I recently received a call from a family member who lives out of town in the middle of the country who happened to find a large male iguana in their front yard. How it got there is still a mystery (escapee or drop off??).The poor guy had really been through it. His tail was wounded in several places, had toes and nails missing from one side, scars here and there some new and some where old and healed. Not sure what got him but I guess he fought it off good enough to still be alive. So after taking him to the vet, having his tail broke off to stop the infected part from infecting the rest of him and amputating all but one toe on his back foot and getting medicine for his mouth rot...wow what a day he had. After about a week and a half he started eating. Now for the strange thing. The only time he will drink is when we put something in his dish and "stir" it. We used our finger first but since I built his new cage the wire mesh is not big enough so we use a straw. As long as we stir his water and get his attention he will drink until he is full then walks away but if we don’t do it then it’s like he doesn’t see it even when he is standing right next to it eating. No one at our house has ever seen him drink on his own with out the stiring. Has anyone ever seen this? Could it be from how he was kept in the past?
All in all he is doing well. He doesn’t really want to be held yet but he is getting better. I'm so glad I was the one they called. It’s been ten years since I had my last reptile and I have to say it is really nice having one back in the house. He has renewed my interest and love of all reptiles. To me the vet bill was well worth it. It's done me as much good has it’s done him.