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Post by dominick on Jan 7, 2004 10:29:53 GMT -8
Hi Mark- I too would like to offer my condolences on your loss. Sounds like your holiday was not the best by far and followed by a horribly chaotic week! I’m glad you saw the post warning and my reply for what it was truly meant to be. And hope Rocky continues to heal. The increased eating is a very good sign. Means his body is recovering from the trauma of the whole thing (as little as it appears to have been). Wishing you continued good luck with him, or her. LOL OK, now. The Spikes, leave them alone!!!!!! Back- away-from-the-spikes! The spikes do not necessarily stand up and just because they are laying down does NOT mean it’s time to get the scissors and do some trimming! LOL As Iguanas mature the spikes tend to flop over and get all disheveled. The important thing is to insure that all old shed has been removed, GENTLY. Old shed on spikes can strangle the spike, cutting off the blood supply and causing it to die. Rubbing the spike with mineral oil and gently massaging the old shed off will work just fine. No "eccentric" measures are necessary here. ;D “I used to be nuts, but then I got a degree in Aerospace Engineering... so now I'm "eccentric" (an educated nut).” LMAO at that one. Simply, because it is so true! So, if I got this right you are an Aerospace Engineer Farmer and part time vet-practicioner? Must be quite the farm! Are there missile silos scattered among the live stock? The pics were just great. Looks like Rocky has stolen your hearts. And fess up now; you ARE an Iguana slave, just like the rest of us. Well, maybe not JUST LIKE, but close enough. Rocky looks nice and healthy in the pics. Ears (Tympanums) are a funny thing on Iguanas; while Tesa’s thrasher likes to be rubbed there my Rex hates it. He shakes his head to get your hand away every time you touch them. I think it has a lot to do with what it must “sound” like to him. Other than that, we can touch him anywhere we like. He particularly likes the Nuchal Crest on top of his head fondled and massaged. It’s been the one way we can get him to relax since he was an Iglet. We just place a finger on each side and rub back and forth. Also, he likes his Sub-tympanic Scale, located just below the ear, massaged. It’s a good practice to de-sensitize the Iguana to touching all over his body. Running your hands down it’s back, grabbing each leg, foot, toe and stoking his tail. It helps later when you have to examine them for injury or clip their nails. If you find any sensitive spots, work extra hard on those to help the Iguana remain calm. As you so correctly taught your kids, be aware of the mouth full of sharp teeth. Iguanas don’t tend to bite viciously; they will however nip to let you know they are aggravated. Also, train the kids early on the proper hygiene like washing hands before and after touching the Iguana. There is always Salmonella to be concerned about. Hope this all helps. “Iguanas for Dummies” is a fine, quick reference book, but James Hatfield’s book is the real thing. It covers everything you could ever hope to know about Iguanas. Also, Melissa Kaplan’s site www.anapsid.org is extremely thorough, and I suspect more on the level of an Aerospace Engineering Farmer, but very difficult to navigate due to the plethora of information. I look forward to more conversations with you. Regards, Dominick
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Post by mark42 on Jan 7, 2004 16:22:58 GMT -8
This thread is a continuation form another one... CLICK HERE to see the tail end of the previous message thread. I did print out two copies of the .PDF file at Melissa Kaplan's website (one for me and one for my wife) before we got hold of the books. It's much easier to read once printed. I'm not an actual farmer, but I do think like one. Here's A Picture of when we lived in Alabama... I'd never seen a tractor in person until I bought the one in the picture (around 1998). We had 20 acres, about 8 acres were hay, so we needed it. After about a year living in Alabama, my pastor (who was born & raised in Franklin Tennessee) called me a Redneck... from him that's a compliment. Thanks for the condolences. I don't think it's really hit me fully... I'm not as grief stricken as I expected to be. We new it was coming sometime, but it did come sooner than I thought. Every time we visited, we sort of knew it could be the last... but the stroke that caused her lapse into a coma (middle of the night Dec 25th) was not expected, and she never came out of the coma. She died early in the morning on Jan 3rd. Perhaps I'm still a bit stunned, or perhaps I subconciously prepared myself for the inevitable (her health had been deteriorating in the last year or so). Anyway, thanks for your thoughts (& prayers, if so inclined) We gave Rocky an extra long bath