Housing Multilpy Iguana

[kingnqueen]

Hello everyone. I am new to iguana zone and had a question. I have 2 iggys- name King and Queen there encloser is 4x4x2 and both live together with no problems at all. I had King for 6months then added Queen at the time they were in a 20 gallon (shoot me) but now they have been in there new home for about 6 months and have lived for about a year and half together with no problems. They still have no problems living together. queen always lays on top of king and they look content togther. king is a little bigger than queen. should i worry about keeping them together still since they have had no problems. I have read the mutiple iquana housing can lead to problem but with in the past year and half no problems. I have watched both of them eat and I don't see any dominace from one to another they seem very in love. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Sorry no pics no capabality at this time. But they are soooo CUTE!!!!

[Merlin]

Hi and welcome to the Zone!

My suggestion would be to go ahead and separate them. Even though you don't see it there could still be a matter of stress in them. Iguanas are solitary creatures and really don't like or need company. Even in breeding season, they pair up, do their business, and then go their separate ways. It sounds like your igs are still juveniles and have not reached maturity. One adult will need a 6ft x 6ft cage and two of them would need double that. I have known people that despite warnings have kept igs together for years because they never had a problem. Then one day they came home to a bloody cage and one or more severely injured iguanas. Add to this the problem that if you have male and female they may breed. The breeding itself is very rough and may result in them being severely injured. And what are you going to do with 50-60 baby iguanas!

[prism_wolf]

album4055.fotopic.net/p406532.html

These were the perfect couple. I have had Zair all his life. He's six years old now. Icecube I took in as a rescue/rehab in Aug. of 2002 with all intentions of rehoming her. After her 2 week quarantine and initial emergency rehab...Zair was introduced to her face to face. He already laid atop her rehab cage so much I put HIS lights over her cage for him.

They were inseperable. They would freak when the other was out of sight. They ate well together both eating their fill at the same time. Both laid in the basking spot...yada yada...for a year and a half.

First breeding season went well. Yes...they did the funky monkey...but Zair was never super aggressive. She was never wounded.

Thia last breeding season was different. It may have been the small male rescue I had brought in. Testosterone was high...Icecube was Zair's. He had repeatedly injured her badly enough that I had to permanently remove her from the cage. She lived in the bathtub for a time while I rearranged everyone with their own living quarters.

I eventually made the decision to rehome her.

At least she survived. Even when there are no signs, the subtle signs they give to each other can be enough to make one ill.

www.iguanaden.com/housing/multipleigs.htm

The above link has a couple of articles on multiple ig housing. See what you think. Anapsid and the Green Iguana Society also have good articles on multiple igs. It's just not a good idea.