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Post by IrwinsMom on May 5, 2005 17:24:46 GMT -8
Please take a look at these pics I took today of Irwin. Does he appear to have breeding season coloration? He appears to be a bit orange...but it isn't extreme. Also, I have noticed that his head has gotten very light in color...is this normal for older igs? Irwin is about 3.5 years. From the pictures, does he appear to be healthy in general (besides the scabs on his nose from smashing into the cage to bite at me)? I am so paranoid about his health even though he has been to a vet within the last couple months. His behavior is making me worry! Thanks for your help & opinions! In the top pic you can see the stuffed "girlfriend" I bought for Irwin thinking he could relieve some frustration....that didn't work....    |
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Post by IguanaKing on May 5, 2005 18:03:15 GMT -8
His coloration and overall appearance look normal to me, he looks quite healthy. But...now that I can see his overall cage size and his size relative to that, I'll tell you that his cage is WAYYYY too small for an ig his size. Much of his hostility may be coming from being kept in an area which is much too small for him. The height of the cage should be as high as your ceilings will allow you to go. The cage MUST be a minimum of 6-7' high. The enclosure I keep Hercules and Audrey in (on alternating days of course  ) Has interior dimensions of 4' D X 8' L X 7' H, and it STILL wasn't enough to keep them entertained during the day, so I completely removed the plastic mesh I had covering their enclosure's ceiling. Now, they are free to jump up to the top of their cage and play on its many, varied surfaces. A bored ig can be very destructive toward both himself and his parents, so he REALLY needs a MUCH bigger cage for starters. Remember...igs are very intelligent and they need lots of mental stimulation to keep them happy and sane. It looks like you have lots of cage toys for him, now you just need to give him more room to play in. You've done a great job with him so far, it just looks like he's outgrown his housing. ;D |
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Post by IrwinsMom on May 5, 2005 19:44:51 GMT -8
Yeah I know his cage is too small. I may try bugging my husband to make him a bigger, temporary cage for now. But unfortunately, I honestly have literally NO room for a bigger cage...our house is only 850 sq. ft. and we are jammed into every nook and cranny...I have even gotten hostile over the lack of room! My husband bought the house for himself before we were married...and it was fine for him alone, but he inherited all my pets when he married me. Right now we are in the process of saving for a new house...I CANNOT WAIT to move...but I just shelled out 900+ dollars for classes to renew my teaching license.  Anyway, I'm glad he looks healthy...I will work on a new home for him...actually I've been whining about it for some time now. I may just have to get rid of the loveseat in the room that his cage is in. I also want the cage to be temporary since we may move within the next year, but I also do not want it to look tacky since we will have people viewing our home in order to sell it. Any ideas on low-cost caging that looks decent?? Oh I want to add that I did not intend to have an iguana. My brother bought him and could no longer care for him so I took him knowing that most people out there do not properly care for their animals and I just didn't want an animal that I knew of going through that. So....I just want you all to know that I am not one of those irresponsible people who just went and bought an ig as a "cool little pet" without any researching beforehand...I would have never purchased one knowing of my lack of space and the ig's adult size. Ya know what I mean? Thanks for your help! I appreciate it! |
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Post by Tesa on May 6, 2005 5:21:54 GMT -8
I agree with everything Sean said before. (Gotta love that man) about his nose... Are you doctoring it with anything?? Some anti-biotic ointment would be good. btw....I understand the "no room" situation. My loveseat is in the garage lol |
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Post by IguanaKing on May 6, 2005 5:38:59 GMT -8
OK, I understand your space situation now. ;D If you can lengthen and deepen his cage just a tiny bit, that'll help. The most important dimension is actually the height of the cage, it looks like you have a few more feet to work with there. |
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Post by IrwinsMom on May 6, 2005 17:59:00 GMT -8
Well, good news ;D.....my husband agreed to build Irwin a larger cage...we did some rearranging of furniture and went out tonight to price materials ;D The new cage will take up a pretty large area of our 12 x 12 room....I think we agreed that the biggest we can go for now is 8 ft. high 4 ft. deep and 5 ft. long. I just hope it doesn't scare potential home buyers away  We are looking to sell our tiny home for a larger one (YEY!) within a year. I plan on staining the wood and sealing it to make it look nice. What I definitely DO NOT want is a tacky looking cage. I'm a little worried about taking up so much space and making our house look cluttered...but it's all organized and clean (I'm a neat freak!!) so I hope it will be alright! Although our house is sort of a zoo with Irwin, 3 german shepherds, 2 rats, and 4 aquatic turtles....(I also have firebelly toads but they are kept in my classroom at school) I love all my animals though and wouldn't do without them! I'm also glad that Irwin will be happier (hopefully) soon! |
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Post by IrwinsMom on May 6, 2005 18:03:15 GMT -8
Oh I forgot to add....
yep, I am doctoring up Irwin's cuts. I've been using a Betadine/water solution and Neosporin. He seemed to sense something was going on with all the furniture moving tonight. He was actually calm enough to NOT bash into the side of the cage at all today...
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Post by IguanaKing on May 6, 2005 18:42:32 GMT -8
Those dimensions look great! ;D Irwin will be MUCH happier in a cage like that. Maybe you can let him come out of his cage after breeding season is over, hopefully he'll calm down quite a bit when his season ends.
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Post by IrwinsMom on May 7, 2005 3:25:38 GMT -8
Gosh, I sure *hope* he becomes happier and calmer! He is a gorgeous animal...and now that I know my husband is willing to help me out with him and help build a bigger cage...keeping him regardless of his aggression is not such a problem. Like I've said all along, I just want the best for him. I don't want to compromise his quality of life in any way. He is also shedding right now, so he's stilll a growing boy  |
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Psygirl
Senior
I am Cocas... Cocas, the cutest!
Posts: 141
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Post by Psygirl on Sept 25, 2005 11:58:08 GMT -8
I know this reply is months late and I don't know your current situation, but one way to keep it looking as uncluttered as possible is painting the outside of the enclosure the same color of the walls, even if it is a separate module. PS: I can totally relate with the brother and lack of space situations! |
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"It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions." 
) Has interior dimensions of 4' D X 8' L X 7' H, and it STILL wasn't enough to keep them entertained during the day, so I completely removed the plastic mesh I had covering their enclosure's ceiling. Now, they are free to jump up to the top of their cage and play on its many, varied surfaces. A bored ig can be very destructive toward both himself and his parents, so he REALLY needs a MUCH bigger cage for starters. Remember...igs are very intelligent and they need lots of mental stimulation to keep them happy and sane. It looks like you have lots of cage toys for him, now you just need to give him more room to play in. 
Anyway, I'm glad he looks healthy...I will work on a new home for him...actually I've been whining about it for some time now. I may just have to get rid of the loveseat in the room that his cage is in. I also want the cage to be temporary since we may move within the next year, but I also do not want it to look tacky since we will have people viewing our home in order to sell it. Any ideas on low-cost caging that looks decent??
We are looking to sell our tiny home for a larger one (YEY!) within a year. I plan on staining the wood and sealing it to make it look nice. What I definitely DO NOT want is a tacky looking cage. I'm a little worried about taking up so much space and making our house look cluttered...but it's all organized and clean (I'm a neat freak!!) so I hope it will be alright! Although our house is sort of a zoo with Irwin, 3 german shepherds, 2 rats, and 4 aquatic turtles....(I also have firebelly toads but they are kept in my classroom at school) I love all my animals though and wouldn't do without them! I'm also glad that Irwin will be happier (hopefully) soon!