this morning, then put the Mineral (Baby) oil on the spines, and according to my wife, the unshed spine covers just fell right off with a gentle pull. She said they practically fell off. The tail is looking good, and he seems to be looking good, and he's his same jovial but stubborn self today. He must have rested well last night, because he was ready to explore again this morning. The lack of eating was actually just when we first got him, and did coincide with the beginning of the mating season. He began eating well just before his tail surgery... if he hadn't been eating, I would have been reluctant to do the surgery because of the probable weakend condition. But since he was looking good and strong, it seemed like the right time to schedule it. He really didn't seem to notice much about the removal of the tip of the tail. I was wondering if he would be more anxious when approached afterward, but he didn't hold a grudge or anything. He does stare loningly out the window, but I don't think he would really enjoy playing in the snow as much as he thinks he would. I suggested that maybe we should have named him "Ice Man", or "Iguana Ice"... maybe "Ice Green"... but we already started calling him Rocky, and it is short and simple. We had a power failure this morning, which had me concerned about keeping him warm, but the power returned within about 1/2 hour (which is unusual... normally we fill the bathtubs so that we will have water to flush the toilets with... the well requires electricity). Once the power came on, I filled the tub with hot water (it helps keep the house warm) like we normally do when the power starts to fluctuate, and eventually the water cooled to a good iguana temperature, so I let some water out and gave him the above mentioned bath. That made sure he was warm, and allowed us to get the sheathes off of his spines. Well, I'm rambling again, so I'll hang up on myself now... Take care, and thanks again for the advice and your thoughts, -Mark
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Post by mark42 on Jan 7, 2004 16:54:13 GMT -8
Oh, I meant to mention... Rocky is very docile (when he wants to be), and has no problem with being handled. When I clipped his toenails, he let me hold his arm / leg when I was doing it. He was a bit distrusting of having his tail touched at first. Actually, he was distrusting of everything at first, and hissed and tail whipped, but as he and I learned to work with each other, he became more and more touchable and handleable as time progressed. Now, except when he is being stubborn and wants to do whatever he wants to do, he is very docile and easy to handle. My wife did experience her first "Death Roll" this morning. I was surprised she hadn't before, but I gues I was doing most of the handling when he was less tame. We were watching crockodile hunter handling a crock' and when he rolled, she said something about it looking odd, and I think she thought it was something they did to kill prey once caught. I said that Rocky does that to escape... and I don't think she fully believed me. Later that day, I had to chase him a bit (he was being obstinate, and it was bedtime), and he started to do it. I've found that if I just loosen my grip and let him roll, he doesn't really go anywhere because he's not moving forward while he's doing it (but I have to be ready when his feet get back to the ground). I just let him roll, and then lift a little as he comes around to the upright position. I've found that I can constrain him, but still be gentle at the same time. Of course sometimes it's easier to just let him get away.
I used to worry that he might get behind or under some furniture and never come back out... but once while we were watching him explore, he got behind the entertainment center. I went to recover him, but when I got there and looked behind the cabinet, he seemed to be fine, so I decided to wait and see what he would do... besides, I knew exactly where he was, so it made watching him easier. After awhile he came out on his own. Later he went back again, and came out again. Then, once he got under something (I forget what... a bed or something), so I just waited for him to come out, which didn't take long at all, even with me nearby.
Now I'm convinced that he walks by us just to enjoy our company while still maintaining the necessary appearances of being aloof. So now, I don't worry about having to disassemble furniture to retrieve him... I only worry that he might get hurt by climbing and having something fall on him. But I wouldn't want him to get outside... he does sometimes walk slowly until he thinks he's out of range, or I'm not watching, and then tries to make a run for it. It's fun to chase him just to watch him run, and then when he gets cornered, just sit down and wait for him to come back towards me (on his way out of the dead end).
