Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hope everyone and the critters are well. waiting for more picture of that big cage

I wish I could say that all is well, but it is not. The whole process of keeping them indoors without regular interaction (while I am away) is depressing. They are maintaining, while in California they would be growing and thriving. Lev has a swollen toe, and I think Shera pobably tried to bite it off. They are living in twice the area they had in California, but the fact that it is indoors, instead of out drastically dampens the quality of life. I had some astronomical electrical bills this last winter and my main heating system broke while I was away.

I am planning to scale back even more and hope to put them out on loan (ideally in California). We are considering moving back for many reasons.

The big cage will continue to be upgraded, but not on the scale originally planned, as it will all have to be torn-down when we sell.

John, so sorry to hear that things are not going well for you. I hate to see you blame the problems solely on the lizards being indoors tho. I'm sure that could be part of it since they were raised being outdoors, but I'd hate to think that is the only reason things are not going well for you. I know that my lizards suffer from inattention when I'm gone for as short a time as a weekend. I don't trust anyone to care for them the way I do and give them the attention that I do on a daily basis. I can see a difference in their attitude, at least for a day or two, after I return home from several days away.
I've raised several cornuta indoors and I believe all of them are healthy and true to size for their age. Loofah, who was hatched in early November, 2001, is now over 36 inches in total length, 16+ inches SVL, and weighed almost 7 pounds last week. He has never had the opportunity to be outdoors. Scrub, the 4 year old male, has now surpassed Bubbles in length but still has to pack on some pounds. Even so, he's no slouch in size. All of them are healthy and have never had any problems with illness.
I wouldn't blame you for moving back to CA. Northern winters can be tough and I can feel your frustration over the heating bills. With the 8 Cyclura and now 29 Green Iguanas here, along with all of the other lizards and snakes, my average electric bill this past winter was over $400/mo. Add gas and water to that and it can get staggering!!
I want to thank you again for my little baby cornuta! She is still unnamed but she is growing well...240 grams last week. She eats like a pig and occasionally head bobs at the other lizards. Notice that I keep calling her "she". It just can't be another male! LOL

Jane,
You have done an excellent job with your cyclura, I don't think they would be any bigger outside either. The issue for me is that while I am in and out of the US for 6 months of the year, the time I am away, the animals do not get the same stimuli they did outdoors in sunny California. Even the quality of the produce in the markets is not as enticing. I only have 6 rhinos and I wish my electric bill was only 400/mo last winter.

Glad you are enjoying your rhino hatchling and hope she assimilates well with the rest of your group.