Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since bringing him home about 2 months ago, Cy (cyclura cornuta) has lived in relative seclusion in Ari’s room which has an attached bath. Ari & I spend time in the room during the day but Cy only comes out of his enclosure for baths & holding time (which has been minimal recently because he’s in grumpy-shed mode). I’m wondering if this seclusion is really good for him. We’ve got a very active household and there’s generally a lot of kids running around and there’s the 2 dogs & 2 cats (I guess the cats are the biggest concern). Before we adopted him (he’s probably about 1 ½ ys.o.) he lived his first year in a small tank that he shared with several baby greens in a crowded pet store. He moved from there to the rescue zoo where he had his own cage but was in a room with lots of animals including a very docile 3 legged cat that has the run of the place. I know that it’s only been a couple of months but he’s still very skittish with us, giving chase whenever I go to hold him (once I catch him & he hisses a couple of times and pees on me, he calms down a lot-LOL).
I don’t want to do anything that might make him stress out more but I would like him to be comfortable with our crazy household. We have a 5’x7’ alcove in the family room that we’d eventually like to turn into an environment for him.
We love our little guy and want to help him to adjust as comfortably as possible but, in terms of life in this house, he’s really sheltered. Would it be too soon to start keeping the door open while I’m in the room so he can see the other animals (and all the two legged beasts that run through the hall)or should I wait until he's really comfortable with me & Ari? Our dogs are small and would probably have a hard time seeing into the cage since it’s about 3 feet off the ground. I have some concerns about the cats but I’m sure that they couldn’t actually get to him. Could I eventually have the door open all day while I’m home?(his cage is in line with the doorway so he'd be able to see out into the hall at the passers by)
Any suggestions regarding socialization for us newbies?
Thanks for all the wisdom, past & future & Happy New Year!
Cydney

Lot's of variables, Here are some comments that may or may not be useful:
1. The younger they are, the easier it is to adapt them to a busy atmosphere, Bring it on, just make sure he has a hide box to go under if he does get freaked. He may not fully tame until older, but might as well get accustomed to the family.
2. Cats & Dogs, We had 2 of each, they were a concern until my cornuta grew to about 3ft LOA. At that size the cornuta were not afraid of either, and the males actually chased my 70lb black lab around the back yard. They ignored the golden retriever.
3. Hopefully your alcove has a big window. If he can't go outside, having a window to look out is a Huge benefit -- It is an illusion of freedom.
4. Luke warm baths work wonders to tame them and get them to poop. Keep working on that process.
Good luck

Shadow the lab being chased by Regulus rhino.

These rhino iguanas are watching me pull up in my car one evening. They spend a good part of the day looking out the window.

Thanks! Great pictures! Our alcove does have a big, westward facing window and he's next to a window right now. We do plan to create an outdoor enviorment for him as well but central Tx. winters are erratic (yesterday-72, today-45) so we can't do that until spring and I will probably worry about him being outside until he's a little bigger. Do your cycluras live inside and out?

When I lived in Los Angeles, they lived indoors for the first year, and usually went out for the second summer,if I had space. 3 years and older lived outside year round. Now in NY, only had 2-1/2 months outside last summer, and there was alot of rain. Even with the rain, they would come out on the rainy days to get what ever UV they could. I know what you mean about quick changing weather in Texas as I have spent alot of time in Houston. When you finally do put him out, Just make sure he has a kane heat mat in his hide box for the cold days. Though I did have one get burned on a mat, she had other problems, and that is not the norm. A reostat or theromstat can be used to prevent this possibility.
Good luck