Oh, one other frustration last week, that I finally solved an hour ago (not iguana related)... My wife (Sherri) bought a huge HO slot car set, and we decided to mount it on a board (it requires 4'4" x8'0")! After we mounted it (the tracks have nail holes) the cars were running unreliably. To make a very long (4 or 5 days) story short, the nails pulled the track down and twisted the track out of shape a little, which made the cars ride on two or three corners (like a chair with one short leg). That made them lose electrical contact, and they malfunctioned. It was very challenging to figure that out. I tried cleaning the contacts, and all sorts of stuff. It was only a very slight rocking action occurring, so the brushes almost stayed in contact physically (making it hard to see) but not electrically. I know this may seem like I'm rambling again. but I'm hoping someday one of you will save a lot of time troubleshooting a slot car set!
The final fix was to only nail down the straight pieces, and occasionally one end of curves that are flat against the plywood (not any curves involved in a spiral).
Well, I'm trying to leave again... See y'all later.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 8, 2004 0:23:14 GMT -8
Mark, you're hilarious! At least when you ramble, you do so with good spelling and punctuation! lol I was in the L.A. area at a special preview of Mel Gibson's new movie THE PASSION, totally awesome, BTW! so I haven't been online to offer my two cents (for what it's worth). I'll try to condense my comments here. ;D First, sorry to hear about your mother. I will be praying for you and your family. Next... it seems like we're all over the <gasp> surgery event, but I really don't think most of the people on this site understand your "at least I didn't use my teeth" remark. I, however, am a dairy girl, so I totally know what you meant. eeewww! Also, I'm so glad that you and the family have adjusted well to being in slavery. lol. Yea, Tesa's right... it's OK, just say it... "Hi, I'm Mark, and I'm a slave to my iguana." You'll feel much better once you do. Tesa... isn't it sad that people frown on us when we venture into the corrals now? Or have you given up toe squishing? lol Geez... I hope I've covered everything I needed to say!
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Post by Tesa on Jan 8, 2004 5:30:14 GMT -8
Steph....sadly, I haven't been around farm animals for almost 15 years. I think.....given the opportunity.....I'd squish poop just for old times sake. ;D Mark....I know you are trying to work on those spikes, but you should be keeping Rocky's tail clean and dry for awhile. If you are really concerned about them, you could try holding him with a warm damp rag on them for 15 minutes or so (enough to let them soak up moisture) and then massage some vitamin E oil in to them. (Don't tell anyone, but I even used a tiny dab of cooking oil one time ;D) Don't expect them to pop right off. If there are several layers it could take a loooong time. Don't try to force them off...it will cause the spikes to bleed from the ends.
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Post by mark42 on Jan 9, 2004 13:34:21 GMT -8
Hi Steph (& everyone else too, of course) "...haven't been online to offer my two cents (for what it's worth)"... Oh, I'd say about... $0.02 ;D (Kidding) I was wondering where you'd been, but figured maybe when I first came to this board it coincided with a more active than usual period for you.
In some countries, sheep farmers use their teeth to castrate the sheep. It may now have almost become completely obsolete, but you can bet in some old traditional villages it probably is still done the same way.
Australian actor Errol Flynn once worked as a farm labourer where he had to castrate sheep by biting the testicles off them with his own teeth.
You know youre a farmer when you use the same pocketknife to castrate a calf in the morning and to peel an apple in the afternoon.
Did you hear about the farmer who won $4,000,000 in the lottery? They interviewed and asked him "What will you do now that you have all that money?" He answered "I guess I'll just keep farming until it's all gone".
