Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I cleaned Izzy's cage today. Went pretty well had my daughter help me since technically it is her iguana but I did alot of it.I went in real slow stroked him a few times and then picked him up. He wasn't very happy about that part but I put him where he liked to be when we first got him( on the side of my neck under some of my hair.)I tried to help his shedding by wiping down his head but he didn't like that or to be bathed so when I put him back I misted him making sure I got by his head real good. I also noticed today that he actually is a little fuller in the belly area then when we got him. I think I am slowly getting the hang of this. I am looking into pet ins. I know you can get it for a dog or a cat so why not an iguana. Though I do feel like I am a worthy pet owner of almost any kind I am not a wealthy person where I can afford a few hundred $ visit to the vet if Izzy gets sick. So hopefully I can get pet ins. Though I have seen some posts where people are very strict about what they think is a good pet owner. Well now I am rambling so I am proud of myself.

nice to see you again ..

also with there shedding .. you should let them shed it off its normal they can do it themselves and it gives them something to do doing a mist in the afternoon is good
also a bath was perfect of corse there first bath wont be the greatest so just talk to them and show them the water and maybe put them in it and see what iggy does ?
also talk to them softly they seem to love it makes them feel better
and give him a bath every so often in shed sence it helps them more . ( they will get use to it to a point and eventully love water ) ( remember iguanas love water in a sence it helps them got potty better )

and its good you picked him up hold him every day if possible he wont like it at first .. your bonding now (taming).. so if you want your daughter to be around him too to bond..i would suggest you being around the lizard with your daughter becuase it is a adult pet ( also remember to keep and iguana you must make yourself a iguana ) .. iguana's for dummies has a good taming guide in it i think you would love it gives so much info )

it seems in the amount of time you had him hes doing really well

christina

Good work.
Cage cleaning should be a daily chore.
The cleaner and more sterile the cage is, the healthier the iguana (which means less vet bills).

Some love bathing, others are more fussy about it.
When it gets used to it, start to gently brush its body with a soft tooth-brush, the softest you can find (avoid the motored ones, unless you enjoy bleeding, haha). This helps getting rid of bits of dead skin, clean between scales, and keep the animal looking good.

How large is the enclosure? Are there rough surfaces for it to rub against to aid shedding? Enclosures that are too soft and smooth make it harder for a reptile to shed, since in the wild rubbing against foliage, rocks, etc. aids in the shedding. As always, any "furniture" and decor must be secured to avoid injury.

If it claws alot, try using heavy duty rubber gloves (the kind used for the kitchen, etc). They are thick enough to protect your skin, but not too thick so that you cannot feel the animal and the pressure you are applying in your grip.

-IJ

This is to IJ .....
The cage is about 2 ft long, 3 ft high, and about 10-12 inches deep.
It is a free flowing mesh cage. I have some tree branches in there for it to climb.And a hollow fake log for hiding.