Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well its more of a rescue...
My daughters 1st. grade teacher called me and asked me if i would be interested in an iguana. (she knows i keep snakes) She could tell i was less then thrilled. She said that her daughter had bought the iguana as a pet for her granddaughter. She didn't say it outright, but i got the feeling that if i wouldn't take it, that poor babie might have ended up in the wild. The teacher is a really nice lady, and although she doesn't care for reptiles, she didn't want the little one to get killed.
She said that her daughter was coming into town this weekend and would bring him and his supplies.
Well, the teacher brought him over earlier.
He is about 14 - 15 inches, tail incl.
The "supplies" were a 3 gallon critter carrying cage, some vitamins, calcium water additive and a zuccini. She informed me that that is what he eats. I was afraid to ask if he ever got anything else.....sigh.
Not to mention this iguana has ATTITUDE!
He was probably stressed too, but i also doubt that he was handled at all.
I quickly set up a bigger cage with some branches, a basking spot, uv-light and also some wider variety food (which incl....zuccini)
I thought he looked dehydrated so i thought i would give him a lukewarm soak. Oh my, he went absolutely crazy when i put my hand in the cage (getting him in there was something else, too)
He kept on whipping me and gaping at me.
I finally got my hand under him calmly and just held him. The whole time he was tense and kept gaping. I started stroking his side a bit and then his tiny spikes. He slowly started to relax. Then his eyes closed, and lo and behold i think he went to sleep. I ever so sloooooowly took my hand out of the tank, he kept on sleeping. I sat down for a while, still stroking him. He would open his eyes every now and then, but then fell fast asleep.
Now he doesn't want to get off me. Right now he is sleeping on my shirt, holding on to my neck. I've been walking around doing stuff...but he is unfazed.
I was only going to keep him till i could check him out, make sure he is or will get healthy, and then try to find a proper home for him.
I never expected him to be like this. I have Snakes and a bearded dragon, but this little one is starting to capture my heart already.
I still don't think i will have the room and time for a full grown iguana, though...sigh.
I never thought a reptile could be so....well so.."cuddly".
He seems to enjoy being petted immensely (moves his head and closes his eyes).
In a way it is funny...my husband is just shaking his head, here i am running around with a iguana (who was seriously psycho a little while ago) firmly attached to my neck.
I know what to feed them and will research even more. For now...i just had to share....
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repfriend

Sounds like the little one found a great home.

You have my vote to keep him/her..let us know
Sarah

Congratulations! You've just started to bond with your iguana. My wife would vacuum the floor, and go outside and hang clothes, all with our iguana hanging on her. She would go around most every day, with Iggi on her. We would put Iggi in her enclosure at night, to sleep. After a year, we let her be a free roamer. She slept on a floor-to-ceiling cat tree. After two years, our ig doesn't bite, tail-whip, need a leash when we walk her outside, and is good around strangers.

Enjoy your new friend. Check out www.anaspid.org for more care information.

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

That is what we do with our igs too. We try to get them to be a part of the family. In doing this they do not flinch away, they know all our every day activities and noisies around the house. We are always on "guard" so to speak but also relaxed. The igs have no problem coming up and watching tv with us, or seeing if there is anything for them when we eat LOL.
Your wife and her ig seem really bonded

Thanks! Here is another photo I think you'll like. I take it your igs are free roamers too?

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Awwww. Yeppers, all my igs are adopted. Two of the three are full time free roamers. The littlest thinks she is human. They go into the bathroom when they have to go potty. (Some accidents, not many) I do not want to sound like they are easy animals to take care of, too many people get them then abuse them, they take a lot of time and patience. But to me, and as I can see your wife may agree, they are well worth the effort you put into them
Will have to get some new pics of mine to post.

My Godzilla was like that too when he was an only child.When i bought my other igs he became jealous and wild and i needed to adopt him out!I feel guilty about that like i had betrayed him.Im convinced that if you want to have a tame ig you can only have one ig in your house!

By the way, congratulations, your baby looks sooo happy!