Back to iguanas... my colleague who sits next to me at work, when I was telling her tha Rocky has been a bit rambunctious for the last couple of days, and I think it could be related to mating season jokingly suggested "Could you have him neutered?". She was surprised when I said "Yes, it can be done, but it's not as simple as a dog or cat, from what I've read". Lately he gets in a ramblimg mood, and does not want to sit with anyone... but then he'll climb in his tree and just sit there after awhile. I think he just is being ornery, or wants some solitude. He likes to jump from the arm of the couch to his tree... I moved the tree fairly far from the couch, and he stood there looking and looking, and finally worked up enough nerve to jump. I knew he could make it because I've seen him jump farther once when he surprised me by jumping from his cage to a box sitting on a bed that was nearby but farther than I would ever have though those little (although muscular) legs could propel him. It was pretty amazing to see him flying that far. Anyway, he looked at it as if he was thinking "Tht isn't where I remember that tree being... I could swear it was closer... I must be getting old or something... I know I have jumped to the tree before, so I should be able to make it... but... it looks kinda far... oh well, here gggooooess... I knew it wasn't THAT far."
The casings on the spikes really did practically fall off after a soak in a warm bath and application of mineral oil.
If I didn't tell a person that his tail had been cut, I don't think they would know... it looks like it's almost completely healed already. I think I'll put some neosporin on it tonight just as insurance (and that way I'll remember to have a close look). But the bath didn't seem to hurt anything, and it was with clean water in the bathtub rther than his bath in his cage (which is kept clean, but not on a minute by minute scale). He really doesn't seem at all bothered by his tail. He doesn't even shy away when I handle his tail anymore... he used to either hiss, or pull it away (or both). Now, he doesn't care if I handle his tail.
He just gets a little perturbed when I constrain him, or keep retrieving him when he wants to wander. But sometimes I want him to stay in contact so I can warm him up a little.
Sherri (my wife) on the otherhand sits in front of the fireplace with him to warm him sometimes... I hope it isn't too romantic of a setting, or I may be replaced by a cold blooded lizard, which would be rather ego shattering.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 11, 2004 18:41:15 GMT -8
When I was in high school, the guys in Ag shop had to castrate bull calves that way.... eeewww! Anyway You'd better get to romancing your wife if you don't want to loose her to Rocky! lol As far as Rocky's roaming... he's just being a a boy. Checking out "his" territory and making sure everyone KNOWS it's HIS!
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Post by mark42 on Jan 29, 2004 13:05:06 GMT -8
He does enjoy roaming, and he can be really stubborn when he wants to go and you try to hold him in place.
He is getting used to the dog, and to us... The other day my wife walked by his tree in the living room and he sprang from the tree and landed on her shoulder. I suspect he just wanter a ride.
Last night I put him on the back of the dog, and after a minute or so he calmed down and sorta almost relaxed a little (I had hold of the dog's head so he wouldn't take off anywhere). I've been getting him used to the dog gradually, but it was still a big step.
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Post by Awesomeaj on Feb 8, 2004 16:14:25 GMT -8
Hi Mark, I am new here, and I have to tell you, I started reading your original post on the introduction page. Then My b/f came home and I was so bummed, cuz I didn't get to read the whole thing, I could not wait till he fell asleep so I could come back here to finish reading. It sounds just wonderful how you got Rocky and how you have all adapted to him the way you have..notice I said that YOU have adapted - He knew what he was in for. Now tell me, who's into Rocky more? You, or your son, who you got the iggy for to begin with. I haven't heard anymore about how he's handling him..or your daughter. Anyways...you should think of writing books, you really kept me intrigued! Sorry for your loss also. aj
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Post by mark42 on Feb 11, 2004 14:04:03 GMT -8
Actually, my daughter is the one who is most attached to Rocky. I caught her bending his tail the other day and put her on Iguana Restriction... she was really sad the whole time. She had to stay in her room to keep from crying every time she saw him until her time was served. (She has a history of being too rough with the cat & dog... so we give her very little lattitude with Rocky) There is another thread with recent developments occuring... tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1075405055
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