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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 9, 2005 18:21:14 GMT -8
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Shannon. I have 5 children. 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 water dragon and two female iguana's.
My hubby had this fasinating idea to buy reptiles. We go shopping and end up coming home with two iguana's! Keep in mind at this time I new nothing about them. However after arriving home and attempting to pick one of them up.. I learned that they were not so happy with being handled. Mouths fly open in a threatning jesture as if to warn me off. So, I then began to do some online research dealing with caring and taming of the green iguana. Needless to say, they have come around and have brought such a joy yet challenge to my life. I have cared for them for 6 year now.
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Post by Marie on Jan 9, 2005 19:15:31 GMT -8
Hello Shannon,
I just recently joined. I have had my two females over 9 years. They have been a challenge but I agree they are a joy to have. When I got mine I didn't know that you were supposed to seperate them--the SDHS president didn't even tell me. He even gave me 2 more--he had seen that I kept Baby and Dragon together. I didn't know and I guess they didn't know they weren't supposed to get along. Do your 2 get along or are they kept seperate?
Welcome and hope you enjoy.
Marie
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 9, 2005 21:21:49 GMT -8
Hi Marie,
Thank's for the welcome! In answer to your question. No! my iguana's are not fond of one another and I keep them in seperate cages. I like you was never told to keep them seperate but learned the hard way. In the beginning I caged them together but found that Jade (my domineering iguana) thought she was in total control of her envirement and would not allow louie ( I thought she was a he when I named her..tee hee) to bask or eat. I then had to seperate them. did you run into this problem also?
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 9, 2005 22:17:59 GMT -8
Welcome to the Zone, Shannonsiggies!
We'd love to know more about your igs... what their enclosures are like, what you feed them, their lighting situation, and we'd especially love to see pics of them... looking forward to more posts from you!
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Post by Marie on Jan 10, 2005 1:34:26 GMT -8
Hello Shannon, Hi Marie, In the beginning I caged them together but found that Jade (my domineering iguana) thought she was in total control of her envirement and would not allow louie ( I thought she was a he when I named her..tee hee) to bask or eat. I then had to seperate them. did you run into this problem also? Baby was the first. Then Dragon came. Dragon was very aggressive to humans (turned out the boys who had owned abused her) but wasn't to Baby. They have been getting on well for the last 9 years. Dragon I think would have been the dominant one though if it wasn't for her deformities from her bout with MBD while owned by the boys. Baby in the past could always climb to the highest shelves when Dragon got bossy which is rare. Dragon has had a lot of medical problems and has always been the one to get extra special attention but this last month they both been sick. Baby (this is the first time she has been ill) with a back fracture and Dragon with kidney damage. I think Dragon for a little bit got jealous that she wasn't the only one getting coddled but I been feeding them seperately and have seperate basking spots now for them. Dragon has settled down now. I also had a male with them for 7 years but during his season he was seperated from them. Sampson wasn't ever aggressive with them or me. He was just aggressive with his own reflection. He just had a hard time understanding when no meant no. He would spend all his time trying to get in the enclosure when he was in season but when it was over he couldn't care one way or the other. I have had good luck with my iguanas getting along. Sometimes I joke that they didn't read the books that said they weren't supposed to get along. ;D But also most of the time I have worked the night shift and so was home during their waking hours and I think that helped. Marie
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Post by Tesa on Jan 10, 2005 5:56:02 GMT -8
Hi Shannon 6 years....they must have youtamed by now Welcome to IZ!
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Post by WillemsMom on Jan 10, 2005 10:10:01 GMT -8
LOL, Tesa, that's a great way to put it, ! And Shannon sounds as if you didn't let early warnings by your new igs stop you from bringing them around. Good for you! Glad you're here!
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 10, 2005 11:26:29 GMT -8
Hello Survivorsteph:
Thanks for the welcome. I feed my iggies... Collard,turnip and mustard greens. A variety of summer and winter squash, green beans,assorted fruits, sometimes I add shredded sweet potatoes,carrots,parsley..ect. My main ingredient is the dark green leafy food,which I on a weekly basis add vitiam supplements to their meals. As far as their cages go, my husband buillt two cages, size 7 1/2 ft Length and 6 1/2 ft wide. I use the Vita lite flurorescent tubes and Rep light by zoo med. I also use heat pads (not rocks) and night lights for heating.
Right now I am having some medical problems with Louie. I have taken her to the vet twice recently and am not happy with his work. I called the Zoo to get advice from them and they are going to hook me up with a trustworthy vet that is actually able to properly diagnose iguana issues. The beginning of last year she was carrying around 48 eggs that she never layed. When I took her in at that time for a check up we learned that she had eaten a nail! : (... this doc told me she would probably pass it and it was in a place that would not harm her. Sad thing is...she has not been the same since. I took her into the vet once again last wk and the x-ray shows that she re-absorbed her eggs and the nail can no longer be seen. I am hoping she passed it. However something is still wrong. She had not yet gained her appetite back. Her eyes are blood shot red. she occasionally flutters under her dewlap.and has lost weight. I do not know if her issues now are related to the above, but am seeking to find out. Any advice from anyone would be quite welcome.
I will work on current pictures to share. : )
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 10, 2005 11:58:35 GMT -8
Eating a nail! Igs! I hope the new vet works out well... it's such an important part of owning an ig. I drive over an hour for Gil's vet, and I know there are several people here who drive farther than that even. It sounds like you've got the husbandry under control... kudos to you! We're looking forward to getting you know you and your girls better!
