Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You guys are really tempting me about getting a cyclura! lol
And those pics are just awsome!

Now, you both emphasized on how smart these guys are. Any examples from your personal experiences/observations?

The thing is, the slow-growth rate of the Cycluras gives me an advantage if the rest of my family will let me have one. When I first introduced the idea of getting an iguana, that will eventually reach over 5 feet, the answer was clearly NO.

But a cy' grows slow enough to remain manageable and "small" as to not freak out the clan. hehehe

I love the blue cycluras, so I am most likely going to go for one of those... preferably a male.

By Summer 2004 I should be able to get one and house it properly outside (man I love Florida!).

Anyways, enlighten me on the smarts of this specie, and the out-door housing requirements (I forgot, but I think it's 8'L, 5'D, 6'H right?)

Hope to get the chance to soon talk to ya on chat!

-IJ

I knew the Cyclura would get to you..and I don't think you'd regret the choice one bit.

I can't come up with any specific examples of their intelligence right off hand but they are just different than GGI's in their behavior. You can watch them think, make decisions, calculate....you just know the wheels are turning in their magnificent heads. They usually are not flighty like the Greens and won't take off and run into walls or doors if startled..if fact, as adults they don't startle easily. The other difference that I've noticed is their true desire for human companionship. Several of mine will seek out my location and try to climb up for cuddles and affection. They are very dog or cat-like in that respect.

Plan on keeping your Cyclura indoors mostly for the first 3 years. They can be pretty flighty as younguns until they reach 2 years of age. You will have to work with them regularly. Then they magically calm down, relax, and become awesome companions. If you want to keep them outdoors most of the year plan on an enclosure that is at least 8X8X6H. Bigger is better. They are good diggers so make it tunnel proof.

I doubt you will find many Cyclura that reach 5 feet in length. Cubans and hybrids tend to grow quite slowly. Rhinos can grow pretty quickly. My Rhino,Loofah, who turned 2 years old on November 5th, is already over 34 inches STL and 14 inches SVL. I believe he's going to be a monster. Bubbles, my 5 year old female, is 44 inches STL and 18 inches SVL. In comparison, MiMi, my 6 year old hybrid female, is 39 inches STL and 16 inches SVL. My 3 year old Cubans are less than 30 inches STL.

The Blue hybrids definately are beautiful animals and my pair are very tame and handleable, but for personality I LOVE the Rhinos. Don't sell them short.

Mark, me, and Azul

Azul again

Bubbles, in the tub

Well Ill give you too examples of intellegence. Now mind you many reptiles are good escape artists, but danzig has figured out HOW to open her initial caging. She managed to open it EXACTLY as I did from 4 different positions. I would change the opening that I used to feed and with in less than a week that door was opened. Really got to me. Jiff can attest to the first event because I was FREAKING out. Just had gotten her.

The next thing is the new game she plays. When I am doing cleaning and chores occasionally I let the dog go in. I want my guys used to dogs because I do several all pet shows a year. I want them used to a hyper dog in case they come across one. Danzig will sneak to the edge of the cage and wait til brutus gets near her. She will then spazz and the dog will get excited. I will put the dog in the corner and she will lay on her log. I pull the dog out of his stay and allow him to wander room. I can watch her SNEAKING up behind him. She will wait til he lays down again in front of her cage and once he is completely laying down she will spazz again. The circle went on for 3 hours sunday night.

She has also established herself as alpha. She dominates my big evil female. They are in separate enclosures. When I used to go feed damien before danzig that was a 50% chance I would come out bleeding. Now when damien starts puffing, danzig puffs and they bob very angrily back and forth. Damien ALWAYS backs down. She hasnt tried to nail me since.

I have watched her watch me. She knows the routine. She knows when she is in turn to get fed. She knows the order. Even with the adoption of the iguana who was fed before her, she knew what order she came in. Just as I was closing the enclosure before her, she came to her food bowl to wait.

Those are a few samples. Remember I have only been owned for about 6 months. One thing I can say is that she seems far hardier than greens. When my green female egged, it was always SOOO hard to keep them going. Danzig dropped her eggs hours before i was leaving for my honeymoon. I had someone stopping by, but they really didnt have the knowledge to handle an egging situation. I was paniced. I had left a message for my vet and a friend of mine who lives 50 miles away were on call. But when I got home she was just fine and fatter and normal. With in two weeks she was fat again. With my green females it was always a month before full recovery.
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!