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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Lizard
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This isn't so much an "inclosure" as, well. Our bedroom turned iguanaroom.
There's Pete, our iguana. Pete came from an iguana rescue in New Jersey, where he was thrown into a trash can and left to die.
I'm going to take this time to explain some very important tidbits about having an iguana.
First off, and I'm sure most people have heard this before - don't get tricked into buy a cute little 5 inch iguana in the stores. They get big. Maybe not quickly, but you NEED to make sure you have 15-20 years of your life to devote to a creature that gets over 5 feet long. One of these aspects includes LOADS of space. I choose to keep Pete free-roaming, because it's what he's use to and what he is comfortable with.
Pete eats A LOT. And poops A LOT. Hence the tub under the wires (which are actually taped back, not meandering haphazardly as they appear to). I fill it with warm water, and he poops. I empty it, clean it, refill it, repeat! Very handle, if you have the patience to figure out where exactly the tub has to be positioned so you don't get a very unpleasant present on the floor.
Pete has two heat lamps. The infrared is kept on 24/7 in winter as a supplementary heat source, and the 120 watt is kept on a 12 hour cycle. In summer, we keep the infrared on all night. This creates a nice basking spot for him where he can keep warm, and stare out the window, which is his favorite past time.
He also has his own futon, which is like a playground for him. As the weather gets warmer, he's getting more active and we constantly hear the thumping in his room as he walks about. :P
My biggest goal here is to show by example how much work these animals really are. I don't suggest them to beginner reptile keepers, even though they're "cheap" and easy to get.
That being said, Pete is one of the most rewarding animals I've ever had in my life. He brings me and my boyfriend so much joy. If there's anything you'd like to know about iguanas, please ask!
There's Pete, our iguana. Pete came from an iguana rescue in New Jersey, where he was thrown into a trash can and left to die.
I'm going to take this time to explain some very important tidbits about having an iguana.
First off, and I'm sure most people have heard this before - don't get tricked into buy a cute little 5 inch iguana in the stores. They get big. Maybe not quickly, but you NEED to make sure you have 15-20 years of your life to devote to a creature that gets over 5 feet long. One of these aspects includes LOADS of space. I choose to keep Pete free-roaming, because it's what he's use to and what he is comfortable with.
Pete eats A LOT. And poops A LOT. Hence the tub under the wires (which are actually taped back, not meandering haphazardly as they appear to). I fill it with warm water, and he poops. I empty it, clean it, refill it, repeat! Very handle, if you have the patience to figure out where exactly the tub has to be positioned so you don't get a very unpleasant present on the floor.
Pete has two heat lamps. The infrared is kept on 24/7 in winter as a supplementary heat source, and the 120 watt is kept on a 12 hour cycle. In summer, we keep the infrared on all night. This creates a nice basking spot for him where he can keep warm, and stare out the window, which is his favorite past time.
He also has his own futon, which is like a playground for him. As the weather gets warmer, he's getting more active and we constantly hear the thumping in his room as he walks about. :P
My biggest goal here is to show by example how much work these animals really are. I don't suggest them to beginner reptile keepers, even though they're "cheap" and easy to get.
That being said, Pete is one of the most rewarding animals I've ever had in my life. He brings me and my boyfriend so much joy. If there's anything you'd like to know about iguanas, please ask!
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Lizard
Size 917 x 688px
File Size 134 kB
Actually, no! Pete has never even attempted a tail swipe at us.
He's also 7 years old-he's passed through his "teenage" years, so we don't expect any mood swings any time soon.
He does, of course, have the classic iguana 'tude. When he'd done being fussed with, he's done. :P
He's also 7 years old-he's passed through his "teenage" years, so we don't expect any mood swings any time soon.
He does, of course, have the classic iguana 'tude. When he'd done being fussed with, he's done. :P
We had an iguana when I was younger (my mom sold him to a pet store when he "got too big for our house" :| ). No one believed me when I would explain, you let him out of the cage, he walked to the bathroom himself and into the tub where he poops. Thats where he poops because that is where he likes to poop. We always put him in the tub when he was too small to climb so he always goes to the tub. We had cats and a dog and nothing bothered him but I was lucky to have cats and dogs that respected other living things boundaries (I would never recommend mingling them regardless of my experience). They are very endearing creatures to live with.
