Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have friends out at a local zoo. They have a female iguana, Harriet. I was thinking about converting a large space in the zoo for her and some other reptiles. The space is an structure called "The Rock". It is basically concrete, mixed with a few other things to make it look more rock-like. It is a dome type structure with an open top and three big doors. I want is to have a sky light in the open top and two doors. It is sort of a circular structure with a diameter of around 40-50 feet and a height of around 10 feet. It has a "water fall" and a small pond. The zoo is turning this into a "tropical rain forest". I am wanting to put harriet in there and a few other reptiles. I want to put some of the zoo's Red Footed Tortoises (Geochelone carbonaria) and hopefully a few Prehensile-Tailed Skinks (Corucia zebrata). Would Harriet have any territorial issuses with either of these animals? Should the enclosure be partitioned so the animals could have thier own areas? Would these animals get along? Thank you very much for your help, Josh

Just so I am clear on this. The top is open? I would think the iguana would climb the side of the cage and get out. Also they have different humidity needs than the other animals I would imagine. So dumping her in an outdoor cage doesnt sound like a good idea. Just my opinion.
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

Mommyof2greenigs,
You may have missread what I said, or, more likely, I forgot to add this comment. The top of the structure is, at this point in time open. I want to fill the open top with a sky light dome top.
The reson why I picked the Red Footed Tortoise, Prehensile-Tailed Skinks, and Harriet the iguana is their humidity/temp levels are very similar. Iguanas need like 75% humidity(correct me if I am wrong). THe Prehensile-Tailed skink humidity level needs to be between 60-100% humidity. I am unsure of the exact humidity level the red footed tortoises need, but seeing as they are from the Amazon rain forst, I doubt this high of humidity would be a problem. Josh

Didnt see it. sorry. might have misread. What about the fecal bacteria that the tortise would be walking through? How would that affect them? If everything checks out I dont see where there would be a problem.
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

I suppose alot of it has to do with how big the enclosure/exhibit is, and if they would be in much contact with each other, as well as the husbandry involved. I'd suggest contacting other zoos, or visiting and seeing what they've done for reptile exhibits, particularly with multi-species ones. Email is a wonderful thing, and most keepers are happy to pass on what they know to benefit other animals and educate the public. Sounds like a really fun project

I'm just thinking that it would only take one instance of an adult iguana deciding that it wasn't happy with the PTS for you to end up with a dead PTS. It just would have no way to defend itself. So I think there's a real risk there, but the amount you're willing to accept is your decision.
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