Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

I have a baby iguana. He is less than a year old and I have had him for about 5 months. His name is Charlie. For the past month or so he has seemed down in the dumps but only in his cage. He does not climb anymore and he does not bask as much as he used to. He is in a 125 gallon aquaruim. The temps are right, he has UVA/UVB lighting, plenty of places to climb and hide. He eats very well and has no parasites.

When he is out of the cage he becomes a totally new lizard. He explores,tongue flicks and climbs around. He accepts his treats from my hand. He loves his bath time. When it is time for him to go back in his cage he flattens myself onto my hand or my arm and I have to pry him off. Before he would just walk off and sit in the branches (fake) in his cage. Now he immediately goes to the bottom of the tank and sits in the corner looking out.

He is way too small to be free roaming and he is not even close to outgrowing his enclosure. How can I help him? It it because we are getting less natural light? Should I take him to the vet or is he just in a funk and will come out of it?

Thanks!

how big is he? if he is big enough he may be happier if you build him a screened in tall inclosure. iguanas like to clime and be up high. sounds like he is just unhappy with his cage. most iguanas like their cage if it is set up right and large enough. in a tank they can only clime so high. if you have the extra money i would give it a try.
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brandy

We put him outside in our screened in room during the day if we are home. We have tons of plants and places to hide. He loves to climb and in there and hang out on top of the blinds. We live in FL and it is still in the mid 80's during the day. He is still really small but maybe we can build him a screen cage for the house. He really seems so unhappy in that tank now and he was fine before. I can give the tank to my ball python.

You may have a bored iguana.

They're a smart animal, and originated in rainforest where there's a lot of activity. So they can get bored when kept alone.

I thought about adopting another baby but I was not sure if he would like sharing his tank. Maybe I will get another one. The more animals the merrier for me!

Two igs together might be a problem. As they get older, they become territorial -- especially the males, who get quite fiesty during mating season.

Whether or not you can have two iguanas together depends on the size of your habitat and the size of your igs. And as the igs get older, you'll need twice as much space for two.

Our Iggi was less than a year old when we allowed her to free roam. She used to stand on the driftwood, and hold her arms up for us to take her out. She was in a 100 gallon enclosure, but she hated it. She has been free roaming now for about 3 years. Here is a picture of her just before we got rid of the enclosure.

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Hi!

No offense to whomever said he may be bored because he's alone, but iguanas are extremely territorial and it's rare that they coexist peaceably in the limited space of a human's house, let alone a tank or cage.

Maybe he is bored, though. Does he have something to climb on?

I also disagree that he needs an entirely new cage. I think it's less important that the cage be tall than that your iguana feels he is high up off of the ground. Can you elevate the tank higher?

Also, perhaps your iguana is seeing his reflection in the glass and is intimidated by it. Or he sees it in something reflective in his room.

Maybe he would enjoy a fish bowl/tank to watch, or a window with a view. Be careful that he doesn't feel the birds outside are trying to eat him, though. Do you have a garden he could look at? How about some live plants in his cage? TV? It sounds like you're doing everything right, though! He's a lucky little lizard.

I should have said "kept isolated" instead of "alone" when talking about bored iguanas, since the OP took that to mean "get another iguana."

Rex's tank is next to my desk, and he watches me work; I talk to him all day. With any luck, he'll learn how to write programs... or cuss.

Iguanas need a stimulating environment, as you pointed out -- but putting adult igs together is asking for problems.

I would have to agree...he's probably seeing his reflection or feels too close to floor level. Can u get the tank any higher? Do you have a dog or a cat staring at him? A bird? Kids running past the tank or tapping on it?
Little Igs freak out very easy, they think everyone and everything is out to eat him. Try putting a box in his tank for him to hide in and a bunch of more plants. They need to feel secure.
Be thankful your baby feels so safe and secure with you....you're doing a great job with him!
Good luck!
Dove