Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright,

Don't take this in the wrong way...I'm just going to give it to you like it is and you can take it for what it's worth.

In my own personal experiance with Iguanas...THEY ARE A LOT OF WORK. And I've only got 1!

Iguanas can be mean! Not all of them tame down so easy. Iguanas can and most likely will get 6 feet long. That's about as long as a human is tall. They will probably weight 20-30 pounds and eat LOTS! They love to tail whip when angry...biting is not uncommon and not to mention the extra sharp claws on your furniture and your skin.

They will need a custom enclosure at bare minimum...6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, 3 feet deep. I hope you are good with carpentry because if not you'll be spending a fortune on an enclosure or you can always donate a bedroom to it...which would have to be rigged up properly.

They poop like medium sized dogs and trust me on the fact that it doesn't smell like perfume. Iguanas have their days...just like people and even if you have the tamest Iguana in the world...he/she is going to have it's off days. In other words...expect a hissing, tail whiping or bite now and again. And when a six foot long lizard whips you in the face or bites your hand...you'll know it.

Also to maintain the enclosure is going to take some work...cleaning, disenfecting, well...you've got to build the damn thing first...as that 30 gallon is only going to last you a week.

Don't get me wrong...Iguanas are amazing pets, that are fun to interact with and observe. But honestly...for the amount of space, time, and money they take up I would consider them AN ADVANCED REPTILE for THE ADVANCED KEEPER.

If you want to start off with a larger lizard, try a bearded dragon. They still consume veggies, don't take up as much space, are much calmer, and don't require quite as much time. Iguanas are cheap but only because the pet store knows you'll be coming back for a fortune in per supplies for them...that is if you are going to take the proper care into consideration.

Do what you want but I'd suggest sitting down and readin Melissa Kaplan's book on Iguana's For Dummies...as it is the most thorough, up to date, and comprehensive book on iguanas yet.

Good luck and don't rush into anything until you know you have enough space, enough money and enough time to invest into an animal such as this. Otherwise, you and the iguana will suffer.
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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
E-mail Me
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
3.4.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
1.2.0 California Kingsnakes
1.3.0 South Florida Kingsnakes
1.1.0 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snakes
1.4.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas

I should be able to make a larger enclosure next week, I emailed a few people for directions on them and found a couple of sites that had ones in my price range that I could build. I have quite a few tools, but no tablesaw (I have the circular hand one though)

Not to mention in all likelyhood I am going to adopt now anyways and the ones I was interested in have cages and experienced handlers that can offer me advice.

I do research before getting animals, I must have spent a good week at least asking questions before getting my leopard geckos... And as far as that post was concerned about me returning them, they weren't exactly in outstanding shape when I got them and was THINKING about returning them to their previous home where they were doing a bit better, but I came to the conclusion that was irresponsible and won't make a similar mistake again.

I will be sure to pick up that book tomorrow

As a plus, that 30 gallon should be perfect for the cornsnake you're thinking about getting.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch