Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone else have a hybrid from David Blair's clutch number LC 102, hatch date 10/2/02? I'd love to get more information on my Cyclura's parentage, but David really couldn't give me any information since I'm not the original owner. Thanks.

Hi
I have purchased probably 4-5 hybrids from DB over that last 6-7 years, all from Big Blue(not sure what female). All of them were heavy red in the chest which led me to believe that they were hi cuban. He used to have his hybrids listed as nubila/caymenensis/lewisi. Needless to say I was not impressed with them colorwise so I eventually sold them all off. Now I see he has them listed as lewisi/caymenensis hybrids. I contacted him about 2 months ago with the idea I was going to purchase a caymenensis. Well he said he was out of the 2 year olds(JF just got the last one! Thanks Joel! LOL and he sent me his updated avaiable list and I noticed he had hybrids from Big and Mrs. Blue and it stated they were lewisi caymenensis hybrids so I decided to try one of those. Well the weather has been so crappy here in MI that he has not shipped yet and I am still waiting for him. So I will keep ya posted when I get him although you usually can't tell what they will look like for a couple years. I really don't amagine though most of his hydrids are that hi percentage lewisi. I think somewhere in the 60% range. But if you love the animal and it is that calm and sweet it really shouldn't matter. The main thing I am looking for now is an animal that will calm down nicely.

Oh it doesn't really matter for anything. lol I'm just curious. I have never seen any of the three species she is part in real life so I'm curious as to what is showing up. I've heard from some people she looks all Cuban but I was also told her coloring looks very much like C. n. caymanesis. So, I'm curious as to what her genetic background is, much in the same way a person might be curious about his or her own genealogy. She's very much a family member as we've had her for over five years now.

She was about 18 months old when I got her and she did a lot of moouth opening and tail whipping for a little while. In fact, she was originally described to me by her foster family as, "a bit vicious". She was really just afraid and she calmed down very quickly with gentle handling. I'd say within a month she was totally calm with us and it wasn't long after that that she learned to trust people in general. The only time I've ever seen her show a little "attitude" is when she's had to come inside on a beautiful day and you can't really blame her for that! It's not aggession. She just lets me know she is displeased.

ha ha tom Red in the chest or belly is not just a cuban trait. Check out these caymanensis from Little Cayman in '06. Both were the dominant male in their area. Also notice the head shape. longer than a nubila.
David is very strict about the privacy of his customers. I like that.
jf

I think the privacy is good too. I'd certainly appreciate that as a customer.

I'm not interested in knowing who had her before and wouldn't really want to know (except that they have my gratitude every single day for giving her up).

I'm just hoping to find someone who has a Cyclura from that same clutch who might be able to contact me and give me more information on who her parents were. It would be nice to contact people who have one of her siblings. It's almost like family! LOL

Great caymanesis pics!!!! Thanks for sharing those.

I had no idea the Caymanenisis could show red too. Such cool animals. I wish I could change my mind and get a yearling caymanensis now but I think it is too late plus the other deal I told you about so I guess I will stick with the hybrid. I really hope he ends up with the lewisi/caymanensis head shape. Again such cool animals! Thanks for the pics!
Tom

I just ordered a male from Big and Mrs. Blue.This will be my first cyclura.I should get him in a few days.Are the lewisi/caymanensis hybrids calmer in temperment than the other rocks(except rhinos)?Which way is the better approach with cyclura as far as handling,let them come to you or trying to handle a little each day?

My hybrid is very very calm. She constantly amazes people with her personality.

When I first got her as 18 month old she was scared. I'd been told she was "aggressive", but she calmed down very quickly. I don't know if it is anything I did or if it was just that magic age.

About two months after we got her we went outside to find her enclosure open and she was gone. I didn't know if she'd been stolen or if someone had just wanted to get a closer look and didn't close the enclosure. We put up signs, called everyone and went door to door and had our entire neighborhood looking for her. The interesting thing is while no one could catch her, she was sighted often. She kept circling the house and we think it was because she could hear the cockatoo and knew where she lived, but not how to get back. She's shown amazing intelligence and awareness. Finally, on the third day of her adventure, some workmen at the house next door came over to tell us she was semi-contained on the next door neighbor's driveway. She rushed over there and my husband was able to catch her. He handed her to me and this terrified lizard just melted her body next to mine and laid her head on my shoulder. It was all pretty much uphill from there.

I do think she'd been given animal protein before I got her because when I brought her to the vet she had very high phosphorous levels. Her cpontinued bonding to us also coincides with her change in diet and medication to bind phosphorous and a lot of forced handling to give her meds. But whether she calmed down because of, or in spite of the handling, I just don't know. I do know that she bonded to me first and then to my family.

But, in her own way, she shows very bit as much affection as my dogs and cats.

Definently let your new cyclura acclimate to its cage for a week or 2 or 3 even. I think it helps if you spend some time next to the cage every day or so, so he/she can observ you and get used to you being around. Getting it to eat out of your hand will help, also- I used to sit/lay down in a small room and let the iguana run around and climb on me without trying to pick it up. After some time it's fine to hold the iguana, just don't consistantly pick it up and stress it out all the time. Well, now mine (lewisi/nubila hybrid) is dog-tame at 3 years old, even though I thought the day would never come. Like lots of people say, usually something will "click" after having your cyclura for 2+ years, and theyll finally realize that your not trying to eat them. As far as temperment of specific species goes, theres no real concrete evidence of one being tamer than the other, most get tame, some just don't.