Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I acquired a yearling rhino iguana. The guy that I bought it from got it from David Blair, he gave me the certificate and eggshell to prove it. I just have some questions for you guys:

1. Is orchid bark okay for them? The previous owner had just switched him to orchid bark for about 1 week. He had him on rabbit pellets before. I don't want to use newspaper because the previous owner said he would always go underneath it. I have him tentatively on orchid bark but I will change the substrate if you guys advise against it.

2. Any handling tips? When I went to pick him up yesterday he was very tame but looked like a balloon because he inflated himself. I handled him for at least 15-20 minutes and he was very calm and just hung out on my shoulder. He even stayed calm on my shoulder during the drive home.

This morning I went to put some greens in there and he went pretty ballisitic, scurrying around the cage and flinging bark everywhere and even gave me a little nip! I don't want to try to handle him for another week or two to get him accustomed to his new surroundings, but are there any tips?

The previous owner said he would be flighty when I try to get him out but once he's out he's perfectly tame (which is how he was yesterday when I went to pick him up). I've heard you should handle them everyday and that they calm down at about 2-3 years old.

3. Currently he is in a 4 X 2.5 X 2 enclosure with a basking temp of about 120 degrees (i think this is too hot though... 105-110?) and cool side betwen 75-80. The only cage furniture I have is a piece of climbing branch in there with him. I'll post a pic soon so you guys can see his setup. Should I include any other furniture in there with him? The previous owner had nothing in his cage, just a feeding bowl.

I've been doing research prior to the purchase. I just want to give him a good home and be able to interact with him.
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)

Ok, I am not the most experienced with this species and I know nothing of orchid bark, but I have had my year old rhino for, well, just about a year. Our substrate is now mainly slate (which is spot cleaned daily and cleaned with bleach weekly). Ours was shredding the paper within hours of placing it, so slate eventaully took over. I still don't want to use anything particulate, and don't see how it would be any more sanitary than what we are doing.

As far as handling goes, give the ig some time, but keep in mind that rhinos are known for NOT liking being picked up. Ours learned to climb out of her tank and up our arms when she was very young (and still in a tank) when we started petting her every day before feeding. She got too big for that around 9 months old and would wobble on our arms and panick at the instability.

She is now in a larger enclosure, and LOVES being pet. She basically BEGS for petting anytime she sees a hand, but we rarely try to pick her up anymore because it causes her to panick. If she wants to come out, she does, but we try not to make her. Just because she won't sit on our arms anymore doesn't make her "untame". We respect her wishes, and she appreciates our attention (which is more than I can say for our other reps). She is by far our baby.

Good luck!

This pic is her as a youngin wanting to climb our arms...I'll follow with fatty now.

Ok, I am not the most experienced with this species and I know nothing of orchid bark, but I have had my year old rhino for, well, just about a year. Our substrate is now mainly slate (which is spot cleaned daily and cleaned with bleach weekly). Ours was shredding the paper within hours of placing it, so slate eventaully took over. I still don't want to use anything particulate, and don't see how it would be any more sanitary than what we are doing.

As far as handling goes, give the ig some time, but keep in mind that rhinos are known for NOT liking being picked up. Ours learned to climb out of her tank and up our arms when she was very young (and still in a tank) when we started petting her every day before feeding. She got too big for that around 9 months old and would wobble on our arms and panick at the instability.

She is now in a larger enclosure, and LOVES being pet. She basically BEGS for petting anytime she sees a hand, but we rarely try to pick her up anymore because it causes her to panick. If she wants to come out, she does, but we try not to make her. Just because she won't sit on our arms anymore doesn't make her "untame". We respect her wishes, and she appreciates our attention (which is more than I can say for our other reps). She is by far our baby.

Good luck!

Sorry for the double post... but here she is in her "climb up the arm" stage.

Introducing Rocksteady. He helped my prepare for lecture today
Hope you enjoy,
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)

looks good, he is nice and thick. They are great fun and a ton of personality. It gets better with age, his, age. My .02 on your questions.
1- never tried bark but news paper works great. easy to clean and cheap. Some dont like the look but I always though they should be looking at the lizard. Does your guy have a hide, thats why he was under the paper. he needs a retreat. these guys sleep in holes and crevices in the wild.
2- handling is different for everyone due to your personality and the lizards. plan on a frustrating bit of time. At about 2yrs old they seem to "get it" and calm down. until then one day will be great and the next you might as well have caught a wild one, its crazy. Just be pateint.
3- the bigger the better for a cage. you sound okay for now. I think your temps are good. I use a hotter basking light, 135, and the sd zoo goes even hotter. imo, they like it hotter than green igs, just make sure he can get out of the heat if he wants.
good luck