Reptile & Amphibian Forums

...I'm not talking about a music band, I'm talking about the Desert Iguana (dipsosaurus dorsalis).

Think about it. It reaches a small yet respectable 16 inches in length, is fairly heavy bodied, and unlike the green or spiny cousins, it won't eat you during mating season.

They eat 10% protein, 90% plant at adulthood (i think), are placid and just very cool to watch. Being a desert specie, means they move around much more than the green's.

The only drawback is the high temps/low humidity they require, and large cage size. I mean, to make one really happy you gotta make it 4-5 feet long, 3-4 deep, and as high as u want it.

These are the "pocket-size" iguanas. Yet they are nearly impossible to see in stores or on breeders websites.

What do you think? This animal, in my humble opinion, is the best candidate for those who want to venture in the iguana husbandry hobby.

Yay or nay?

-IJ

(by the way, if you want to talk about bands...if you like ska mixed with rock check out the Mighty Mighty Bosstones...very cool....... listen to tracks 4, 7, and 12 of their last album...)

I totally agree with you...

>>The only drawback is the high temps/low humidity they require, and large cage size. I mean, to make one really happy you gotta make it 4-5 feet long, 3-4 deep, and as high as u want it.

HEhehe Big as opposed to what??? Hehehe My iguanas cages are minimum 4 feet x 4 feet x 5 feet. and thats my rescue cages. Hehehe Big cages.... hehee

>>What do you think? This animal, in my humble opinion, is the best candidate for those who want to venture in the iguana husbandry hobby.
You ask a very good question.. I personally have never dealt with these guys... How does their temperment compare to others like beardies.

>>by the way, if you want to talk about bands...if you like ska mixed with rock check out the Mighty Mighty Bosstones...very cool....... listen to tracks 4, 7, and 12 of their last album...)
Actually I prefer Fishbone. Hehehe too bad all i have is vinyl of their stuff... One day to upgrade to cd... LOL
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Cindy
PHFaust
Kingsnake.com-Critterhobbyist.com-Pet Loss Community
Email Cindy

I personally have owned the desert igs Joe and they are the cutest little devils. I decided to rehome them only since it took me twice as long to prepare their salad than it did to prepare salad for all my big ones. Mine were the tamest too. I could hold them and play with them. But that came with a lot of work also. They can move very FAST. They height of the cage can be minimal because they are more ground dwelling individuals. A few stones sealed together or cork bark on sand and you are golden. They are very cute. My opinion. Just more work on the food front and they eat bugs too. And at the time I didnt want to deal with bugs. Good day! Lyn

I personaly like this kind of iguana. She is a Helmeted Iguana. As far as I know they have never been CB (I've done alot of research). I think I like the rareness of owning her. Their life span in captivity is short, but I have a miracle on my hands I've had her for almost five years now with only one minor medical emergeny. When i took her to the vet it was an urgent animal care hospital that didn't get many reptiles. The vet told me she was a very ill green iggie. Several breeders think I'm lying when I tell them how long I've had her.

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to share.

So you caught her from the wild then? Whereabouts? What kind of care have you been giving her? Was she very young when you got her? Did she adapt pretty well then? Sorry for all the questions, but she is amazing!

>>So you caught her from the wild then? Whereabouts?

I didn't catch her I bought her from a pet store that had her listed as a forest chameleon.

What kind of care have you been giving her? Was she very young when you got her?

She eats crickets and a salad that is usually greens, fruit, and mealies. She has a water bowl to drink from and plenty of climbing areas. I keep her humidity high and temps around 80. I don't know how old she was.

Did she adapt pretty well then? Sorry for all the questions, but she is amazing!

Getting her acclimated was pretty much trial and error because I didn't know what she was. Go ahead look her up on the web you won't find much info.

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Thanks Dawn

Wow..that's amazing that they mistook her for a chameleon! It kind of makes you wonder where they got her (or what that supplier was up to!). Was she very tiny then when you got her?

She was a little smaller, I think she is about full grown (12 in.). Forest chameleon is another name for her, someone once told me that by calling her a chameleon her sale price could be doubled.

>>Wow..that's amazing that they mistook her for a chameleon! It kind of makes you wonder where they got her (or what that supplier was up to!). Was she very tiny then when you got her?

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Thanks Dawn

She was a little smaller, I think she is about full grown (12 in.). Forest chameleon is another name for her, someone once told me that by calling her a chameleon her sale price could be doubled.

>>Wow..that's amazing that they mistook her for a chameleon! It kind of makes you wonder where they got her (or what that supplier was up to!). Was she very tiny then when you got her?

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Thanks Dawn

>>So you caught her from the wild then? Whereabouts?

I didn't catch her I bought her from a pet store that had her listed as a forest chameleon.

What kind of care have you been giving her? Was she very young when you got her?

She eats crickets and a salad that is usually greens, fruit, and mealies. She has a water bowl to drink from and plenty of climbing areas. I keep her humidity high and temps around 80. I don't know how old she was.

Did she adapt pretty well then? Sorry for all the questions, but she is amazing!

Getting her acclimated was pretty much trial and error because I didn't know what she was. Go ahead look her up on the web you won't find much info.

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Thanks Dawn

I cant believe the vet said that!!!

needless to say I havn't gone back to him, obviously he is not a rep vet. It was just that I panicked and he was the only one available on short notice.

>>I cant believe the vet said that!!!
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Thanks Dawn

I never post here but I like visiting. Someday I hope to get an iguana as soon as I have room. I come to look at the pics of the animals and the tanks, I like builiding my terrariums for my dart frogs. But I couldn't resist posting just because you mentioned the bosstones. You like them buy any album they put out before 94' and you will be pleased. Another good skacore band is the mad caddies man they are my buds and rock so sorry this isnt really about iguanas see ya