Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to hear the good and the bad. It has been a
year since I adopted Beanie and I am getting the itch again.
Am I crazy???

Thanks
Linda

I don't know if it will work out well in your particular situation, but I would like to tell you what I think has been a good success story.

I received a baby female iguana for my birthday 4 years ago before I really knew a whole lot about them. A few months later, I got the itch to get another iguana because I thought it would be nice for my female iguana to have a roommate.

I was not aware at the time that they usually do not get along, but in my case, they can't seem to get a long without each other. I purchased my second iguana a few months after the first and they were both close to the same size when I brought the second one home.

I housed both of them in a 90 gallon reptarium and watched them very closesly from the start. The female was slightly larger and did not allow the smaller male (did not know it at the time) to eat very much. I was concerned about this, so I made sure that the smaller lizard got plenty of chances to eat by taking out the female often to allow him to eat.

As they got older, they seemed to bond with each other. If I separate one of them, the other follows. If I let them free roam, they always seem to follow each other. When I let them roam outside they seem to follow each other around the yard and do not let each other get too far away. There are certain times of the year that the female does not let the male get too close, but are nearly always inseparable.

Over the last 2 years, the female has been pregnant two times and has layed about 50 eggs each time. I realize that I was lucky to get both a male and a female, but I did not think they would be so close. They are now in a larger cage, but they both still live in peace together.

About 2.5 years ago, I thought I would try my luck again and I purchased a year old rhino iguana. Although I put him in a seperate cage, he loves to hang out with the other two. They all share a room together and seem to enjoy each other's company. If I let one out they all want out. They also enjoy playing together out in the outdoor cage I made for them. The rhino actually has outgrown the other two igs, but has not yet shown any agression towards them.

I have found it very pleasant owning my 3 iguanas thus far.

I'll tell you why.

Not only do I need to spend a lot of time taming the baby, and the usual amount maintaining the older one, but when I get them TOGETHER to get them used to each other, it's a completely different chemistry. So that's three different, seperate blocks of time almost every day.

I wish I didn't have to work full time, because then this would be a totally different story, and I would enjoy all that time with my iguanas. But for me, as you know from my posts about Fulton being up for adoption, it's driving me crazy. So I can tell you from experience: if you work full time, work far away, exercise, play an instrument, and/or have to travel a lot on your weekends, in any combination of the above, I would say no.

I know all about the itch. Almost exactly around Bud's hatchday, I had a long list of names for the next iguana or beardie I wanted to adopt. One column male names, one column female names, and then another column of how to adapt the names if it turned out he was a she, or the other way around! Then I found one in a tree. I love Fulton, but unless you can stay at home most of the time, you might find it extremely difficult.

Maybe a beardie? Or you could kill two birds with one stone and try fostering a homeless iguana, to see how it fits into your life. That's the only way I found out!

I definately agree with this post!!!

My iguanas are a lot of work and take a lot of time. I do work full-time, but I have a fairly large separate room for them. I also have a large outdoor cage and yard that they can play in.

There are days that I regret giving in to the "itch". My wife wishes she could just open the front door and let them get away before I get home. After they roam in the yard, I also have to give each of them baths one at a time because they hate taking baths.

Just remember to double the time it takes to do everything associated with your iguanas. Double the mess they make, double the time spent cleaning up the poop, more than double the time it takes trying to get your new iguana acclamated to the new surroundings, and you may very well spend more time trying to keep them from hurting each other.

If you have the time, the space, and the patience, it still may work out for you. I still get the "itch" sometimes, but then I have to remember that I want to stay happily married.

I would recommend against it. If they are same sex, they will fight. If they are different sexes, they will mate. Taking care of our Iggi takes all our spare time/energy/money.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

I have two igs. The chores are the same except for double. AND Both are male AND both currently in season and have yet to see a sign of agression towards each other. They are socialized together and HAVE to be out together (ewatched of course) and "pout" when one gets out and the other dosent. So its all how your igs personality is... And how you introdouce the newbie

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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

time on Sundays. In addition to my Ig I have 4 aquatic
turtles, 1 Redfoot tortoise and I just took in a 3-toe box
turtle on rescue that I most likely will not be able to part
with

I also have 3 dogs, 2 cats and a Guinea Pig. In addition,
I do rescue for Guinea Pigs on a small basis working with
larger rescues. Oh yeah, I better mention I also have one
very understanding husband!

I work a very full time job managing 2 medical clinics.

I would not have it any other way and I am still thinking
of adopting one more Ig. I have to be out of my mind!

Thanks for your replies!
Linda