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I was looking around today for pet shops selling tarantulas, and I saw about 20 baby iguanas in one tank... Nothing to climb on or anything. They were only 10 dollars so I thought perhaps I would buy 2 or so.

I know they can get extremely large... I read up on care and such... But my question is, how long will it take them to get big?

I have a 30 gallon with an undertank heater and I could get a UV light pretty easily for them. How long would this setup last if at all?

Do I need a spotlight/basking along with the UVB?

Do metal cages/bird style work very well for them?

I read they are herbivores, what kind of grocery bought foods can I get that work well for them?

Can you take them for walks?

Hi, buying the iguanas only adds to the problem of the petstore selling them...they will have the room to get more iguanas...maybe you could suggest they place a branch or hammock of some kind and offer advice on care rather than "rescue" them...and in answering your other questions...igs can grow 3 ft in one year if cared for properly...and two is not a good idea...a 30 gal tank will last 6 months at best...then off to a 6x6x3 MINIMUM size cage for each ig you own...think before you buy...better yet RESEARCH before you buy...good luck...Lyn

Thanks for the info, sorry I was a little short earlied, other guy got me a little peeved.

I was reading up on some custom cages, some seemed to have conflicting cage materials as far as the netting goes, what would you say is best/safest for iggs?

Usually a rubber or plastic coated welded wire or hardware cloth works well. Make sure it is welded and not braided as the "braids" have sharp edges. You can also use I think it's called melamine on part of the walls. Just make sure it is well ventilated and maintains a good heat.

Again if you are sure this is what you want to do then good luck.

Stephanie

I will probably wait now or adopt... I read some interesting articles, what you guys said, and you are right, buying from them only causes the problem more. Not to mention I should get a bigger tank or custom enclosure to start out with.

THANK YOU!!!

I don't try to discourage owning an iguana as long as the person is sure that is what they want and they do their research but I do try to discourage if they want one NOW and aren't willing to take well meaning advice or at least listen to well meaning advice.

We have a seven year old iguana here that we picked up from an owner that said they couldn't keep it anymore because his girlfriend was scared of it. The poor iguana had been kept in a 2'x2'x4ft wide enclosure made of an old dresser and fronted in wire screen with wires hanging off all around. It had a metal sign with sharp edges hanging on the back to cover a hole or be decorative we weren't sure which. The poor guy was so undernourished his tail bones were very prominent and he had ripped off his upper and lower mouth on the wires. He has finally regrown the top one although he is having more trouble with the bottom one he keeps having to have antibiotic ointment and he will rub it on anything because it itches him. His past owners fed him every three days or so or when they thought of it. He was so starved he would eat 2-3 large metal dog dishes full of healthy greens/veggies etc a day. He finally got so he doesn't lunge at the food and will normally eat around 1-2 bowls which is more normal. The poor guy was only 2'9" when we picked him up and weighed right at 2 3/4 lbs. We turned them in for animal neglect/abuse but they are in an area that unless it's a dog or cat they don't really care. In fact they usually call us if it has to do with a reptile!!

Anyway good luck and hope any advice helps
Stephanie

Yea I read some bad ones too. I was looking at adoption sites, and this guy had a year old in a tank 10 gallons smaller than what I was going to use for a hatchling (20 gallon)...

Another said his iggy only eats lettuce @_@

I think I know the requirements now and a good renouned recipe... I am going to still go by some other pet shops tomorrow looking for a tarantula maybe some will have ones in reasonable conditions... that I might get, as I really don't have a biff with ones that care for them properly, but I will probably still adopt; one was looking to get ride of a few year old good temperment with a good sized cage in my area... Question being if I can take the cage apart to transport ;p.

I am going to write a letter to the pet store offering some advice. It was a fish store, so I don't know if I can really blame them that much, probably more ignorance than anything.

I sent an email to the local spca asking them if they had any available as well... as well as offering volunteer service, as I read they are pretty ignorant on reptiles and I think I read one story where the animal cruelty officer didn't consider them animals so wouldn't enforce the law (wtf)

Okay first even though you feel sorry for them and all it is not a very good idea to get igs from a pet store for several reasons. If they do not look to be in very good health they can run up lots of vet bills before you even start with the costs for enclosures etc. Second buying from a pet store just allows them to buy more to put in the same poor care. Also if thinking of getting more than one you cannot house them together. I realize pet stores do but this is for them to keep costs down not because it is healthy for them!!

If you have read up on them you will know that healthy iguanas can grow very fast. A 30gallon is not a good idea as they would quickly need something larger (each of them). It is best to build the largest enclosure possible to begin with as they will very soon need a 6'x6'x4' or larger cage. I realize this sounds big when you look at a baby ig but believe me its not.

Please get Melissa Kaplan's Iguanas for Dummies or else James Hatfields book Green Iguana Ultimate Owners Manual. Please read one or both before buying or adopting and they should answer all your questions.

If you have never had an iguana before which I'm assuming you haven't please start with only one and only after you have done a lot more research.

We run a rescue and I see constantly iguanas from homes where they have gotten "too big" "too aggressive" "too messy" "too costly" and just "too everything" Even had one said it was "too noisy" How can this be when they don't make noises like say a dog?!!!

