Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My vet and I are still working on my little problem and
I am trying to get an idea on what the normal activity of
an Ig is.

For instance, are they active and climbing most of the day
or do they just kinda lay around?

Any help is appreciated. Specifics would be very helpful.
Linda

It mostly depends on your ig's personality some iguanas are always active and roaming around but others can be as lazy as anything. My iguana, her name is yoshi, is always running around and she is always on the look out, and she responds with the slightest movement.

Not sure if this reply will help or not if it dosent maybe someone else will reply.

Chris.

They bask, they observe the nature, they think, they day dream, they remember the old good times, well...they barely move all they long!They are not couch potatoes, they are platforms potatoes!lol!The only time they move is when they go down to soak in the water bowl.

Tempest mostly just hangs out all day. He's loving his new enclosure, he watches the birds in the trees and at the feeder for hours, but he doesn't move much. He'll roam along his platform, re-arrange himself if the TV looks interesting, and go up and down if he needs to potty or wants a better look at something, but for the most part he's baking under his basking lamp watching the world go by. He's quick to raise his head at any movement, and turn to look at things, but not very inclined to move unless he wants a better look.

My iguana is a male when inside VERY lazy just lounging on a rock and sitting under him lamp(No it aint a hot rock)But when ut side he turns into a wanna be bad @$$ he climbs up grape houses and bobz hiz head at the kitties and watchs the goats....So my iguana has split personalitys when inside all laid back wont move when outside he haz hiz delap out he wont hurt no one though he is TRYING to act bad lollollol

Iggygurl

When I'm home on the weekends, Bud's day goes something like this: In the morning, he gets fed and bathed, then charges up like a little battery until sometime after noon and then generally makes a patrol of the cage, the room, and the apartment to see what doors are open and what rooms he can get into. Then up to the cage for more charging up, then another short patrol in the late afternoon, perhaps, or just some inspection of the ramps and the cage. Then a bath at night. So, not particularly active, but then again, I don't really know what happens during the week. It is breeding season, so he has been particularly active this month. This is what I imagine he does, lately, based on the condition of the apartment when I come home.

6:30: Lights go on. Pretend to still be asleep until owner comes to open blinds.

7:30: Bath time! I can hear the water running, so I sometimes come down the ramp to meet her. But sometimes I make my owner pry me off of my perch. As soon as she disentangles one foot, I drop the other foot off of her arm and velcro it to the blanket on my perch. It's fun!

7:45: Owner feeds me, leaves. Sometimes I eat a little before she leaves, mostly not. I just chill on my perch.

11: Eat, bask some more. Make out with stuffed iguanas, then kick them off the perch or out of cage entirely.

1 pm: Make patrol of room. Poop on carpet even though I already pooped in bath, because it's breeding season and I'm naughty. If extra naughty, poop on couch. Snalt on sliding glass door every day, leaving a long line of little snalt stars about three inches off the ground on the glass. Try to get into owner's room, to which door is closed. In frustration, rip up a few yarns of wall-to-wall carpet near this door, scatter them about like confetti.

1:30: Bask some more.

4: Climb up on couch, then over coffee table. I know how to turn on the TV with the remote on the table now! It's really funny when my owner comes home and thinks there's someone there. I plan to do this every day.

4:15: Bask some more until owner returns at 6. If I feel the need to amuse myself, or if she has recently returned from a vacation, I can climb up on top of the cage to hide on top of the cage cover my owner has just installed to prevent me from doing just this. She'll never find out how I do this!

6: Another bath, some treats, and then the owner tries to hold me while we watch TV. I tolerate this for a while, then trundle back up to my perch to sleep.

With this information, Beanie seems to be pretty normal.
She isn't the most active but does move around on her top basking
shelf. She seems to really come alive when I go in to see
her, especially in the morning. She has finally started
using her water pan on the bottom of the cage again. She
had a big poop yesterday. (all the force feedings)! She was
pottied trained up until she became gravid. Now if we can
figure out how to get her to eat! My vet is wanting me as
a last resort to send her away for 2 weeks with nothing that
is familiar to her. This breaks my heart! I just have to
find someone nearby who is willing to help. She even said
that Beanie may NEVER eat on her own again!

Digit is doing very well, prefers his fresh food over the
pellets now and his leg is healing but I do not know if it
will ever be normal. Beanie doesn't seem to mind him at all
now.

What are your thoughts on sending Beanie away?? I understand
the vets reasoning but Beanie has been juggled between so many
owners that never kept her very long. I don't want for her
to think I have done the same thing. She really seems to like
me!

Linda

Hi, Linda,
I'm guessing the vet's strategy is to press the "reset" button on Beanie by making her adjust quickly to new surroundings? I guess I understand that. At this point, I would try it, and just think of it this way: at some point in your life, you're most likely going to have to go away on vacation, or you'll be ill, and away from Beanie for at least a few days. Picking a time to practice this when she isn't in any immediate health danger (except for refusing to eat) isn't a bad idea.

Do you have any vacations coming up, that maybe you could get a petsitter, and just not have YOU around, but keep her surroundings the same? Do you live in the Annapolis, MD area? I'd love to help!

-Erin

I have taken a few days here and there to go camping and
I had a petsitter come to my home.

What the vet actually wants is for Beanie to be moved into
completely different surroundings without her cage or anyone
that she is familiar with for a whole 2 weeks. The stand
in person will not force feed but offer food every day.
She is hoping this will break the pattern.

I live in Illinois if there is anyone who is close that
could maybe offer some assistance if it comes to this.

Thanks again
Linda