Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I am new to this forum as far as posting, but I have been reading it and researching cyclura for about 2-3 months now. My original plan was to purchase a hybrid from David Blair in the fall, but the other day I found an approximately 3-6 month old hybrid at my local store. It is a female and although I am not totally decided, I think I am going to call her Jade. Anyway, My question is this, I have found another male hybrid that is smaller than Jade, he is at a different branch of the same store and has been there about 3 months. What are people's opinions about keeping two young opposite sexed hybrids together in a 125 gallon aquarium to start with and increasing to a custom enclosure when older. In addition, what about when they get older are they still going to be OK together or will they need to be seperated? Thanks for your help.

Eric

Hello Eric and welcome. No one can give you a definative answer on this question because not all lizards are the same. I'm currently keeping 3 young Cyclura together in an 8x3.5x3 enclosure. At one time I had a 4th Cyclura in there also but had to remove her because she turned into a bully. I also keep a pair of young adult Rhinos together and a pair of adult hybrids. If you attempt to keep the two young ones together make sure there are ample basking spots, food stations and hiding places. You will always have to be prepared to separate them in case they don't tolerate each other.
Best of luck and keep us informed!

Hi,

Thanks for responding so quick. If they do not get along, is there a chance that they will seriously hurt eachother, or will it be more of a aggressive attitude that is obvious to start? Sorry for more questions, I just really like these guys and don't want to see them hurt eachother.

Thanks Again,

Eric

No need to apologize for the questions The Cyclura that I had to remove from the group was pretty sneaky about her bulliness. I didn't see anything obvious until one day I noticed the Cuban female had a bite wound on her foot. Since I removed the other female I've had no problems. You will have to watch them closely to see signs of aggression or stress. Make sure one or the other isn't spending lots of time in the corners or hiding. Keep your eyes open for scratches or bite marks. As youngsters, if they have plenty of space, basking spots, hide spots, and food available, they may be perfectly fine. As they grow older there is the possiblity of serious injury.

Hey,

Once again thank you for your help. I saw in your picture that you are using newspaper as substrate. I currently am using cypress mulch. I do use newspaer with my young beardies, but since these guys have there salad in a bowl I figured that mulch would be OK, do you disagree? Also, in the picture you posted, is the one in front a cuban and the one in back a hybrid? Do you have a favorite species? It has only been a few days, but Jade is fast becoming my favorite lizard. It just amazes me that for being so young she is already so calm about most stuff. She ate out of my hand the first night I had her!!

Thanks again

Jiffy Pop, What kind of Iguana is in the front of the pic??? It is wonderful and I want one? coyote

Jiffy Pop, What kind of Iguana is in the front of the pic??? It is wonderful and I want one? coyote

That is a young male Cuban Rock that I purchased from Carl last August. He is a beautiful lizard and has a fantastic outgoing personality. Not a mean bone in his body and he loves to be on the GO!!

Hi Eric, I agree with Jif. I will give another example. First, 125 gal seems small to me or will be real soon. I had two hybrids of similar age and it didn't work from day one. I had them in a dedicated 8x10 room with 2 hides and the male bullied and bit the female. I spent a month trying various blinds, multiple basking sites and seperate food. My male would just not tolerate the female. I split them up. I have seen pairs live for years fine and then one day one has a nasty bite requiring stitches.
I dont mean to scare you off, just be prepared. They need a lot of room.

Of the cyclura available in the pet trade, Lewisi hybrids are probably the most agressive towards each other. I have seen missing digits on the legs of a clutch that were housed togather for just a few months. One owner had rhinos, cubans, and greens all basking on top of each other at one basking spot. His lewisi hybrids had to be separate,the male was beating up the female(very typical). I agree with both previous responses regarding unpredictablity. If you do try it, make sure the 2 separate basking sites are not in sight of each other. Be concerned if only one animal is out all of the time and the other is always hiding.
Good luck

Hey John! I also kept/keep Cyclura and Greens together quite successfully. I've been luckier than the person you mentioned, however, because my lewisi pair still get along pretty well. Azul is a wimp and won't bother MiMi if she lets him know she doesn't want to be messed with. Good to see you around. I'd love to see some new photos of Lev and Bubble's brother.

Hello all,

Thanks to all who have responded to my question. John, I was kinda wondering if that 125g was to small when I decided to use it. My plan is to use it for about 3 more months and then build a large enclosure in my off season. (I own a landscaping and concrete company and am quite busy now.) Anyway, one reason I started with a small enclosure was to be sure Jade could find her basking spots and food. Are cyclura good about that or are they like young beardeds. No one at my local store knew the answer, so I erred on the side of caution. I still haven't decided what to do about the other cyclura. Are males typically more aggressive? From what I have heard they are, but as jiffypop stated earlier her young female was the bully. Anyway, I do have the space for two enclosures and maybe I will start that way and then introduce them on neutral ground or something. Thanks again to all who have responded.

Eric

For rhinos, I have used 100 gallon for a pair the first year, 2x2x6ft for 2nd year, and sometimes even 3rd year slow growers. By third summer I like to put them outside in 10x10x6ft, atleast for the warm months. Nubila females sometimes only grow to be 6lbs. They grow slower than cornuta, and a slow growing female that is not intended for breeding could probably live a long time in a well ventilated 2x2x6. Breeding requieres space, and there is some truth to the saying an ig grows to fit his cage, so a big cage soon may not be a bad idea. Depending on your plans, For me sub adult igs are very interesting. Adults are too, but once adult, always adult, and for cyclura that can be for 25 years. good luck.

Bubs brother was recently named Jordan by my 5 year old son. Jordan mated with Metropolis same as last year, and is outdoors and recouperating well from the beating he took indoors earlier this year.
Lev is acting as if she is going to lay eggs, If she does, it will break her cycle of every other year. She is outdoors in a just finished 20x50ft chain link fenced area with Clyde, Bonnie and Rene. I'll get a few pictures up when I have more time. Nice pic of Bubs and gang.