buy a bigger tank soon.

[Bobo]

When it grows to its full length it will take half a room.

[Clockers]

Yes it will, and it's tail will whip the shit out of oldie. :lol:

[Baseballer8]

But seriously other than being lazy and lying around all day can an iguana do anything else tricks, fetching lube or calling 911 once Oldie blows up his cock?

[Clockers]

lol

[oldie42]

LMAO! Funny guys....blow my cock up. Hahahaha. I didn't get any pictures yet. The little bastard is aggressive as hell. Yea, 10 gallon is small, but I bought it because I am moving sometime soon...within the next 3 or so months. I just needed something small for now, then later I'll get a bigger tank and build something for it. Here is an email I wrote to Iguanaden.com but they probably won't respond because an automated response told me to post it on the group they have...but I don't feel like joining. So, maybe someone here can help me out. Here's the email:


I just bought an Iguana a few days ago. I have everything set
up...lights, etc. etc. I bought some Kale, Cilantro, Mustard Greens, and
Collard Greens...my question is are you supposed to feed them all at the
same time, or one per day or what? And how much am I supposed to feed it?
The vegetables came as bundles, so there are quite a few leaves and I
know from the size of the Iguana that it won't eat all of it right
away...in fact, the veggies will probably go bad before it finishes. But, I
don't know their eating habits.

Also, the Iguana perches on the branch deal that is in the cage...it
tries to escape and has once, due to the fact that I didn't have the
screen over the top. It now climbs upside down on the screen trying to get
out. BUT, when I open the screen to try to take it out, it thrashes
around and runs to the other side of the cage. I've read not to pick it
up fast...to touch it and slowly grab it, but I can't do that...it runs
away too fast. I talked with someone I know that has an Iguana and
they said just to grab it fast and then once it is in your hand for a few
seconds it will calm down. Is this OK to do? When it escaped that one
time, it climbed onto my mirror and when I got it off it was whipping
its tail all around and trying to get out of my hand...I put it back in
the cage and it ran away from my hand right when it touched the bark.
I know you say to handle it everyday for at least 30 minutes, but I'm
not sure of what to do since it runs away.

Any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

[Valk]

The Iguana will probably calm down soon. It just needs to get accustomed to his new inviroment and new family. Its not everyday he sees a 23" biceps-tank coming at him! :wink:
Maybe you could stick your hand in the tank and just keep it there. To show that you have no bad intentions.

[oldie42]

Or just let my wang droop down there so he climbs up it like a branch :shock: :lol:

[BIGOKE]

:shock:
Careful it dosent mistake your dick head for an apple or tomato or sumthin. :lol:

[Clockers]

Lol

[Bobo]

You really should leave your new iguana alone for a few weeks after you brought it home. Your new iguana must get acclimated (used to) its new home. This time is very stressful for it and having some big human trying to "play with it" or "show it off" to friends and family will only make taming the iguana much more difficult. For about one to three weeks, the only contact you should have with your iguana is when you feed it, water it and clean its habitat (cage or enclosure). Very gradually, over those first few weeks, you can increase the amount of time you're with it. Over-handling a new iguana is a very common mistake most new iguana owners make. It's natural for people to want to handle, "play with", or "show off" a new pet. Avoid the urge and after a few weeks of gradually letting the iguana get used to you and its new home, you will have far less trouble taming it.

Here's an excellent link (where that info was from) telling You everything You need to know about green Iguana feeding + more:

http://www.greenigsociety.org

Do Your homework there, Oldie, and You'll be an Iguana-Master soon.

That site seems to have it all.

[oldie42]

Thanks Bobo...I've only had time to read over some stuff at iguanaden.com but I'll take a look at that site.

[Bobo]

You do that, because after a while of Googling that was by far the best site I could find. It has all the answers You've asked here (I did read most of it). Now I know more than most about Iguanas, and I don't even have one! I hope this info in my head didn't overwrite anything more important! :lol:

[oldie42]

Must have pushed all of your Arginine info out of your brain :lol: :lol:

The Iguana has calmed down a bit...I have been spraying the cage and it with water a few times a day to get the humidity up. It hasn't been eating its veggies though...I only used one leaf of each since they were huge. It has only eaten a little bit, but hopefully it eats the rest sometime this week. I can stick my hand in there if I go really slow. I can get pretty close to it, but I don't touch it. I'll wait a bit for that part.

[Shane_Bos]

I can get pretty close to it, but I don't touch it. I'll wait a bit for that part.

I take it its a woman :D

[Clockers]

Trust me it's a male, :lol:

[Bobo]

Based on what I've read, You should leave it alone for a few weeks. The fact that it isn't eating much is a sign of stress, so You really should avoid sticking Your hand in there even it seems calm. You will be able to play with it for years, but right now it has gone through some major changes in its life and it needs time to recover and calm down.

[oldie42]

It has eaten today...came home and it had eaten most of the food. :)

[Bobo]

That's good to hear. You don't need to regulate its food supply, it's better to have something to eat there all the time. It won't eat until it blows up, it'll only eat when it's hungry. It's a good sign it's already eating! :cool

[Clockers]

It is a good sign, oldie' :cool sometimes they wont eat for awhile till they get/feel settled in. :mrgreen

[oldie42]

It is a good sign, oldie' :cool sometimes they wont eat for awhile till they get/feel settled in. :mrgreen

Thanks for saying the same thing as Bobo :lol: :lol:

[Clockers]

I knew you were going to say that you/my little bitch, :lol: but had to add my 2 cents in anyway.. :mrgreen

[Shane_Bos]

Its a good thing hes eating oldie. It shows (s)hes settling in. sometimes they wont eat untill they get settled in :mrgreen

[BIGOKE]

Hey dont tell me Oldie really did put his wang in the iguana cage. :shock: Is that why he aint been around a while? :?

[oldie42]

:lol: :lol: :lol: No, I haven't.

Also, his right eye is fucked...he now keeps it closed. He sleeps A LOT, and he opens his right eye every once in a while but closes it again. I'm thinking something is wrong with it, but don't want to take it to the vet just yet. I don't know what's up with it.

[Bobo]

Check the temperature and humidity of the terrarium. Is it eating?

[oldie42]

Temp and humidity are fine, yea he's eating.

[Bobo]

Not eating is a good indicator of something being wrong, so that's a good sign. I hope it hasn't hurt its eye on something... any sharp edges or branches in the terrarium? If there are places it can hurt itself, remove them.

[John Shaft]

Have you fed him any crickets or meal worms?

[Bobo]

Iguanas are vegetarians really, but they will eat insects if You feed them to it... but it isn't its natural food. In nature, they only eat insects if they accidentally swallow them with veggies.

[BIGOKE]

Oldie what happened man, where are you?? Damn shoudn't have bought that iguana from them gypsies at the fair. You dissapeared not long after that. What we supposed to think. Dammit! :evil:

[Superbeast]

Hehe digging up an old post.

[Shane_Bos]

Look what i wrote! :shock:

Its a good thing hes eating oldie.

Thats whats happened to poor Oldie. Eaten by the reptile he loved and adored :cry:

Oh and i take it back, its not a good thing.

[Superbeast]

:lol:

I do hope he comes back, I loved how he gets pissed off all the time. Abuse is so funny on the internet.

[Bobo]

He got soft in his old days, You missed that part.

[trugain]

I have a cage, and some heat lamps if you want it. All you have to do is pay for shipping. My iguana got away. He was almost 5 feet long