Thinking of buying an Iguana ;?

Question

Okay so i'm thinking of buying an Iguana.
I have a wardrobe which am in the process of turning into a home for him/her. Obviously fitted with the correct equiptment. UVB Strip light. Basking Bulb. Tree's, Branches, Etc.
Thing is so many people have negative things to say about these animals.

; 'Oh they are so aggressive & strong'
; 'They require SO much'
; 'They grow so massive'
; 'They have teeth & they whip you'

Okay they grow big, i've seen a fully grown adult face on. But obviously in the pet shop behind glass. So i've seen the size they are capable of growing & i feel i could accomodate that.
They can be aggressive? Well i would get mine from a baby, prefable female as i have been informed males can be more aggressive exspecially with a female owner. Is this true?
& to beat the aggressive factor i would reguraly hold & pet him/her so that she will become used to me, & therfore become 'Tame'.

Can anyone who has experiance with Iguana's give me some advice please

They have teeth? Okay so do many animals people keep as pets. It really all depends on how much you handle your animal and the way you bring them up.

So these 'professionals' moan on about inexperianced reptile owners.
I myself have only 2 reptiles.
A Terrapin and a Leopard Gecko.
Both of which are provided with the correct care, time, equiptment and diet.
But many people lable these animals as 'monsters', unsuitable as pets etc etc.

I do feel i am ready for this type of reptile and i just want to make sure everything is perfect and i have all the details i need, hence the reason i am posting this.

So anyone who can tell me more about these amazing creatures, please do.
Tell me about your experiances please.
And give me some advice.

Answer 1

It sounds as if you are becoming well educated. It's just that many people aren't prepared for a potentially 6 foot lizard, that despite gentle handling can be very aggressive during breeding season. They need large enclosures, correct temperatures, and UVB source (within 12 inches of basking area). A rubbermaid storage container works well for a pool (they need to be able to soak daily and will usually poop in the water). A fresh salad daily is required, as are vitamins. Here are a couple of excellent websites to check out:

http://www.greenigsociety.org/credits.htm

http://anapsid.org/

I love Igs and have had two in the past. Most don't live long enough to get large because they aren't cared for properly. If you get a baby, you won't be able to tell what sex it is until it's a least 6 months old. Females will lay eggs, and can have problems with this, so be prepared. Daily gentle handling will definitely help with taming, but they do have very different personalities. Some are naturally more feisty than others.

Answer 2

I would not suggest letting an Iguana run loose. Most likely it will not come back or someone will steal it... They don't really "bite" but they do hiss and they use their tails for defense and will whip someone with it if they feel threatened. Trust me it hurts. Pesticides and parasites (obtained from dirty cages or outside elements) are not good for Iguanas (or any reptiles) and can become expensive to treat, not to mention they do need an established habitat (usually a large one as they can grow to over 3 feet long) complete with a heat source. Also, if any of your neighbors have a pool and it gets into it, the chlorine will not be good exposure at all as it can make them sick and damage their skin. If you are looking for a cool lizard to keep as a pet, I would suggest a bearded dragon (with a 55 gallon aquarium/terrarium enclosure) or if you want something that can run loose a desert tortoise would be an awesome back yard pet. Please keep in mind any reptile may still need occasional veterinarian visits as well as some form of special care. Make sure you do some research so you know what you need to do to take care of your new friend. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I have taken in many reptiles, iguanas are one of the most abandonded reps. They can be very nice and sweet, or very ornery. You are doing a great thing by researching first. Be sure you keep in mind the large size they grow to and the long life that is possible if you treat them right. Also, be prepared in case the one you get does not have a healthy background it may not live very long inspite of all you do correctly. One was abandoned alongside the freeway in the winter, and he did not make it as it was very cold here (less than 20 degrees). The males are generally more aggressive, mainly during breeding season. The females can be aggressive when they are hungry, or during breeding season. They can be a great pet, as long as you understand they are still reptiles and stronger than most people think. If you have one and it is at all "bitey" in various circumstances, use a small spray bottle of vinegar and spray them in the face area. After a few times they learn it is not acceptable and will only occaisionally need a "reminder". It will not hurt their eyes, but does make them make an "ick" face. Vinegar and a sponge, and then Peroxide on a sponge is our favorite cleaning solution, as it leaves no toxic fumes. make sure your ig gets a lot of calcium D-3 supplement and UVB light.

Answer 4

iguanas are awesome pets! I don't know who told you they're monsters, but they hadn't been around very happy iguanas. Mine was really easy to potty train so he's completely clean (people say to put them in the bath but he'll only poop in the shower), and he's really chill most of the time. The biggest problem I have with him is when he's in a bad mood and gets grumpy when I try to pick him up (a long thick shirt so you don't get too scratched helps with these times). I bought him already pretty tame though (the people at the pet store handled him a lot), so I can't really speak on how difficult it is to tame an unfriendly one, so if he's your first one and you haven't really done a lot of dealing with aggressive animals I'd think about buying an older one that's tame (they're more expensive to buy initially though). A closet is a great place for an iguana, but it has to be a pretty big one. Even though mine's free roaming the closet is his favorite place in the house. Good luck, if you've done your reading and follow through I'm sure you'll love him.

Answer 5

First of all, let me say bless you for doing your homework! 2/3s of all pet iguanas die before their first birthday because someone saw one in a pet store and thought it looked cool and bought it without taking the time to study about them. The other 1/3 usually don't live past ten years old, and this is an animal that in the wild easily lives 35 years.

Granted, iguanas are not first-timer reptiles, and are quite labor-intensive, but if you're up to the commitment then they're worth the effort. They have extrodinary personalities and can be great companions. They are highly intelligent and sencitive creatures. My suggestion now would be to read all Melissa Kaplan's works on iguanas; you can find her information in the internet and also in book form. She's the author of 'Iguanas for Dummies' and it is a very thorough book, despite its name. Also, you'll want to find a good reptile vet in your area. Go to http://www.arav.org which is the website for the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veternarians. While not complete, they have a listing of most of the vets registered with them in the United States, and it is quite comprehensive. You'll want to have a vet picked out before you even pick out your iggy!

Also, as far as male iguanas go, they can have hormone treatment or be neutered to fix the aggression problem. That may be a better course of action then getting a female who could get egg-bound.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with iguanas; I do reptile rescue and have had them in my care from time to time but have never actually owned one. I feel they are too much for me; for me to keep an iguana I'd have to get rid of my other reptiles in order to give the iggy the time and attention it needs. Fort the right person however, they can be extrodinary pets. If you feel you're up to the challenge, even after reading Melissas' works, then don't let others discourage you. I hope this has helped and I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 6

Don't get the baby if you can't keep the adult. Adult iggies are one of the most abused, most abandoned pets in America- all because the babies and young are so cool.

Adult iggies are big and need a big, warm, humid space. They bite and can injure you with their tails and claws easily.

Iguanas generally do not become tame. Most 'tame' iguanas, like most 'tame' boas and pythons, are actually ill,mistreated, or injured.

Liking reptiles and keeping a couple easy animals does not really prepare you for taking on a big animal that is popular because it is cheap and easy to care for as a youth.

Answer 7

My sister had an iguana for a few months. It was pretty big when we got her, but she wasn't aggresive at all. She would let you pick her up and play with her.

But then my brother would scare her on purpose and she became aggressive towards him. If he came into the room she would try and swat him with her tail or her stance became more threatening. The iguana remained playful with my sister.

So, from my experience if you have it from a baby onwards, theres a chance your iguana will be friendly. Just make sure you don't make sudden movements towards it and scare it, or let jerks near it.

Answer 8

a wardrobe closet?????? more like your back patio