Colour changing head action!

[Shaun]

After watching how you people trust your iguanas outside and on trees without a leash I decided to trust Orko. We have a picnic table on our deck and the deck itself has glass rails instead of wood so Orko really couldn't escape. I've been leaving him on the picnic table during good weather for about 30min-1 hour at a time and checking in on him every 5 minutes. He just stays there and basks! His head also changes colour from the normal grey/green/blue to a copper/pink/brown within about a minute of being exposed to pure UV goodness. It's also a good way of telling which scales on his head havn't shed yet since they don't change colour.

[URSULA]

Hmmm, i trust my iggy, but i never let her unsupervized and never without a leash outside.I dont want to blame myself for all my life if something happens to her.

[Tesa]

I agree with Ursula.
I NEVER take Thrasher out without a leash, and she is never left unattended. I recommend that others take proper safety precautions as well. Iguanas are too unpredictable and bad things happen WAY too fast. Even if the ig doesn't wander off, it can still be considered lunch to birds and furry critters that come along. Please, please be careful...

[Kerrydaktyl]

Yeah I never let Don off the lead, and never go out without my partner there incase, but I had a snake go missing once and Ive never seen her again its horrible not knowing if shes dead or alive or suffering.

But yeah my ig loves going outside and hes really getting confident! He slipped off his lead yesterday and almost got away! There wasnt anywhere for him to go really but if he had got up a tree it would have taken ages to get him down, not like dogs, you cant pretend youve got food and make squeekey noises, igs aint stupid!

Also we have made him a frame with a hammock to sit on, we put it in the middle of the garden so he cant leap to anything from it.

Anyone know where to get a good ig lead by the way?

[dominick]

Hi Shaun-

Please, please, please don't do that with your Iguana.

Last July Rex was basking in his Cherry Tree, something he's done without incident for years. Then, one day in 3 minutes time (between me checking on him) he was no where to be found.

We lost him for a week! Finally on the eight day he came home to us. But we died a thousand deaths in those seven days.

So, even after all of that, think we learned our lesson. Nope!

Rex was in the grass last Sunday, I walked in the house, gone maybe three minutes, went back out and Rex was no where in sight!

As of today, no sign of Rex.

You'd think it's not possible to lose a 5' male Iguana but we did. We may not be so lucky this time.

My family is heart-broken and sick over the whole thing. The kids blame me for losing him. It's like a huge hole in our hearts and lives that we live with everyday because we thought we could "trust" him.

Please, don't take that chance. I was stupid for ever leaving him while he was outside. Use a harness.

[URSULA]

Dear Dominick!
I cant tell you how sorry i m. I ll hope and pray with you.

[dominick]

Thank you Ursula, we can use all the prayer we can get to bring him home to us safely and quickly.

[dominick]

BTW-

The new Avatar pic I just posted was taken minutes before he disappeared. May very well be the last pic I take of him.

Our hopes remain high that he is alive and close by as a few days ago my Marigolds were all eaten down (his favorite flower to eat). So we remain hopeful that he'll come home.

[Shaun]

I really hope you're able to find Rex Dom, my heart goes out to you. Because of all this I called the gang over and we managed to get the old wooden cage out of the loft and on to the deck. Now he can bask for long periods of time without risk of him wandering off.

[dominick]

EXCELLENT Shaun! It really is the best way, no matter how well you think you know them, like kids, they can surprise you at the worst times.

Thanks for your thoughts. We remain hopeful.

[mar]

Dom, man, that was a shock even to me, I had to read the thread over again. Keep those flats of marigolds, greens, bread, and other favorite treats out there in hopes of keeping him near by. Place them at the back door, even leave it open when you can, and try to intice him back. Bob has surprized me the last few days. By just watching me take him out side he has learned where the door is and for the last few days he has walked from the lawn, around the house, up 8 concrete stairs, waited for me to open the door, walked across the living room, up another flight of stairs, around a corner, into my room (normally I stop him here to quickly remove the harness), and up to his favorite basking place; today is the third day in a row. There is hope, Rex may decide that you took better care of him than he can on his own and return.

Whenever Bob leaves my room he has his harness on and when ever we are outside he never leaves my sight(except when clinging to my back). I have even gone as far as crimping a dog id tag to the harness -- "Bob" followed by my name and phone number.

Mark

[prism_wolf]

Oh Dom!! Keep the Marigolds out like Mark said. There must be something in the air. Taji escaped too...but he's wild anyway and all he needed was an excuse. He got out of the sun cage.

Have you tried with a flashlight in the dusk? Eye shine has found several igs. Keep a chain saw handy. It's amazing how fast you can get an ig out of a tree with one.

Best of luck friend...

[Kerrydaktyl]

Oh no that awful!!
I really hope he comes back soon.

[Merlin]

Dominic thats terrible!!!!!! I know what you feel for Rex and can't possibly imagine what you are going through right now!

I will keep you and Rex in my thoughts and prayers and hope he comes home soon!

Have you thought of trying a trail of bread chunks?

[Neenee]

Dominick,,I'm So Sorry to hear about Rex being lost. Hope you will find him soon! My thoughts and prayers are with you! Take Care!