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THE REPORTER (Vacaville, California) 05 September 04 Night - and day - of the iguana (Maite Kropp)
I do not know why, but last weekend I ended up with an iguana as the permanent guest of my bedroom.
Observing the iguana's face, I realized it had been written in the stars all along; I just did not see it coming.
Never wanting to have a pet in a glass cage ever, I decided in the past to collect figurines of iguanas. Some were made of porcelain, clay or glass. Figurines were depicted as if coming from planters, flower vases or wall pictures. The ones made of plastic with accurate colors and sizes were collected and left to lounge inside my secret wannabe garden. A lifetime later, a real iguana moved in.
It all happened with the usual call from my friend, who is on the watch for abandoned animals. He better stop now, unless we win the California Lottery.
This creature was abandoned inside a small opaque plastic box in front of a pet store in the Bay Area. The reptile had no room to move forward or turn around.
My house for the past seven days has been taken over by the iguana and my friend. The iguana still has not been given a name, but it has been given quite the place to live in.
My bedroom has been emptied of my belongings to accommodate the iguana's house - as there was no other place available in the rest of the house - that was acquired on a trip to Sacramento. The custom home for iguana even has a ladder to climb to a second floor.
Other accommodations were added, including a heat rock, sun lamps, timer settings for heat to go on when the temperature falls in the early morning hour, with a monitor sitting by the night table to announce the fall or rise of temperature, iguana litter box, water bowl and a delicious menu that would make a vegan's saliva glands work big time. Nothing is too much for a creature that is extremely mellow. It eats well, and my friend is in charge of its care for now.
None of the dogs in the house have reacted aggressively, and that is very good. The iguana is very aware of the largest dog, a pit-hound named Sartre, who watches the reptile for hours near the iguana house. Lola has changed where she sleeps. Now she sleeps very close to the glass house, probably because Lola is a Chinese crested, and being a hairless dog, the warmth of the area appeals to her.
The idea is to create a small tropical habitat for the iguana. A small tree and other natural objects were placed inside the house.
The reptile climbs into the tree, and is now shedding its skin. A new bright green color is beginning to show. It appeared grayish the first time I saw it. Now it appears quite healthy. With a vibrant green skin it camouflages in the tree like a chameleon.
Its tail is twice the size of its body, and the consensus is that it may be a year old.
Never having planned on living with an iguana, the purpose of this column is to reach out to people who are seriously responsible for their iguanas and have had them for the duration of the reptile's life. I am hoping readers will send me experiences, and advice related to care and handling of this gorgeous reptile. Anyone out there sharing a tip with me? The name will be soon found, as it usually does in a moment of silence.
Night - and day - of the iguana

The one thing I saw in there I'd get rid of is the heat rock. Good luck with your new roomie, you guys could be together for a long time to come.