Ahaha, yeah, I've heard some stories from my parents when they went to the Virgin Islands. How cute, I think I'd die from happiness x)
I would say he's affectionate. I have some other photos of him closing his eyes as I scratch him. He'll actually lean into your hand...he obviously loves that :P He's cool with being hugged, as well. He isn't like a dog; he won't come when he's called or curl up in your lap and be stroked. But as far as iguanas go, he's EXTREMELY friendly. I couldn't ask for a better iguana!
A lot of it has to do with how they're raised, as well. Pete is 7 years old, so he has 7 years of dealing with people. Young iguanas are nasty, mostly because it's in their blood to be on the defense. Also, males can be a bit harder to manage then females, especially when they hit "puberty". They can turn on you.
I would say he's affectionate. I have some other photos of him closing his eyes as I scratch him. He'll actually lean into your hand...he obviously loves that :P He's cool with being hugged, as well. He isn't like a dog; he won't come when he's called or curl up in your lap and be stroked. But as far as iguanas go, he's EXTREMELY friendly. I couldn't ask for a better iguana!
A lot of it has to do with how they're raised, as well. Pete is 7 years old, so he has 7 years of dealing with people. Young iguanas are nasty, mostly because it's in their blood to be on the defense. Also, males can be a bit harder to manage then females, especially when they hit "puberty". They can turn on you.
Oh, I about died. It was like a scaly lapdog. I fed them tomato wedges.
I'm really used to dealing with extremely cuddly puppies and kitties and cold, heartless goldfish, I've never dealt with a reptile. Out of curiosity, if a male turns on you, what do you do with them then? It seems kind of dangerous to have a giant lizard wandering around your house, out for blood.
I'm really used to dealing with extremely cuddly puppies and kitties and cold, heartless goldfish, I've never dealt with a reptile. Out of curiosity, if a male turns on you, what do you do with them then? It seems kind of dangerous to have a giant lizard wandering around your house, out for blood.
Scaly lapdog, LOL! That put a smile on my face x)
Well, it's kind of a "stage" that some males go through. So it'll pass. You could try iguana psychology...kind of similar to when a dog goes "bad", just different techniques. The best thing to do is just wait it out. Visit the lizard every day so it doesn't become dissociated. Usually that stage isn't too severe. Although there are many iguanas in rescues that you can't even pet or get close to....they're more of a hands-off pet. And that's just something you have to decide whether you want to live with or not, I guess. :P
Well, it's kind of a "stage" that some males go through. So it'll pass. You could try iguana psychology...kind of similar to when a dog goes "bad", just different techniques. The best thing to do is just wait it out. Visit the lizard every day so it doesn't become dissociated. Usually that stage isn't too severe. Although there are many iguanas in rescues that you can't even pet or get close to....they're more of a hands-off pet. And that's just something you have to decide whether you want to live with or not, I guess. :P
someday i want to get a iguana although i dont think id be able to cause my dog has a VERY high prey drive so she likes to chase and "play" with smaller animals luckily she leaves my cats alone but she STARES at my rabbits and ferret shes not allowed to be around them when they are out of the cage
Aww, he looks so happy. :3 I'd love to own so many pets like you do but we don't have the money or space. :/ I do however have all the time in the world. I'm unemployed. lmao.
Lmfao, believe it or not, our gerbils bring me joy. They are just so funny. xD I move just a little and it scares the crap out of them sometimes. " I'm all... wtf? -Half asleep.- " Then they box each other and thump when they hear things. They are just so funny. XD
Yeah. >>;
Lmfao, believe it or not, our gerbils bring me joy. They are just so funny. xD I move just a little and it scares the crap out of them sometimes. " I'm all... wtf? -Half asleep.- " Then they box each other and thump when they hear things. They are just so funny. XD
Yeah. >>;
Lol....our apartment is so tiny, you have no idea xD It's a miracle we fit what we did in here. As far as money, I probably spend about $25 a week on them, on average. So yeah, it's definitely very, very pricey :x Getting animals on Craigslist for cheap/free help a lot, though! :]
Lmao...you guys and your gerbils xD
Lmao...you guys and your gerbils xD
It's kind of like that. A lot of lizards and even tortoises and such have this...thing about pooping in water. That's why I change all the water dishes every day, just in case. So they have the instinct to poop in something like a tub of water already built in.
