Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a monitor at the chicago nars,It was great a great show but only three baby iggs in the whole place.It got me wondering why.Most people i talked too didnt have really and thing positive to say about iggs.I then boght this sand monitor he is i year old about 2 feet long but mean as hell.Hisses alot too.I think i made the wrong choice.Please offer your thoughts.It would very helpfull. Thanks

I think the big question is is what are you going to do with the monitor? how much time do you spend with him?

and the thing about people having bad things to say about iggs.. that depends on the person. My igg is the best pet reptile i have ever had.. alot depends on the igg to.. if it was brought up worng than it will behave badly.. iggs are like people they all have differnt temperments.. so there is no right answer to your question.. you should do what ever you feel comfortable doing..

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1.0.0 adopted iguana
0.0.2 Hedgehogs

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YOU DONT OWN YOUR IGUANA, YOUR IGUANA OWNS YOU

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

I know two people that have monitor and both are not tame...and quite aggressive too. maybe it,s just them but personnally i wont get one.
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Mizar 21
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1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
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I will probably sell the monitor at the local reptile show and look into a igg.How did you get yours and how was he when you got him.

i adopted mine.. andw hen i got him he was very tame... but the people i got him from worked with him alot..

and i also belive that adopted iggs tend to be sweeter.. if you decide to get one i suggest that you adopt.. there are so many iggs out there looking for a home..

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1.0.0 adopted iguana
0.0.2 Hedgehogs

My Email

YOU DONT OWN YOUR IGUANA, YOUR IGUANA OWNS YOU

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

I saw your post both here and on the monitor forum. I have one question before I get into anything.

Is this your first reptile? What other experiences have you had?

Now after answering that question,

If this is your first, I would personally say neither. Both animals tend to get obscene on the size scale. Both have the reputation of having possibly nasty dispositions. And while Sand monitors are not disposable in the least green iguanas are. Should down the road you decide to get a green ig, adopt. There are thousands in rescues that will be healthier than the ones I saw at the show.

Care wise on the general whole monitors and iguanas are both considered advanced species and are sold as beginners. Both have the same issues with needing severe heat requirements. Both are in need of large large caging (mind you not being familiar with sand monitors I am generalizing).

It is too soon to determine the temperment of an animal 2 days after purchase. Many do not eat properly until 2 weeks after being aquired. If the animal you bought was a youngster, it will be more snitty. To them everything is a predator.

Check with the folks on the monitor forum regarding care. They will help greatly. You can also stop by the scheduled chats as there is a monitor guy that frequents the room.
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Cindy
PHFaust

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Land of the Outcasts!

Thanks for the info.Yes i do have exspeirance with reptiles I have a 8 foot burm and red tail boa for 5 years,chemelions and beardes for a while too.I just wanted something with more of a personality and to interact with.Ive made up my mind im going to get an igg.I will sell the monitor with no problem.The only thing I think would be better to get a captive baby igg that isent from a farm rather than a adopted one.You never know how other people raised that igg or what health problems it has.At least I know a baby igg I get will have a better chance of being held every day that will determine somewhat of how he acts than a adopted one.Thanks again for your input.

ROD TAYLOR
hotrod3207@iwon.com

>>Thanks for the info.Yes i do have exspeirance with reptiles I
The thing is that all iggs in stores are froma farm.. thats how they are raised... imho adopting is better and mot people here will agree with me on that one.. but do what you want..

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1.0.0 adopted iguana
0.0.2 Hedgehogs

My Email

YOU DONT OWN YOUR IGUANA, YOUR IGUANA OWNS YOU

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

If you go through a reptile rescue, they will tell you what the temperment is of the iguana, and all of the background info they have. Please consider adoption, as "captive-bred" iguanas are simply imports, they are often labled that way to increase sales.
-katie

I agree with adopting one. Before a rescue puts one of their iguanas up for adoption it has already had any medical attention that it needed. Unless of course it's an ongoing problem that needs medication for some time. You will be able to get background information about the igg. Also you will be getting an igg that has been handled and placed on a proper diet and that has been cared for in the rescue. You can basically pick the iguana that you want because they will know the answers to your questions because they are the ones who cared for them last. A lot of times when a rescue gets an iggy it's because the owners can't handle it anymore or didn't realize the care they needed and they were given to the rescue before they were neglected. Or even if a person moves and can't take the iggy with them. I would look into adopting before you go buy one. I have 4 iggys. 2 I bought and 2 I adopted. The 2 that I bought I've had medical problems with and the 2 that I adopted I haven't had a single problem with.

NP

Good luck trying to find a captive raised baby. ALL Iguanas sold in pet stores are TECHNICALLY considered captive bred. However every single one of them come from a farm.
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Cindy
PHFaust

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Land of the Outcasts!

actually, captive RAISED is more like it. Many times gravid girls are brought to these farms (thus, they actually bred in the wild). none of which that i know of are even in the US, mostly central and south america.
-katie

Deciding which animal is best for you will take some research. My first question would be... are you a high energy person or fairly laid back and kind of lazy? Iguanas are an extremely high maintenance animal while monitors, once established, require much less work and time. Iguana food prep takes some time and effort. On the other hand you can go to the freezer and choose your monitor's meal and just wait for it to thaw.

Secondly, what kind of space do you have available for this pet? Do you have the space to eventually build a 6x6x5 foot enclosure or does a 5x3x3 better fit your living space?

Thirdly, do you have the time and patience to work at taming either beast? Both animals can take months and months to socialize. My opinion is that most monitors make better display animals than pets. If kept properly they can be very interesting and entertaining just to watch.

Lastly, if you do decide on an iguana, please look into adopting one that needs a home. You could possibly get a very well socialized healthy animal from the start that is just looking for the right home. Best of luck.