Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WOW!!! This guy is pretty cool. They thought he was a she, but if sexing them is the same as green igs then it's definately a male. It has the large femoral pores and the waxy substance coming out of them. He is a little under weight, but very thick. He has a really good temperment too, which really surprised me. He struggles a little when I'm trying to take him out of the enclosure, but once he is out he calms down pretty quick and is real mellow. He doesn't mind being handled or touched. He is even really active and always tasting and checking everything out. When I first held him we walked around Petsmart and he was just fine for over an hour. He has already eaten(a lot) and gone potty on the couch. So, it seems he's making himself right at home. I hope this is how he is going to be because I was worried that his temperment would be bad. I'm going to have to build a bigger enclosure, but for now it's not too bad. I'll post pics as soon as I upload them. If anyone has any info. on these igs please send it my way.

Here are some pics of our new family member.

another pic.

he is already eating

here is a front view

I want to get a rhino or cuban rock iguana, and would much rather adopt one in need than buy one. Where were you able to adopt that beautiful guy. I'm familiar with the many green iguana adoption agencies, but have never seen a cyclura up for adoption.

You won't regret taking in that lizard! He will be a joy to have around.

Congratulations!!!! That looks like a Male Cuban Rock Iguana or a Camenensis cross. Sorry I did not respond to your earlier post, It's been bussy here getting ready for egg laying season for my 3.6 Lewisi.

That is a way more better deal then a Spinny-tail.
Go to Cyclura.com for info on them and I'm pretty sure there is alot of care sheet info out there on Cycluras. The most important thing right now is feeding foods hight in calcium. I feed mine collard greens and mix it with grated carrots, squash, etc... Equally important is UVB lighting. If he can get direct un-filtered sunlight(through a screen or mesh. UVB rays do not penetrate glass) or a UVB producing flourescent fixture such as Iguana 5.0 or vitalite. Last but not least you can suppement the food with calcium and vitamin powder and make sure he has water available to drink.

Enjoy. These guys are a trip and a 1/2.

Manny

Manny, that male is incredible! Lovin that blue head.

I was wondering about the bowls of grapes and strawberries in the picture. I noticed there was nothing else in the bowls. How do you feed them? Is there a sepparate bowl for greens and squash or was it fruit(treat) day? What do your cubans like a lot? My new guy is underwieght and I was so glad he was eating, but he wasn't eating a lot at all. I am feeding him collard greens, endive, squash, carrots, apples, peaches, broccoli and colliflower. Then I gave him some red seedless grapes and now that is all he wants. He spits everything else out. How can I get him to eat the other sruff again with out taking the grapes away? I don't want to take the grapes away because I don't know how long it will be before he will eat the other stuff and I don't want him to starve. Another question... Do your cubans drink a lot of water or do they mostly get it from their food? I mist his food all the time. I read that you should have a water dish for him to drink from, but I haven't seen him drink at all. I can't tell if he is dehydrated because from being underweight he has loose skin. I was lucky with my 2 green iggys because they eat anything, but this guy is going to make me work to figure him out. Thanks for your help again, and sorry it's so long. Anyone can answer this post if they have any ideas.

Hi, Im not Manny but... I would lose the grapes and offer the good stuff for the next couple of days. Cyclura are way too smart and will wrap you around their little claw in no time. If you spoil him now it will only get worse. Is he that far underweight? Wait, we saw pics of him. He is gorgeous. I dont think he looks so underweight that he cant stand a couple of days of refusing food before he starts to eat again. Jane might have some better pointers. I have been lucky in that all mine have eaten pretty well. You could try some rep-cal pellets too as they are usually taken pretty readily but you dont want him to eat them exclusively either.

Carole
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Check it out. www.reptilecare.com

I would do as Carole suggested. Leave the grapes in the fridge and offer greens and maybe some orange squash. You could mix some finely diced red fruit into the salad, or maybe some RepCal pellets. He really does not look underweight in the photos.
I see all of my Cyclura drink during the day. I keep a dishpan of water where they can easily access it.

Thanks for the info. Where his spikes are on top... are they supposed to be tight against his back or is there supposed to be skin sticking up under his spikes. I'll try to post a good picture of it so you could see. He also has a lot of loose skin around his back legs like he lost weight. It's kinda weird, sometimes he looks kinda plump and then other times he looks skinny. He is really active and loves to roam around. There is a big pool in his encloser and a smaller water dish for him to drink from, but I never see him drink. I try to get him to drink every time I have him out , but he just licks it and goes on. I read they need floor space in their enclosures so I was going to take the pool out and put the floor back so he has more room. Do you think that is a good idea. I had it in there so he could potty and to be sure he had plenty of water, but he don't go potty in it. He waits until I take him out. I'll leave out the grapes and get him back on a good food diet. Thanks again.
In the picture... see how there is almost a half inch of skin under the spikes. Is that supposed to be there?