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Post by Merlin on Jan 10, 2005 14:12:14 GMT -8
Hi and Welcome to IZ! One thing I was wondering about your lights. When you are referring to the Zoomed Rep light. Do you mean the flourescent or just a regular basking light. If you are using the vita lite for UVB you need to change them out to the Reptisun or iguana light 5.0 flourescents. The vitalites really don't put out anything in the way of the needed UVB.
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 11, 2005 19:04:06 GMT -8
Marie-->>I have had good luck with my iguanas getting along. Sometimes I joke that they didn't read the books that said they weren't supposed to get along
Hello Marie: Good for you. It would be so nice if I could get away with that. I have to buy double everything! : ) cages themselves consume alot of space, but I find that they are well worth it.
I would like to know a little more about your iguana's that were abused. How did they end up in your care? And, what caused the kidney damage?
I think it is fabulous that you took on the responsibilty and tender care of two mistreated and abused iguana's. Go you!! : )
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 11, 2005 19:18:04 GMT -8
Hi Shannon 6 years....they must have youtamed by now Welcome to IZ! Hi Tess, Thanks for the welcome. You all are such a friendly group of people, what a pleasure it is to be in the company of down to earth friendly folks. : ) I think you are right on the money.They have tamed me rather well. Hubby tells me I spoil them rotten. Funny thing is....we bought them for him.
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 11, 2005 19:27:58 GMT -8
LOL, Tesa, that's a great way to put it, ! And Shannon sounds as if you didn't let early warnings by your new igs stop you from bringing them around. Good for you! Glad you're here! Hello Willemsmom: Pleasure to be here. How did your iguana do when you first brought them home? Did you get him/her as a baby?
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Post by shannonsiggies on Jan 11, 2005 19:41:51 GMT -8
Hi and Welcome to IZ! One thing I was wondering about your lights. When you are referring to the Zoomed Rep light. Do you mean the flourescent or just a regular basking light. If you are using the vita lite for UVB you need to change them out to the Reptisun or iguana light 5.0 flourescents. The vitalites really don't put out anything in the way of the needed UVB. Hi Merlin: Thanks for the welcome! : ) I use the Durotests vita light which from my early research was recommended. However after joining this group and reading the thread on uvb lights, I decided to invest in the EB setup. I have heard alot of great reports on this product and am going to give it a try. You have a beautiful iguana on your shoulder! How old is he/she?
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Post by Marie on Jan 11, 2005 22:16:15 GMT -8
Hello Marie:. I would like to know a little more about your iguana's that were abused. How did they end up in your care? And, what caused the kidney damage? Baby was not that I know of abused. She was just unwanted by the original owner's wife. Later we found out they got a divorce so maybe he should have kept Baby instead. Now she might have been neglected through ignorance if I had left her in Eric's care but I didn't. The name Eric gave her was Dragon but I didn't like it for her so I changed it to Baby (after the baby dinosaur in a movie I seen). She was just to gentle for the name Dragon. Now Dragon was abused. Two teenage boys owned her. They brought her in a paper bag into the computer store saying she was a he. She acted aggressive enough to be a male. They wanted to sell her and they had seen Baby when they had been in to get their computer fixed. Well he bought her and I allowed him to name her Dragon. The boys told us her favorite foods was dog food and peas and carrots. As the days went by, I noticed that she was just being aggressive around us humans. We had put her in the display case enclosure with Baby and she seemed very calm around Baby. So I decided that she was being aggressive for a reason. I didn't know much back then. I just had the thin care manual from the pet store. I was mainly going on instincts and common sense. I started to handle her every day and talking to her. She would whip her tail and threaten to bite but somehow I was able to avoid getting hurt. She bit me once. I went to grab her by the neck and the base of the tail. I didn't get her neck as quickly as her tail and she turned and bit me. She didn't tear--just had my finger in her mouth. Once I did what she wanted (let go of her tail), she let go of my finger. We had a breakthrough one day when she was thrashing around in my arms. I got aggravated and just gave her one shake and yelled at her no one was going to hurt her. She stopped and looked at me. I then told her I loved her and she was safe--I think she believed me because after that it was easy. Later the boys came back to the computer store for some software and I noticed Dragon posturing and looking mean all the while they were there. She calmed down immediately after they left. I knew then that they had been abusive with her. I had also noticed a pierced hole at the tip of her regrown tail. I assumed they must have thought it would be cute to put an earring in it. We noticed her back and tail wasn't quite right. Her spine was twisted and her tail bent at the base. Someone later told us it was probably MBD. I believe her diet of dog food contributed to Dragon's kidney damage--way too much animal protein. Also the book I had said to feed them crickets or chicken occasionally. And I fed her white meat chicken once in a while back then. Also Dragon has been on antibiotics several times over the years for mouth abcesses--her lower gum is exposed from the MBD, broken toes--bad bone density, ect. Antibiotics are very hard on the kidneys and with the animal protiein in her early life it was no suprise that she now is having problems with her kidneys--only so much they can take. She has probably had kidney damage to some extent most of her life but now it has progressed to the point where it is the major health problem. This is Dragon when she was at her thinnest weight--she had just laid her eggs and been spayed. All her deformities are very pronounced img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/empoyner/Sep15_21.jpgNow this is her at her plumpest weight. Right before she became gravid. A lot of her deformities are hidden by her weight. I wish I could get her back to that weight. She would pig out before her seasons but since she doesn't have seasons any more she doesn't do that any longer. img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/empoyner/Jan0149.jpgimg.photobucket.com/albums/v606/empoyner/Jan0150.jpgSorry for the length but it is hard to explain in a few words. Marie
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