Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. I have a male iguana, Boris, about 38 inches or so long, a rescued iguana which I've been housing in my bathroom with UVheat lighting and high humidity and basking shelves and branches, since Labor Day 2001. I'm at college now, and he's been back home living with my Mom taking care of him. My college is very liberable and my dorm room has a fairly large closet with no doors on it. The closet is 4'8.5", by 2'3.5". I was wondering if I were to set up multiple basking shelves and use a humidifier and place a half screen, half plexi glass door in front of it, would that be a good space for my iguana. I would also allow it to free roam my room whenever I'm in my room. The only thing I'm concerned with is that the space will be too small since he's going from a large room to a closet space. What do you guys think? Thanks.
Ian

I know you love your ig, but in all honesty I wouldn't take him into a dorm environment. I live in a university town, and lived in dorms myself for 2 years, and even though you have an open minded place to live it is not the same as living with open minded people. I would be very concerned about the people who live around you, many people have no understanding of reptiles as well as fear them, and what people fear they hate. What people hate, they try to hurt and/or destroy. Wait until you aren't living in a dorm situation, even if you could set things up to be wonderful you don't know what else could go on. Its not hard to break into dorm rooms, and I would hate to see your much loved pet become someone elses victim, or part of a prank that might seem harmless to the people involved, would be devastating to your iguana and/or you. Just my 2 cdn cents though.

Well to begin with I've decided to not bring my iguana, not because of what you said, but because I know it isn't enough room for my iguana. Especially since he's living in his own room currently. While I understand what you said and agree with it for the most part, I don't think like something like that would happen at my school. I go to a very small honors college, with only 650 people enrolled. My dorm room is 2 bath, 4 bedroom, kitchen and common room. And my door locks on my room and on the common room. Also, people at this school are very open minded. Very. But I do agree with what you say, only applied to most schools. Thanks for your input.
Ian