That ridge below the spikes is normal for male Cyclura (included a pic of Scrub at 3 years old so that you can see it). It is not an indication of thinness. He's a beautiful animal and seems to be in good condition. I would leave the pan of water in the enclosure for now.

Thanks again. That is one awesome lookin iggy. How long was he there? How big is he now? Do you have any idea how old my guy might be just by seeing the pictures? so many questions. I took the pool out because he has limitted floor space with it in there. I put him in the tub everyday so he still gets to swim with out it in his way. I am turning half my dining room into iguana cages so they all will have plenty of room. The enclosure he is in is too small, but it is temporary. He isn't cramped in there, I just know it's too small. He is out a few hours a day at least. I still can't believe how cool this guy is. My neighbor wants one.

I'll say around 4 yrs, but need a svl to dial it in

Ok. He's sleeping right now so I'll measure him in the morning and post it. Thanks.

That's the best time to do it! While they're sleeping!!

He was curled up under his fake plants where he sleeps. I just let the cat walk by and he stands straight up and I get the tape measure right under him. He is 15" SVL. Thanks.

.

ty

Mine have water bowls and I rarely see them drink most of their food should have the water they need. grapes have a lot so he is probably hydrated. I think you need to be more patient, this is all new for both of you and it sounds like you are doing the right things. they can go a long time with out eating and no ill-affects.
The ridge is very normal and more pronounced in males, like Jif's. You will notice it change in height and size depending on mood and season. I keep thinking how lucky you are to find a cyclura that is established for free. I think they are much more fun than greens, you'll see

I do notice that the size of the ridge changes in heigth, it's kinda weird. I have already noticed the difference from the green iguanas. I love my greenies so much, but I am glad I got this cuban. He is just so amazing and pleasant. I've been letting him wander and explore the house and he is great. I think he is already potty trained because I put paper down on the kitchen floor and he uses it. I put new paper down and he uses it later also. He is really great. I can't wait until my greenies get that big so they can roam more on their own. I hope they have almost the same personality when they get older. Anyway I got lucky with all my iggys, they are all a joy to have and take care of. Thanks for all of your help. I'm sure I'll be asking more.

Hello. I can see you've gotten a lot of support for your question so I may repeat something that someone else has said.

The reason why their is only fruits in the bowl in that picture is because I do not do routine feedings. I will feed them about three time a week and the contents for a particular feeding will be different almost every time.

I have water for them to drink at all times although they get most of their fluids from the food. They get hosed down in the dry season about once a week and receive ample amounts of it when it rains in the rainy season.

Your Iguana seems to be in good condition. By nature males are a little thinner then female that are built for carrying eggs. The best way to determine if your Igy is thin is to feel the base of the tail. If it seems like it is muscular and full it is not thin, otherwise it will feel loose and you can see and feel the tail bones.

If he has stopped eating because he is hooked on a particular food, just do not offer food for a couple of days. Then feed him foods that count, but do not take those fruits away entirely, they have a place in his diet, balance is the key. Try feeding him a lot of collard greens, it is probably the most nutritious greens out there. You can also feed him crickets, (Zoopreme)monkey chow soaked in hot water and mice for some protien, but verry small amounts. I feed my Iguanas some sort of animal based protien about once every two months, especialy now to the females when they are producing eggs.

Your Cyclura is fine. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy him.

Manny

Thanks. That's what I thought with the fruit bowls in the picture. I give him collard greens, carrots, mellons, grapes, strawberries, green beans, squash, broccoli, colliflower, peach, ect. I am also trying kiwi and mangos this week. I enjoy him a lot. He loves to roam and he is very curious. I think he is almost potty trained because he doesn't potty in his enclosure. He waits until I get him out and put him on the newspaper in the kitchen. He is so cool. Thanks again

Oh yeah I forgot. Everyone on here has been really helpful to all my questions. It's a really great forum.
Thanks everyone

Boy did you get luckier, I thought you were lucky that someone gave you a spiny tail that was that big and now Jane says in it a cylura. You are very lucky. congratulations and Jane is a great source of information.

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Spinys are just children with scales and long tails.

Thank you for your help and I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more questions, because I want to make him as happy as my other 2 green iggys. I can't believe how easy going this guy is. I am lucky to have gotten him.

did you buy the cyclura from Petsmart thinking it was a spineytail, and you are calling it an adoption or was it a different kind of transaction? Either way he looks great.

Thanks. I didn't go through petsmart. There was a note posted at petsmart that said "spinytail iguana- free to a good home" on it. The people foung him around 6 months ago and have been trying to find a home for it. So I guess I adopted it and they rescued(found) it. He is under wieght, but he wants to eat so I'm trying different things to see what he will eat. So far since I tried red seedless grapes that is all he wants to eat.