Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone,

After several years of owning several Cyclura I have to ask how it is that so many of you have cyclura that get along?

I have a male green iguana and a female rhino that get along just fine. They cohabitate in my "reptile room" most of the time. She periodically removes herself for leaves of absences and free roams the house for days at a time thereby giving my green guy a break. But that is where the friendships end. I have another female rhino that I can't seem to put with anyone. She is a LARGE 2.5 year old and is what I would describe as very pushy. I tried unsuccessfully to put her in with the green iguana when she was much smaller (way smaller than him) and all she did was gape and charge him all the time. I couldnt leave her in there at all. Needless to say she also doesnt get along with my other female rhino but that is to be expected.

My real question is, what is everyone's opinion on trying to introduce Pete my male caymanensis to either Diego or Kharma (female rhinos)? Pete seems aggressive towards other lizards. At one point years ago I tried to let him and the male green spend some time together. That was just weird in that they took turns mounting each other. It was like, oooooh a girl. mount. oh wait, you arent a girl. Then the other one would take a turn. VEry strange.

Now if Pete gets out of this room he tends to run around the house bobbing mouth open which is kinda scary as one time years ago he grabbed the back of my leg in a case of excited mistaken identity.

Would Pete calm down after the initial meeting? Would he try and breed with a female rhino? I suspect that answer is yes. On maybe 2 occasions he has gotten out and met up with her whereby there is very fast head bobbing, mouth open and circling. He bites her, she bites back... and I get in there and separate. Am I flirting with disaster by letting them work it out?

Any and all comments welcome!
Carole

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www.reptilecare.com

i am in no way an expert but this worked for me. i just introduced two cyclura by placing the female in a small enclosure inside the males enclosure. maybe a wire one. i left her in there for 5 days. there was alot of head bobbing and gaping by the male at first but eventually he calmed down. after 5 days i opened the door to the smaller enclosure and allowed the female to come out. the male headbobbed, bit the back of her neck a little, mounted her and then it was over. they have been living peacefully ever since with absoutley no problems.

I think one main thing is that most of use have pairs of the same together. I don't know of anyone that has had good luck with say having cubans and rhino together unless they were raised together. I think I am very lucky that my males are both very calm and lazy. Vegas will sometimes rather me put his food directly in front of him then walk over to it. I think maybe you should locate a male for one of your females. I think I have an extra! Also, it makes a big difference if they have had contact with other rhino's, cubans, Etc... If not they might not understand at first what the other is, other than invading there territory. It is very nerve racking introducing adult lizards together. One for there health and two for your safety if they go at it. Also, introducing them in a neutral area is big. Good luck, it took me awhile to get the two pairs I have and I am done buying single animals, especially adults.

Hi, thanks for the replies. I think it is wishful thinking that my guys would get along. I dont intend to get a male rhino because god forbid that didnt work out I have no more rooms left to separate them with! Too bad Diego didnt turn out to be a male. That might have worked out.

Thanks again,
Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

Thanks for pics; Greetings froM Djibouti: Too hard to type on French Keyboard:::Good Luck é"'(-è_çà$£¨^^Pù%*µ§!/:.;,NbvC