Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been hanging around here for a couple of years, infrequently posting OT pics. I've gotten to know some of you thru the forum and have even met a couple of you in person. I've totally enjoyed hearing about your lizards, seeing your pics, and I've tried to learn a little about some species that I haven't kept.
Well, I've finally joined your ranks. Sunday, at the Tinley Park show, my daughter and my friend Jen twisted my arm until I purchased a darling pair of baby DI's. They are teeny tiny and cute as all heck. So, now I need some advice. I've got them set up in a 15 gallon tank which seems huge because they are so small. They are on paper towel substrate with a medium sized water dish, some climbing wood and a half log hide for now. I'm using a ZooMed PowerSun MV bulb and their basking spot is about 100 degrees. I also have a heating pad under half the tank for night time warmth. They are eagerly taking crix and have eaten a small amount of greens and veggies (which they will take out of my hand ). The smaller of the two blew up in shed within an hour of getting them set up....so cute!!

Anyone have some good tips or do you feel there's something I'm missing? Thanks in advance for any help.

John, love the Viv and I'd like to do something like that when these guys get bigger.

My 2 cents. Good move using the Merc vapor bulb.. can you bump up the bask to 110-120 without having the whole tank too hot (85-90 lo temp area)if your lower substrate is damp in an area this will
provide a cool area if they need to be in one. . Maybe add a small narrow beam halogen spot to the hot MH area .
Don't know if you need underground heat it may be better not to have any. I would put sand in cause these guys need to tunnel big time. Some people use buried aluminum flexible venting hose or flat rocks sopported. I keep the lower levels of sand damp which makes it easy to maintain tunnels.
I feed my DIs on'y about 5-10 % insects mybe 20 for babies.. Be prepared to separate if you find out you have 2 males.

Thanks for the compliments and whats an OT Post?

good luck. Yer gonna luv these guys
John Styner

First, is sand as a substrate safe for small babies? I always worry about them ingesting it when they are eating. Also, I was told that you don't want too hot (over 100) of a basking spot when they are this little. Was I misinformed? I'm also curious whether I need to supplement or not. I'm feeding them the same basic salad that I feed most of my herbivores: Collards, Turnip Greens, Dandelion greens, Mustard greens, Butternut and Acorn squash, parsnips, sweet potato, etc. Crix are gutloaded. Do I need to dust them?
I use MV bulbs on most of my animals. I've found them to be very beneficial to rescues suffering from MBD.
So far, I'm really enjoying these two little lizards.

OT means off topic. I usually post pics of my Cyclura iguanas or Uromastyx just because I know some folks here that don't visit those forums and I like to share. LOL Here's Azul, my male hybrid Cyclura, who was a big hit at the CHS Cyclura Conservation booth at the show.

and the deseret iggis are also real cuties, I have a female, an orphan I took in, she was never handled. So is still a bit flighty. But calming alot. Wish ya lots of luck with you r new kids, LOL, Eve

You may know that I have a Ctenosaura similis. I have had her for over 5 years now .
I believe anyone keeping lizards should have at least one large type.
John Styner

I also have a 5 year old female similis named CeCe. She is not as tame as your lovely girl but she rules the roost here and is afraid of nothing. We actually caught her chasing a 4 foot Nile Monitor when it had escaped it's enclosure! She is a freeroamer and she does allow we to pet her and she will take food from my hand. She has one of those odd white patches on her neck and shoulder. I've seen that on a few similis before but never an explanation for it.
My other Spinys include a conspicuosa rescue that is missing half her tail and has burn scars on the tail that is remaining. She's a cool little animal with lots of attitude! My most recent acquisition is a little quinquecarinata. It's a wonderful, calm little lizard that I am enjoying immensely!
One of the highlights of the last year for me was a trip to Chicago Fest last April. While there I got to hold a little Ctenosaurus bakeri or Utila Island Spiny. It was absolutely beautiful!! Unfortunately, unless something is done pretty quickly, this amazing little lizard will be lost to us forever.

or babies. I can't really tell from the photo. But your right if they are hatchlings I would be careful of too much heat. At least for now but they have been documented as having the highest body temp of any vertibrae animal. I'm sorry if I misled you I should have asked exactly how big they are . I apologize sometimes rying to help someone I can make it worse If I am not careful in these forums. As far as sand goes I believe I put my DIs on sand when they were a few weeks old. Cut the veggies small so they dont drag a big piece in the sand. IMHO they are such tunnelers that i felt it was for their well being to be able to do what comes natural as these guys are very intelligent for such a small lizard.
these guys are smart and soon learn to hold it high as they eat, at least my guys do. Yes I would suppliment especially calcium. I gave calcium to my baby at every feeding. Yes i remember you and your posts in the cteno forum. I feed as you would a green ig or similar herbivour. Hi calcium dark greens and such..
John Styner

I didn't even ask how old they were. The show was over, we all had packing up to do, and I made the purchase in a real hurry. They are itty bitty....about 1.75 inches SVL and only about 5 inches overall. Thanks so much for all of the advice. I figured I'd keep them a little cooler than I'd expect to keep adults so I did OK. I'll try to get photos that show their actual size.

nice i hope they turn out to be a pair for you. desert iguana's were the second kind of lizard and first lizards i bred even though i did'nt know i did it till i saw the babies. look forward to seeing more pics. talk to ya chris

Glad to here you have some baby Desert Iggys. I have had Desert Iguanas off and on most of my life, and I throughly enjoy them. My first one I had for 16 years. I got two babies last year and an adult. I just picked up another baby Monday. I have tried feeding mine crickets but they were not that interested in them. I feed mine meal worms, and wax worms dipped in calcium vitamin powder. I raise the worms, so feed the smaller wax worms to the babies. Baby DI's will eat insects very readly the first few months of growth. Some people say insects are not good for them, but they are omnivorous. They are Desert Iguanas, not Green Iguanas. But I feed my guys worms every other day. Veggies every day. Try your guys with Dandy Lion flowers. Mine love them! Mine won't drink from a dish unless very thirsty. Mine go through spells of eating veggies and ignoring them. Sometimes when not eating well I will feed them Omnivore. It's a powder you mix with water, full of vitamins and minerals. They do well with it. It's made by Walkabout Farms. In the day I have a basking spot up to 105 or so. If they get to warm they will pant like a dog! They love the heat though. Natural sunlight is the best for them. Right now I have a 50 gallon aquarium for my four guys. They love to run around and explore. I set up a tent in my back yard, and put them in it! Open the top and give them fresh natural sunshine. They enjoy the large area of freedom to run around! Eventually I want to try breeding these guys and set up my aquarium like John. My babies are a year old now and when I put them in the tent one of them chases the other, bobs his head and trys to hump the other baby. They will be fully grown at 2-3 years. I keep a close attention to their weight using a good gram digital scales. I weigh them weekly. It helps you catch a possible problem as long as they gain weight or not loose much you know they are doing well. When I got my babies they were about 8 grams. One is now about 25 grams the female, and the other is over 50 grams, the male. The adult was 62 grams when I got him. Now he is nearly 100 grams. He is a male. The baby I got Monday don't know the sex yet! He (she) will be isolated for awhile. I have posted a photo of one of our babies, the little girl! Will post more later! Hope it shows up! Good luck with your babies. Have fun with them! Bill!