Reptile & Amphibian Forums

an ex coworker stopped in my work today with an iguana he wanted to get rid of. he tried selling it and even took it to the local pet store. where he was told they wouldnt take him because he was to mean. so he came to me knowing im into reptiles. so to my wifes dismay i brought him home.

he is very healthy, and fiesty,good weight and color. he is also an easy 3 ft but the tank he came in is only a 20 long, its what the pet store sold them when he was a baby and the tank is very dirty and smells

so anyway i have 2 questions
1 i was aready planning to build a cage for my beardy this weekend, now i guess it will be 2, but i would like to at least clean what hes in for now but no $$$ till fri, so the only substate ideas i have for now are some wood shavings i have for my sons gerbil, but im pretty sure i have heard that was bad for herps, or i have some house carpet scraps im not sure if thats a good idea or not, will paper towls work for now?

2he does seem well fed looks like he has been eating some pellets, there all mixed in with the substrate, well whan i offerd him freash veggies he tasted them but didnt eat them.
is this because he wants pellets or is he just stressed
thanks in advance

As substrate I use newspaper and paper towels (After reading James Hatfield´s book) and it works just fine. Cheap and easy to clean. I wouldn´t use that gerbil substrate.
Just give him time to calm down and to feel confortable with his new home. Keep offering fresh veggies and clean water. As soon as he settles down he will start eating.
Good luck with your new mean friend and keep us posted!!
Later,
Dan

I agree with DanielP. Igs can go for several days without eating when entering an new environment. Get him out of that tank asap. If you have an extra bathroom you can set up a temporary home in the bathtub. We've done that before with a larger ig and hung the lights above as well as a heating pad under a towel. Good luck! JN

i would suggest getting him to the vet for a fecal and a check up. i cant even imagine keeping any size ig in a 20 gallon tank. that poor thing is probably soo stressed out. good luck.
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"it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
1.0.0 bearded dragon
1.1.0 green iguana
0.0.1 columbian tegu(for sale)
0.1.0 knight anole(looking for male)
0.1.0 green anole
0.1.0 asian longtail grass lizard
1.1.0 golden gecko
1.0.0 ball python
0.0.5 oriental firebellied toad
0.0.1 green treefrog
0.0.1 barking treefrog
0.0.1 cuban masked treefrog
0.0.1 gray treefrog
0.1.0 gulf hammock rat snake
0.1.0 eastern kingsnake
0.1.0 siberian husky

>>so anyway i have 2 questions
>>1 i was aready planning to build a cage for my beardy this weekend, now i guess it will be 2, but i would like to at least clean what hes in for now but no $$$ till fri, so the only substate ideas i have for now are some wood shavings i have for my sons gerbil, but im pretty sure i have heard that was bad for herps, or i have some house carpet scraps im not sure if thats a good idea or not, will paper towls work for now?

Newspaper will work great and is cheap and easy to dispose of. You may see some rubbing off of the ink, but the black inks are vegetable based and non toxic these days.

>>2he does seem well fed looks like he has been eating some pellets, there all mixed in with the substrate, well whan i offerd him freash veggies he tasted them but didnt eat them.
>>is this because he wants pellets or is he just stressed
>>thanks in advance

Could very well be stress. I never worry about eatting until after two weeks when they come here.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

well when it was time to handle him today he was just like yesterday, all puffy and with the death grip on my arm. its amazing how he is so able to find the tender skin with his claws. anyway after about 30 min he relaxed and went to sleep on my lap i let him sit there for an hour or so then i got up he ran to the back of the couch and got all puffy again, after i sat back down he hoped back into my lap and i tought went to sleep, well i proped my legs up and was getting int the tv when i noticed he was moveing toward my feet flicking his toung the whole way well when he got to my feet that buger actually bit my big toe, scarred the crap out of me atleast it wasnt hard.
anyway he really seemed to calm down and likes me, or maby it was just my warm lap?

thanks everyone for the advice, he dont like the paper towles but at least hes in a clean tank for now, wife said no way to the bathroom idea

so one more question when i biuld his new home this weekend should i sreen all the sides or do the sides in wood so i can mount some stong branches and perches for him
by the way my son is convinced he is a leprichaun?
no idea where that comes from, maby the whole green thing
anyway thanks again

I would use the screen only on the front side.. that way it will be a little easier for you to regulate and keep the heat inside the enclouser.
Glad to know he likes you.
Good luck
Later,
Daniel

It's not uncommon for them to try to nibble your toes. Baby is always coming around and If I'm not careful he would bite. Maybe it's the colored toenails. He probably thinks it's something good to eat. *grin*JN