Reptile & Amphibian Forums

he/she is 4 months old and is in a shelter a few hours away.
I am really going back and forth with this as I know it will
be double the work but this is not the main reason. Would
it unfair to Beanie? They will have their own enclosures
but will be in the same room. Will she be OK with this?

What problems do you forsee that maybe I am not seeing.
I would really like to offer this baby a home!

Help!
Linda

Linda, has Beanie started eating yet? I would be concerned about this and the stress of a new iggie might stop any progress...if you have had any...I understand what you are feeling and having 4 igs have been in your shoes a number of times...I hear of an ig that I know is being not cared for properly and I want to take it in, even if it is only going to be brought back to health and rehomed...My hubby has now put a ban on any new igs in the house, permanent or temporary...lol...he is a pain....but I sneak one in once in a while....Just my thoughts....Lyn

I agree, any new "baby" wont have a positive effect for Beanie, and your first priority is the one you have and love right now I dont blame you, I wish we could help them all

Sarah

I am wondering because many people have more than 1 Ig and
it seems to work.

I don't want anyone to get the impression that Beanie won't
be as well taken care of if I adopt another. I have been
through alot and have learned alot in the past year as she
is my first Ig. I myself am shocked that I would even consider
another with all the problems and money I have spent on Beanie.
I think I have a true love and respect for these guys and
that is why I am interested in another Iguana, not to replace
Beanie!

Beanie is very sweet and layed back. My dogs and cats don't
even seem to faze her. Why would another Ig if it were not
in her cage. You guys may be right, I don't know. I don't
want to upset Beanie but I also don't want to jump to conclusions
and never have another Ig. I cannot make up my mind!

Thanks
Linda

I didnt mean to suggest that Beanie would be "displaced" I really hope you didnt take my post that way. You cant really tell how Beanie will react, but chances are, it will not be positive. You said the iguana is a baby, i think, and what if it was a male when it got older. I would probably only do it if I (well, if I personally had the time, $, and space for a new ig) but if Beanie was not aware that her domain has another baby in the house
Sarah

I am struggling with this as I really like this baby
but I don't want to upset Beanie. I would not want to have
to keep them in different areas of my house as in the near
future I plan on building a large patio-type reptile house
where they would live hopefully as free-roamers. How do the
rescues do it when they have 3-4 Igs in each room?

Thanks
Linda

I think it might be the "kick" beanie needs to start eating again... The new ig just might "teach" her how to eat again because she may feel that the new baby is going to eat her food too so she will eat it herself!
I brought in a very sick rescue ig and Andy did wonderful with him... Andy had broken his tail and been a real booger for quite a while but the new one calmed him down and now we cant have one out of the cage without the other... Now both of my boys are in season together and still want out with each other
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

>>I am wondering because many people have more than 1 Ig and
>>it seems to work.

Hi Linda,
In addition to my personal igs, I also help run a rescue and usually have several foster igs at any given time. I can tell you that the way igs react to other igs varies a lot depending on the individual. My first, personal ig, Mozilla, has always been a big eater....until my second ig, Mandrake, arrived! With the arrival of Drake, even though they were in separate cages, in the same room but out of sight line of each other, her appetite dropped, she broke potty training, and began poop-painting her cage every day! She did NOT like this intruder in her domain. Eventually, Drake had to be moved to my reptile shed out back (fully insulated and climate controlled) because Mozilla could not stand him anywhere near her. Drake himself is pretty laid back and doesn't mind other igs - he just bobs once in a while at any of my male fosters.

On the flip side, when a new foster, GJ, came in last year, Mozilla fell in love and took every opportunity to flirt with him. GJ is now a permanent member of our family - Mozilla would be heart broken if he ever left.

Unfortunately, there isn't really a way to predict how an ig will react to a newcomer. Iguanas are fairly notorious for hating change - often just a change in their cage can cause them to go off feed for a few days or more!

One of my partners in the rescue cannot take in any fosters - her female ig will refuse to eat if there is another ig in the house - even if the other ig is in another room and a female! She can smell the other ig even if she can't see it.

You need to consider, with your current issues with Beanie, if it is worth the risk of bringing another ig into your household at this time. While some igs (Like Mo and GJ) hit it off famously, others (like Mo and Drake) cause only stress when they are around each other. There's just no way to tell beforehand. You need to consider the effects (both good and bad) bringing a new ig in could have on your baby, and decide what is best for you.

Another option - talk to the shelter operators, explain your situation and concerns, and see if they would be willing to do a 'trial run' for a week or two to see how Beanie would react. If it causes stress, then the other ig can go back to the shelter and perhaps you could sponsor him instead of adopting him. If it works out, then you have a new addition.

Hope this helps!
Meri
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Meri Martin
Scales & Tails Exotic Pet Rescue - http://www.scalesandtails.org
NJ Herp. Society - http://www.njhsonline.com

My husband and I are discussing the pros and cons and have
yet to decide whether to adopt or not. I most likely will be
hearing from the shelter this week about whether or not I
was approved so I will have to make a decision soon. We kinda
feel that at this point Beanie is not eating and maybe a new
baby will help snap her out of it. It could go either way
but I am hoping a small one will maybe not intimidate her. Beanie is very sweet and layed back but as many of you have
said, it is impossible to tell.

Thanks again
Linda