some early summer pictures

[Alika]

This isn't the first time he's gotten to go out this summer, it's just the first time I remembered to bring my camera. The pictures are crappy, either washed out from the sun or in deep shadow. Still, I went through all the effot to take them and edit them, so now I have to share them.

If you don't already know, his name is Xander and he's 2 years old and about 9.5" svl and 30.5-31" STL.





He overheated after about 15 minutes, which really bummed me out. I was hoping to let him have some natural sunlight for at least 30 min. He started gaping, and I hung out long enough to get a picture, then we went back inside.

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[NicoleRussell]

very nice looking iggy!

	Iguana Iguana

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[Alika]

Thank you! He's my baby... the first reptile I actually purchased. We don't have any mammalian pets, and since the birds are so, um, flighty, he actually gets to go a lot of places with us. We take him to parks, on car rides, and shopping when it's someplace he can go in, like the pet supply store. He's spoiled rotten.

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[Alika]

Some more...

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[smellati]

He's beautiful. How tame is he? I am thinking of getting a larger lizard, and you here a lot about "untamemable" iggy's. If tame, how long have you had him, and how much handling did it take?

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

it's hard to predict how they mature though....
I read about one in particular in IGUANA magazine that was treated like a child ---catered to and loved and cared for ...he went a little wacky as he matured and his owner ended up with many stitches---she tried to colaborate with an iguana behavioral specialist and left him in her care in hopes of saving him.
In the end he had to be put down.
It was very sad.
Not all stories end this way though----it just has to be treated as a possibility.

[Alika]

Originally Posted by smellati

He's beautiful. How tame is he? I am thinking of getting a larger lizard, and you here a lot about "untamemable" iggy's. If tame, how long have you had him, and how much handling did it take?

He's very tame for a sexually mature male. He's two years old, and I've had him his whole life. People are always commenting on how 'sweet' he is. About the only time I ever have problems with him is when I go to get him out of his cage, when he sometimes threatens to whip. He's never really whipped or bit anyone, though.

As far as iguanas as pets, they are really demanding. Because they are completely herbivorous, they are really dependent on access to good UVB and they really need a great diet to thrive. Because they get so big, they need a very large cage, and the fact that they're arboreal only complicates things.

As Nicole said, you can't predict which babies will grow up to be sweeties and which ones will be monsters. All male iguanas will go through breeding season once a year in which they'll be a little (or a lot) more aggressive than usual, so that's something to take into consideration.

If you're seriously looking into an ig as a pet, do research at www.greenigsociety.org and www.anapsid.org and consider adoption. There are lots of adult igs in need of good homes, and buying an ig as an adult gives you the advantage of having a lizard that's already full grown (instantly big!) and you already know what their temperment is.

Hope that helped!

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[smellati]

Thanks for the links, I will be doing some research. My interest is in the rhino iggy however. From what I have read and seen (which isnt much) they are more terrestrial, but other than that, the care is similar to a green iggy. Would any of you know for sure?

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

I have a rhino...yes they are terrestrial but have special requirements as well---have you researched them yet?

[smellati]

I try searching for info, and all I find are for green iggy's. Do you have any suggestions?

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

have you tried cyclura.com?

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[NicoleRussell]

or there is also some limited info on bluetegu.com too

[smellati]

Thanks for the links, especially the first one. Hey, put bloodrayne back on. That was nicer. If any other resources or links come to mind, please don't be shy.

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[NicoleRussell]

cyclura are wonderful creatures--I highly recommend them as captives....
I got my male from david blair (blue cross) and my female rhino from the St. Pierres

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[savannah_babe]

if you go to google, and type in thier latan name, a TON of stuff comes up. or, even if you simply type in rhinoceros iguana a lot of info still comes up. i havent read it, so im not sure on its accuracy, but im sure it will help.

	Iguana Iguana

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