Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught a large female recently and she laid 80 eggs yesterday. How long for incubation. I live in Miami Florida.
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Michael Enriquez

Oh please dont incubate them....there are too many unwanted iguanas around...you say you caught one...that is one someone didnt want any more and set free. Please freeze and discard them....dont make the problem in Florida worse....my opinion (and a strong one) Lyn

If you live in South Florida...then you should know and except there is no way Iguanas could get worse...they are here to stay...I would almost consider them native...they breed...grow up...have babies...and die in South Florida. The only problems that i know of is eating native plants. This is 1 female I captured from a large population in my back yard(a canal that runs along the turnpike in my backyard.) I see them all the time. Many of them...they are here to stay except it. I will not freeze them when i as a reptile enthusiast have the oppurtunity to do something I have never done...hatch Iguana eggs.
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Michael Enriquez

Iguanas are far from native to Florida. Just because the iguanas do well does not mean it is good that they live there. Our country has a long history of importing non native species and having it go horribly wrong. They damage local ecosystems and push native animals out of their environmental niches. Over a period of time, they will completely change Florida's ecosystems, and, IMO, we have yet to discover the major impact they will have on native species.

How nice that you don't mind Florida iguanas. It's unfortunate that you are willing to contribute to the iguana population problem by allowing the eggs to hatch.
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~Alika~
1.0.0 green iguanas
0.1.0 cockatiels
1.0.0 senegal parrots
0.1.0 blue-fronted amazons
0.0.1 red belly piranha

Please...reread what I said...I did say almost. I do agree it is ashamed that they are here in the first place. But I will not sit back and let someone try and tell me that I am contributing to a problem...when the problem is so out of hand that what I do has no significance. Iguanas are everywhere down here. It will be impossible to eradicated them in anyway...if you tried to go out and just kill them...the animal rights scum would have a fit. Lets say I do hatch out 80 eggs...and I rleased them all...how many would survive in the wild? How many would go and reproduce? What would the impact be on the thousands of Iguanas that inhabit every Canal from...(my own observatiions Broward to the Florida Keys). What would it be...and someone has the nerve to come on here and tell me what to do??? I simply asked a question in a forum...I wanted the question answered...?????
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Michael Enriquez

Michael, as a Team Member for Green Iguana Society, we receive letters all the time about what people can do to get rid of the feral iguana population. Its a big problem and they are changing the ecosystem, all because of someone like you who decides to release into the wild...I bet that if the environmental people heard that you were releasing 80 more iguanas, they would have your head....and that is no joke. It is most likely illegal to do what you are doing. Dont get caught....Lyn

when did i say i was releasing anything...i was stating ......IF......not that i was. I never said I was or would. Yes it is illegal to release nonnative species in Florida. I am just curious where you live....and if you truly understand the nonnative species thing in the state of florida or not?
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Michael Enriquez

...everyone I've ever met that's seriously into iguanas advices against incubating eggs. I guess you could say I've jumped on the band wagon... but not without a good reason.

The problem with incubating and hatching iguana eggs is that you end up with iguana babies. Each of those hatchlings has the potential to become a six foot adult. So it raises the question, what will you do with the babies?

If you keep them yourself, you will need to provide a separate enclosure for each individual adult. That's a lot of room, a lot of equipment, and a lot of mouths to feed. Many serious hobbiests have more than one ig, but 30?

If you release them, you are in violation of state laws and probably federal laws as well. You are also contributing to the population of feral iguanas. Yes, I understand the situation in Florida. Iguanas are almost as numerous as birds. It's because people got tired of their pets, released them, and the iguanas did well in the warm, humid environment. But every single iguana that exists in the wilds of Florida is damaging the local ecology, which means that every single iguana that is released will add to the problem. I wonder how well you understand the basic principles of ecology?

If you sell them, you'll be lucky to get $15-$25 a piece for them as hatchlings, and you'll be in competition with every pet store in town. In the meantime, you'll have to provide care for all the hatchlings, including shopping... and the longer they stay with you, the bigger your grocery bill will be. If you do manage to sell them all quickly, you'll be contributing to another iguana problem: too many iguanas in the pet trade. Too many people think that iguanas are easy to care for, and make the mistake of buying one without realizing what they're getting into. How many of those babies do you think would end up released anyway, because someone you sold one to got tired of their pet?

These posts aren't meant as personal attacks... we're just trying to make you aware of the consequences of the choice you're planning to make. If you're serious about incubating the eggs, there is another option: toss all the eggs but one or two, and plan on keeping the resulting iguana(s).
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~Alika~
1.0.0 green iguanas
0.1.0 cockatiels
1.0.0 senegal parrots
0.1.0 blue-fronted amazons
0.0.1 red belly piranha

since this has become the hot topic so to speak...any other opinions on wild Iguanas in Florida?
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Michael Enriquez

your understanding of non-native or invasive species is completly wrong. As a "reptile enthusiast" what if you introduce a virus or parasite into the "wild' populations due to your captive care regardless of how good it is. Do you then say "who cares, they shouldn't be here anyway" If you speed in your car cuz everyone else does and then hit someone cuz you're going to fast does that make it okay or an accident. hatching eggs is not a great feat, and nothing to brag about. why dont you go help incubate the american croc. It needs the help.
your dancing around cuz she called you on your uninformed opinion is a amusing read.

I simply asked a question and it turned into a personal attack and now has become a good discussion.

I am very much informed of the situation in Florida...I also asked if anybody is from down here and really new the situation...I am waiting on that answer too.

I am very well versed in ecology...I have a degree in Biology. Even if i released an animal with some new "virus" or "bacteria"...it cam from down here anyways...I caught the thing in my backyard.

My opinion is very well informed of intrusive species since all of south florida is covered in them and they are thriving....

Please understand I really am playing devils advocate here...since you all started this without knowing my background or anything else about me...

How would i be contributing to the probelm if i did release them...not that i would...so please do not mis quote me again????
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Michael Enriquez

You presented yourself as uninformed. Thats all I can go by is what I read.

since Iguanas are bad pets...IMO...why is there no effort in going after the breeders in SOuth America...I have been in wharehouse down here when they come in...1000's at a time...every week????

Now that I am uniformed on.
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Michael Enriquez