Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm new to cyclura and I'm on the verge of owning one and have done a lot of research but I needed some help from those experienced. I've kept bearded dragons, uromastyx and tegus (I have a big 4 ft. male) and I'm very interested in cyclura.

I'm torn between getting a hatchling Blue Cayman hybrid or a hatchling Rhino. From those experienced with either one or both, could you tell me your views on the differences in terms of husbandry and termperment?

I hear that the nubilas are fairly 'tamer' and calmer to start off with and are more visually appealing colorwise and more expensive and as adults they can easily get equally as tame. Tameness is a big issue for me and I would work with the hatchling on a daily basis.

On the other hand, I know how awesome, stout and prehistoric looking the rhinos are also.
AARRGGHH... such a decision!

Thanks in advance,
Tristan
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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

Hi, and welcome to the list!

I don't envy your decision. A lot of people will lean towards one or the other. I, personally have had great luck with tameness with both species AND with a Cyclura nubila caymanensis as well. When I started I only cared about tameness too. In 2001 I got a baby lewisi cross. She was INSANE for a long time to the point of me wanting to give her up. I had thought it would be easier. Just shy of 2 years old she tamed down. She was the most awesome dog-tame lizard. Unfortunately I lost her just as I was realizing how far she had come to egg issues in Aug of 2003. It was devastating. I had been taking her everywhere and she was completely ok with the car, other people, other animals etc.

I was then presented with a sick rhino girl (Kharma) who was about 3 at the time plus some eggs to incubate. The sick female is currently doing GREAT and has gone from 3.5 lbs to 10 lbs in 2 years. She is very tame as well. She is a good freeroamer when allowed out. The eggs hatched (most of them) and I have one from that litter (Diego) who is quite tame. I picked her out of the batch as she was the only one that sat still and she has remained very calm here in the house. I have not taken her out much in the last year so not sure how that would go.

Pete is the caymanensis that has been here for over 2 years. I adopted him in May of 2003 at about 3.5 years old. He is very tame here in his room/house. I cannot take him anywhere as he is a total FREAK outside his environment.

I'm not really sure what the moral of my story is. I have had both of the species in question and have had similar experiences with both. I am thinking perhaps the rhinos MIGHT tame down more readily but I think you are splitting hairs.

Now, the most calm of them all that I have seen is a Cuban owned by a friend of mine. I also met a wonderful Cuban at daytona in 2004. I have read a lot about how Cubans are the tamest of the tame. But I dont have one.

Is this helpful at all???

Carole

This is a pic of Tashmoo, my lewisi hybrid who has been gone 2 years now.

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www.reptilecare.com

thanks Carole for your input. it turns out that i'm quite familiar with your cyclura as i encountered your webpage during my research on cyclura and have found it to be very helpful.

sorry about your loss with tashmoo. i know she's somewhere better.... Pete is an awesome specimen! Diego and Kharma are awesome too!

yeah, temperment and personality are important to me because i don't have plans on breeding them in the future. I will have the opportunity to hand pick either a rhino or a blue cayman hybrid because there's a rhino breeder nearby with hatchlings and there's also a reptile show coming next week that will have the blues.

as far as prices go, the difference is roughly about $100, with the blue being more expensive. are they really worth $100 more than rhinos? i'm guessing it's because they're endangered.

if i decide to break the bank, i might get both... would it be okay to raise them together in the same enclosure?

i might have to resort to a coin toss.....

thanks again!
tristan
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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

Hi there, I dont have any experience with raising up two cyclura together but when I have tried to introduce subadult and juvenile cyclura so far it hasnt worked. Someone here might be able to tell you better how it generally goes if they are raised together.

When I got Kharma (rhino 3 yrs old) and tried to intro her to Pete (caymanensis who was already 4 years old)all hell broke loose. I tried over and over but he always tried to put a breeding bite on her and she did not appreciate it. I suspect Pete to be the issue here as when I tried to intro him to my adult male green iguana he did the same thing. Then my green would try it on him. It was really stupid to watch. They would walk away from each other then eyeball each other and then try and breed with each other again. The moral of this story is that Pete lives here in my computer room in solitary confinement.

When Diego ("baby" rhino) was about 1.5 years old I tried to intro her (thought he might be a him at the time) to Kharma (by now 4 years old) it didnt work out either. Diego was the aggressor for the most part even tho he was less than half Kharma's size. So, moral of that story is that ALL my cyclura live by themselves in various locations all over my house. Kharma gets along ok with my male green so they are shacked up in his room for the time being. She gets lots of out time as she is a good free roamer. Sometimes I think she is pushing Pugsley (green) around but am not sure. They seem to do ok together.

So that is the story of my introductions. Maybe Jane could be more assistance with raising them up together.

Carole

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www.reptilecare.com

I should have explained from the top down that was Diego in his new cage, Kharma hanging out with some plants in my living room and Pete looking smug.

Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

Thank you so much for your help Carole.. your cyclura look very happy with you! I'm still trying to decide which one to get.. I'll let you know what happens.
Thanks
Tristan
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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

I'm sure that I'm not the only one that visits this forum that would advise you to get a cornuta. My Rhinos are my favorites, taking into consideration their personality, robustness, and appearance. My 6 year old male Rhino is the most tolerant, easy-going, dependable lizard that I have. My male hybrid is sometimes temperamental and doesn't play well with most other lizards.
If you chose to get 2 you may have luck raising them together if they are opposite sexes. I've not had much luck keeping females together, and definately not males together. I have had good luck raising pairs together.
I also have Tegus...amazing creatures. My 4 foot male Argentine B/W is a great educational animal and totally trustworthy. My second favorite species.

Hey Jiffy,
Nice looking tegu you have there! Here's a pic of mine. He's totally tame and kinda 'potty trained.' He goes in a tub of water I put him in every week. I agree... awesome creatures!
Your advice about cornuta will not go unnoticed. I'm collectively taking in all of the advice I can on this forum. I'll let you know what I get when I have one.
Thanks again for your advice,
Tristan

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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)