If you really want an iguana after researching it then good luck but still think twice about the pet store unless the iguanas are in very good condition and being cared for correctly which can be rare in business.

also for more info try Kaplan's site I think it is www.anapsid.com but I'm not sure you should be able to find it on a web search.

Stephanie

Hi.. um i don't want to sound mean or anything.. but i am wondering why you are considering buying one or two iguanas, when in the leopard gecko forum you were planning on giving your three geckos away because you felt they would be better in someone else's care, until everyone convinced you to keep them? I dont have an iguana but i know they are a lot of work and really big, and well if you didnt think you had what it took for 3 geckos, who have a much tamer attitude and are easy to care for, why are you planning on taking on something much more?

n/p
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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
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Please don't make me feel any worse for my past mistakes, is this going to be a continuing problem as I post more?

I thought I was doing research by posting here, guess not. I read about 10 care sheets already since I posted, just like to see what experienced handlers say in comparison.

And as far as the leopard gecko thing, excuse me for trying to not have my geckos die, I just worry.

How does this sound for ONE temporarily (for like a month or two)... Please fill me in on if I am missing anything.

30 Gallon Tank
UVB Reptile Lamp
Basking Light
Under Tank Heater that heats one side to a little under 90.
Thermometer and Humidity Gauge
2 Branches
Lockable screen Lid
Food dish
Water Dish
Misting Bottle
Basking/Hide spot

I still have to get some good food recipes before I get them...

Anyways the ones at the pet store look pretty healthy, more so than at the petco and petsmart. These actually have most of their tail and are on a substrate that won't impact them. Better to save one than none anyways.

I understand that you didnt like seeing your geckos be sick and whatnot, i wouldnt either. but thats just the thing. with all these posts about people dropping off igs at rescue places cause they are too much work, or not nice (and from what i read, this can be an issue), or whatever, why are you jumping from lamenting about how you're going to give your leos away cause you dont know what to do for them anymore, to getting an animal that is even more of a commitment? it just doesnt make sense to me. If you didnt feel like you could give your leos what they needed, is this going to happen again with an ig? cause that would just be bad for the poor ig, to end up ina rescue somewhere.

I didn't give them up, I was just thinking about it. I have never given an animal up for adoption and don't plan on it.

I just needed more help and I did what people suggested and everything is ok now.

Am I a horrible person now for trying to get help?

.. and now your trying to make people feel guilty by asking if you're a horrible person for asking for help, like you did in the other forum.
Look, do what you want, if you think you can handle one, fine. I just wanted you to think, cause it kinda sounded like going from thinking about giving a cat away cause you didnt think you could provide it what it needed, then going out and getting a horse..
anyways, good luck with whatever you do.

What do you want me to say, I am not getting one?

I posted here trying to get information and you are the one who tried to make me feel guilty by saying I made a mistake in the past and nearly tried to return my pet to its previous more comfortable home? It was my first time owning any kind of pet like this, I didn't know what to do.

People even reccomended me returning them but I didn't, I kept at it.

nevermind, forget it

Buying an iguana from this shop will only encourage them to order more and keep them in the same crappy conditions.

If you're totally set on getting an iguana, please adopt one. There are far too many ig's in rescues to support pet shops that keep them in horrible conditions.

thats my $0.02 on this.
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The above sentence is false.

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I would and I have checked local rescues but most are either adults or subadults which I don't have the room for right now, but should in a couple of months.

Not to mention I like watching my animals grow up.

Hmm does the SPCA keep them?

Have you tried Green iguana society? Look at the board there after reading what they have to say. You might even find a baby with it's cage and all. Care Sheets are only very basic info. Not detailed at all. What books have you gotten? Have you ever had one on one interaction with an ig for any length of time? They're a handful. Especially when in a bad mood. No one here is trying to attack you. We're worried that you don't quite realize what you're getting into and the ig you get will need rescuing from you. It's a common problem. Igs are not easy in any way shape or form. They are not beginner lizards. They get big, strong, and some times bad and mean. Are you ready for a 6 foot 20 pound monster with a bad attitude? It won't take all the long to get that size if you care for it properly. And what's wron with adopting an older, or adult animal? What's wrong with getting a full grown animal, that someone has tamed down and it has set it's personality? You might even get a cage with it. It's not easy to tame iguanas. Some NEVER tame no matter what you do. Trust me on that one. I've been working with my smaller male for about a year now with no luck. Make SURE you're ready. Contact an adoption agencey near you and ask to go help with the daily care so you can get a feel for what it's like. Weather you get a baby or not, You will have an adult one day. So go see what they're like. Ask to handle some. There are way too many out there that need adoption then to go get one from a pet store.
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If anyone has any links to sites that have good instructions to building custom enclosures, I would be most greatful

Please only ones reasonably priced and materials available at most stores No sawing is a plus (but unlikely!)

>>If anyone has any links to sites that have good instructions to building custom enclosures, I would be most greatful
>>
>>Please only ones reasonably priced and materials available at most stores No sawing is a plus (but unlikely!)

Purchase James Hatfields "Green Iguana: the Ultimate Owners Manual" There is an excellent diagram for building the ultimate enclosure.
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Cindy
PHFaust

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