However, Pete is picky. It has to be in JUST the right spot or he'll poop on the floor x__x So as you see it right there, that's the perfect spot :P It took 3 or 4 tries before we found it. :x
However, Pete is picky. It has to be in JUST the right spot or he'll poop on the floor x__x So as you see it right there, that's the perfect spot :P It took 3 or 4 tries before we found it. :x
Ugh you know how badly I want my Oscar back now? I'm pretty sure he was in his teen stage. He did tail swipe at me and my husband a few times, but I think its more cause he was scared and wasn't sure if we would harm him or not. Oscar (as I am pretty sure I told you this) was also a rescued iguana from our local pet shop. He had been given to the pet store owner because the people who owned him before had kids and the kids would sit there and poke at him tap on the glass just be little snots to him ;.;. I saw him one day while we were in the getting supplies for our snakes and I just fell in love with him. I took me awhile to get him to let me touch him but I would kinda just put my hand in the cage to show him I wasn't going to hurt him or anything. He did let me pet him but would rarely come out of his cage, and normally if he did he caused to much chaos to stay out long. I did get to hold him a few times outside the cage, but not very long. He liked to be scratched in that little soft area on his neck he would sometimes even fall asleep :). We sadly had to give him up when we moved. I have heard from his new owners he has a similar set up like Pete now. Free roam that is. He's very happy and I'm glad to hear it. I would love another iguana, but I don't think we have the space right now and with a child on the way I don't think it'd be all that safe hopefully when we get a place with 3 bed rooms instead of 2 we can have reptiles like we used to. I miss all my reptiles I miss them very much, just as much as I miss my cats and my rats...I don't miss those stupid birds we had ..ugh parakeets *grumbles* I do miss tweet though my little cocktail ;.;.
It sucks so bad you had to give him away, but I'm sure it's better knowing he's being taken care of. Iggies are juts awesome. And yeah, younger ones can be a bit more feisty than old farts like Pete (7 years).
I really REALLY hope you can be set up to get an iguana in the future <3
I really REALLY hope you can be set up to get an iguana in the future <3
Im hoping to get one when I get my own place so it can have an outdoor enclosure and a whole room to run around in. I have had reptiles my whole life starting with a ball python to a chinese water dragon and now my bearded dragon. This info is really helpful to someone who wants one thanks!
Do you know of any online forums or websites to learn about these guys? o:
I was researching into them a couple of months ago, and then realized I don't have the resources [or money] to give one a happy life at the moment xD but I'd LOVE to have one when I get my own place and have time to devote to all my critters.
I was researching into them a couple of months ago, and then realized I don't have the resources [or money] to give one a happy life at the moment xD but I'd LOVE to have one when I get my own place and have time to devote to all my critters.
I actually don't, but I know there's invaluable information just a google search away x) I tend to rely more on solid literature, herp husbandry books, for information. But honestly, each iguana is different, and I really believe that different things work for different people. I do several things that some books or websites, even individual people, say are big no-nos, but I've never had a health-related death.
If you ever have any questions about them, though, definitely don't hesitate to ask if you trust my opinions and methods x)
If you ever have any questions about them, though, definitely don't hesitate to ask if you trust my opinions and methods x)
I'm so sorry you're going to have to rehome your monitor :( I know it must be heartbreaking. But it's just great to know there are other responsible pet owners out there. I can't imagine a life without Pete. He just demands so much respect, but he gives SO much back in return. Thank you so much :]
Outdoors are really nice but for some reason I have noticed the iguanas tend to get mites really easily from outdoors! When I watched my art teachers 5ft female Iggy over the summer I had her out outside during the day and then inside at night. even though she was off the ground, she still gots tons of red mites on her, poor thing. I have seen others get that too from being outside... I dont know where they come from! as soon as she was back in her habitat at the school she never got them again... just watch out if you ever decide to bring yours outside for a while, I don't know if you have ever had that problem lol
o__o I've never heard of that, and I've never experienced it. I could imagine where that could come from, what with all the crazy hormones being tossed around at that time. But after nearly two years of owning an adult male iguana, I've never experienced any increased aggression in any pattern like that.
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