Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well, if you read the post beloq(way below) you will know that i am probably going to be adopting a 3 year old ig. i havent talked to the woman yet, but my mom did since i wasnt home at the time. she said we could come over tonight to see him. she said that her and her children are afraid of him(thats wonderful!!! lol) but she said he never bit anyone(although he hasnt been held for a year so he probably just hasnt had a chance too.) but he tail whips A LOT. so i will be taking som leather gloves, long sleeves and probably something like a pillow case(is that ok?) i usually keep my smaller herps in things like bags for short transport so they dont get soo stresseed. but since he is soo big(im assuming) i dont have anything but a pillow case, i will just use to cover his head and some of his body. im also hoping she has lights on him but i doubt it. i also dont know what shes been feeding him... actually i dont even know if he IS a he!lol. any tips on acclimating a larger ig that hasnt been held for a year?? i will know by tomorrow his sex, it shouldnt be too hard. i have a big wire cage for him and good food so im hoping he will adjust pretty well. he should be alot happier, she said he is in an aquarium that is too small for him. so any tips will help alot. thanks, wish me luck!!
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UroKnight...coming soon
1.1.0 mali uromastyx
1.1.0 green anole
0.0.1 brown anole
0.0.1 fowlers toad
1.0.0 emperor scorpion
1.0.0 cuban knight anole
1.0.0 ribbon snake(currently escaped)
1.0.0 african clawed frog
1.0.0 green iguana
0.1.0 eastern kingsnake
0.0.3 crayfish
0.0.1 3 lined salamander

Since I am new to Ig's I can't offer a whole lot of help. But I would say move him in his tank if you can physically handle it. I do a lot of rescue and you always get everything you can from these folks. We (rescue folks) come in and clean up their messes. It costs them nothing, their problems are solved and ours are just beginning. It is our time, money, aggravation, tears and sometimes blood. Anything you can get (Bowls, lights, tanks, cages) take. If you don't use it on this rescue you can use it on someone else. Besides if you leave them ANY supplies they often think.... "Gee I have that extra tank just sitting there...." And before you know it another critter needs rescuing. Bad homes repeat their mistakes quite often. Take the word of someone who has been rescuing assorted creatures for over 30 years.
Good luck with this new baby, hopefully he'll be in good shape and a snap to rehab (we always pray!)

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Lin & Marley

First of all, best of luck! Hope all goes well with the transport and that the family is afraid for no good reason. We've had rescues come in that weren't handled for a long time because it was said they were mean and evil and they turned out to be very sweet lizards.
I agree with Lin in that you should get all of the equipment, maybe even a small surrender fee. You are providing a service to these people and should be compensated at least partially for your expenses....vet check, fecal, etc. This isn't always possible but you should try.

that is really good advice, about taking the supplies, i really didnt have a reason too but that makes sense. i couldnt ask them for money though. im happily taking him, it just makes me feel better that he will be getting a good home. i would feel pretty guilty if i asked for money, i guess its just the way that i am, i dunno. i cant wait to see him though. i cant imagine how they kept him without lights for three years without noticable mbd... so im hoping they do have lights, since she didnt say anything like, "his spine is all twisty" lol ive actually here ppl refer to herps with mbd like that, thinking thats its neat, not a disease. i can also try to move him in his tank, luckily we are taking a van to pick him up so we should have room.
im pretty excited about getting him but im nervous at the same time(ya know about him being pretty unhealthy). ive never rescued a herp like this before...ive always seen the animal and then asked to take it, thats happened many time. i dont think he is going to be too unhealthy except he may be weak from lack of excersize. she didnt mention anything about him being thin or anything but i dont know if thats just becuase she doesnt want me to change my mind(not that i would.) should i keep him on the same diet as my other guys?? collard, kale, escarol, endive,watermelon, cantalope, strawberrie. and the occasional cricket.thats all to the right amounts too. i use 2:1 ratio herbivorous herp vitamin too. this will be my first larger ig soo i hope it goes well!!!
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UroKnight...coming soon
1.1.0 mali uromastyx
1.1.0 green anole
0.0.1 brown anole
0.0.1 fowlers toad
1.0.0 emperor scorpion
1.0.0 cuban knight anole
1.0.0 ribbon snake(currently escaped)
1.0.0 african clawed frog
1.0.0 green iguana
0.1.0 eastern kingsnake
0.0.3 crayfish
0.0.1 3 lined salamander

NO CRICKETS. Not even an occasional one. There is no benefit to feeding them, and will only give the animal a taste for something unhealthy, instead of something that's good for them, like mango for a treat.

Collards are great, but avoid kale if you can...it can bind calcium, but is okay as a last resort.

Try getting other vegetables mixed in, such as butternut squash, acorn squash, buttercup squash, green beans, snow peas, etc.

Stay low on the fruit. But also try mango and papaya, my iguana loves them.

Read http://www.geocities.com/ig_chick/nutrition.html and http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm for some excellent nutritional information.

Good luck with the new adoptee!

Wendy
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"It's not a matter of IF...but WHEN" ~Bill Haast~

"Joy unspeakable...to be holding death in your hands..."