Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K, im buying my 1st iguana tomorow, as soon as his cage will be set up. Now, what i need to know is, do i absolutly have to use a terrarium, or can i use a cage, box made out of wood? cuz i have this old toy chest i dont use, it looks neet . here are the dimmensions on it...

Height: 1 foot 4 inches (16 inches)
Width: 1 foot 2 inches (14 inches)
Legnth: 2 foot 9 inches (33 inches)

Does this seem big enough? and if yes how long do you supose the cage will be good for?

2nd question: Is there a certain heght i should put the light at, so i don't burn my iguana? Also, i read that you are supose to leave them a "cool" area so they can cool off when it is too hot.. should i make his bed in the cold or warm area?

3rd question, i beleive i have enouh space in there to fit a few braches in, question is.. do iguanas climb on them? or will they just be inn the way?

Thanks for any help i can get.

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/icfs/index.html

because the questions your asking tells me you are NOT ready to buy your iguana.

after reading that site at least three times ask all the questions you can and i will help you anyway i can.

but as for now the best way to answer your questions is for youto read that article.

Please do not buy from a petstore. ADOPT an ig that needs a home. The igs from petstores are stressed and very unhealthy for the majority. Rescue an ig that NEEDS a home... Not an ig that is in a store. I believe around 3,000 igs EVERY day are put to sleep because of human error. Nobody wants to deal with a lizard that gets 6 feet long and tempermental. You need to think on this long and hard. By your questions I think you need to do your research better. Igs are a lot of work and expensive! Get "iguanas for dummies" by melissa kaplpan or go to her website www.anapsid.org and read her research and expirence. Most Ig owners I know use her book faithfully and have beautiful healthy igs. PLUS it will answer ALL of your questions.

-----
Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

Iguanas for dummies is a great book and adopting an iguana is a good idea cuz they need another chance and many adopted iggys become very good pets though it would take a bit more time working with sum of them then others and its not always easy to find org. that adopt out large reptiles in sum states. As for pet stores if you just have to get 1 from a pet store get it from an experianced reptile shop not big chain stores such as pet co or pet smart most there animals come from large farms and are sick or diseased aposs to experianced independent reptile shops that usually buy from experianced breeders and have a garentee on their health..... also if u buy from a pet store visit more then 1 dont buy at the 1st place you go. look at the condition of the specimen you are intrested in and its tank mates look at their encloser to see if its clean( if its not best not buy there) also look at their water and food and what they are feeding the iguanas(if any thing is even in there) and remeber iguanas shouldnt be feed lettuce they should be eating greens like collard,mustard,kale. Lettuce has no nutricienal value so ask what they are feeding them. also examine and hold the iguanas your intrested in. if the employes wont let u hold them go to a diffrent store!!!

also while that toy box may be ok for a little while how do you plan to keep the little iguna in it? by a screen lid or such?

look at this pic i would say this is the MIN set up for a small iggy you can leave off the water fall but a heat light and UVB producing light is a Must.

Look to Spend over 100 dollars easy setting up a cage right the cage in pic has about 250 bucks worth of stuff in it.

but that is basicly what you need

mat

My igs are in 6 foot by 30 inchs deep and wide reptariums with plexi glass on the sides holding in heat and moisture. they have 3 reptisun 5.0 bulbs on the top of each plus 2 basking areas with a heat lamp and heating pads for night time. PLUS each ig has a humidifier aimed towards the bottom of the cage that keeps the humidity high. My igs are BABIES less than a year old and already I am building new cages for them because they grow so quickly.

-----
Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

props mommyof2greenigs that is a beautiful iguana and very very adorible photo ... how old is it and is it a boy or girl and if u ever breed it i most definatly will wont 1

That is Andy He is male and is right at a year old now about 8 inches stv and 24 stl (due to him losing part of his tail bu tail whipping everyone). We also have a small female that I adopted somewhere along the way from a 7 year old child that was mistreating her. She has a leg broken in 3 places and almost dropped her tail HALF way(we saved it thanks to a WONDERFUL vet) and has the beginnings of MBD which we are treating with calcium suppliments *sigh* I doubt my iggies will be bred because there are way too many igs in the world that need homes But thank you for the compliment I shall have to let him read it. He loves to be talked about. lol

-----
Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

by the way do you know any reptile rescues out on the west coast?

www.greenigsociety.org/rescue.htm They have igs posted for rescue from all over the united states. The igs are still in the hands of their owners that want to give them away or adopt them out. Be prepared to fill out an application and asked lots of questions about your knowledge of iguanas and what your plans for the ig is You can also post in your local newspaper that you are looking to ADOPT not buy an iguana. Your local animal shelters sometimes "house" or "foster" iguanas with other people that can care for them until they are adopted. Try them as well. They can alsop give you information on how to locate shelters for reptiles. A local herp. vet might have a client that wants to get rid of their igs for various reasons. Try them as well Good Luck with your quest (I am in Texas and its not uncommon for me to get several calls a week for someone wanting to give me their igs and cages so I "rehome" them with friends of mine or friends of friends that want them and can care for them )

-----
Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

This is The House I made for My 4 foot Adult Male (Sunted due to improper care). Is was a Closet. It's Now Smirnoff's House. This Cost over a Grand. It wasn't Built From Scratch either. Now You are getting a TASTE of How Much these guys need. I'm Not trying to be mean or Nasty But, What are you gonna do when that cute little foot long baby grows into a 6 foot (Sometimes Bigger) Monster With a bad attitude and eats up a good part of You pay check weekly? They Live up to 20 years also. Think REAL Long and Hard about this before you get one. Are you ready for That? Don't make the animal suffer by dumping It when You get tired of getting being whipped and bitten (and you WILL get whipped and bitten) or By not carng for It properly. I'm Speaking this way because (along with several other people here) I'm in the process of Nursing a Dumped Baby back to health (This being My second Iguana) Because someone didn't think and research before Buying a cute little green lizard. Believe Me, These guys aren't for everyone. Do a LOT more research before You buy one. And then, Don't buy one, Adopt on of the THOUSANDS of Dumped Iguanas In desperate Need of a home. There are LOTS and LOTS of Perfectly good babies out there DYING to have a wonderful loving Slave they can beat up and boss around. Please, please, please, Research a heck of a lot more BEFORE you get one. For both Your Sakes....

-----
2 Iguanas, 3 Beardies, 1 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1 Leo, 1 African Fat Tail, 1 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 1 Fla Garter Snake, 1 Banded California King Snake, 1 Corn Snake, 3 Fire Belly Toads, 1 Eastern Painted Turtle, 1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

thats right i have had cages for my boys up to 8 feet tall 8 feet long a 6 feet deep. this little guy was a rescue from a freind of my mothers.

if i was you i would look at maybe a beirded dragon or leopard gecko to start out with.

and i WOULD DEFIANTLY GO VISIT A RESCUE and see just what these guys can turn into.

coming to my home and seeing 6 foot iggys lounging around is not a good representation since i have a very large amount of exp with reptiles of all types including nile moniters that make some of the most agresive iggys look like puppy dogs.

the point i am trying to make is this
i can assure you that if you do not raise and properly care for an iguana it will be a 5 foot malnurershed monster.

monitors are a hand full . Daily interaction with your iguana is important and will help you out when it gets big. adult aggressive iguanas arnt very fun to handle and care for. daily interaction will help with the number of welts and bites you recive too and trust me no matter how "tame" your iguana gets youll still occationally get welted and lunged at!!!!!