Post by Nanshe on Sept 21, 2004 14:38:44 GMT -8
Hi Guys!
As you all know, I have 2 iguanas, both male, that were rescued. Elvis was my very first Iguana ever - and due to him I have learned TONS of very cool things about Iguanas.
My passion now is taking care of neglected and/or abused iguanas - they have literally stolen my heart
Ok - now for the problem.
I am taking in a new Iguana - his name is Iggy. He's a 9 year old male, and is about 5 to 5 1/2 feet STL - and I'm guesstimating his SVL to be around 18" or so.
He used to belong to a High School, and lived in a classroom for many years. For some reason (I wasn't told why), about 4 years ago he was moved into the basement of the H.S. and left there. I do not know if he had regular care or UVB. I got the distinct impression that he never saw real sunlight after that.
About 2 months ago he was given to the pet store/rescue outfit that I got Angel from. I've had my eye on him for quite some time, but was told he was very unsocialized, which scared me. He seemed to be doing well at the rescue place. He isn't housed with the other iguanas, because he's too mean to them, he lives with the turtles and birds, and spends 99% of his time hanging out on the end of his cage that is exposed to the real sun. He has also had a Merc Vap light since he got there, but refuses to stay under it
The problem is - he won't eat or drink. He's literally starving himself to death. His poor tummy is all sunken in; his skin has wrinkles; he's very dark, almost black; his skin feels very very dry; he needs a bath bad!; and his eyes are kind of sunken also. I really need to get this guy home. He spends 90% of his time with his eyes closed
Last Saturday we went to the rescue, and for the first time I asked to hold him. The employee was too affraid of him to get him out (and the owner wasn't there yet), so with permission my husband walked into his enclosure and brought him out - not a problem! He didn't get upset!
He was FREEZING! But it was by choice He has the needed heat and UVB, but he won't go under it. If you move it so it's over him, he moves ~sigh~ I think he's very depressed
Anyway, the only problem handling wise I noticed, was that he gapes, and man oh MAN does he have a HUMUNGOUS mouth full a bazillion razor sharp teeth!!! It intimidated me immensly!!!! He never tried to bite though - thank Heavens! He literally snuggled down onto my hubby's stomach and fell asleep. I did notice that he doesn't like his head or chin rubbed - everytime you touched him there he would gape. We tried hand feeding him WHILE he was gaping, he woudl take the food, chew on it for a few minutes, but he wouldn't swallow it I really think he needs a lot of love, and an intense regimine of food, heat, water and UVB, and he'll perk right up!
My other two Ig's free-roam in their own rooms. Elvis lives in my bedroom, Angel in my oldest daughters bedroom. They literally have an entire wall each, dedicated to ramps, and basking shelves. I don't think free-roaming is a good idea for Iggy though. I think he needs to be caged until he's better and socialized. I need to protect the other Ig's from him; him from the other Ig's; as well as us protecting us humans - especially if he's as wild as I'm told, which we won't know until he's feeling better.
I have spent hours upon hours on the net looking for cage ideas (and found a LOT of great ideas!) but I need something NOW - so I spent $20.00 on a used large armoire that was missing the doors (how perfect was that!?) It measures 6 feet tall; 3.5 feet long, and only 21" deep. I know this won't adequately house Iggy for any length of time, but thought it might work while he's healing up (easier to keep temps up etc... FORCING him to heat up!) - Do you guys think it'll work for him for about a month or two until I can build him a more permenant, extensive cage?
I have someone coming in today whose going to build me some doors for the front, open up the top and cover it with wire for the lighting, and then I only need to add his climbing & basking apparatus. Yesterday I ordered his new lighting & misc stuff from reptile direct, requested 3 day delivery and am hoping it'll be here by Friday, so I can get Iggy home.
Saturday afternoon/evening we went to the Oregon Coast and found a TON of awesome drift wood, and brought it home (I didn't see the sign about it being illegal until I was driving away with the stuff - ACK! I guess I won't be doing THAT again! LOL). It was very water-logged so it's still drying out. I need to know how to clean it up and sanitize it for my Ig's - does anyone know how?
One piece I found was HUGE! It has an enormous roots that grew around a large rock, in fact it's still embedded in the root! The trunk is about 10" in diameter and about 5' tall! I'm thinking about putting that one in my living room (the color is beautiful!) and shining a basking light at the top for when my babies are joining us out here! The rest will go in the Ig's living areas
Also, I need some ideas for the new cage. I am going to keep him in the living room (I figured it would expose him to people constantly so might help to socialize him - if this is a bad idea please tell me! It also means I'll be able to watch him constantly for any changes), I would like the new cage look nice & kind of blend in with the other furniture if possible, but without costing an arm and a leg - I have 4 teenagers, 2 other iguanas, 3 cats, a rat and a husband - I have long since forgotton what money looks like! ROTLMAO!!!!!
The area I am going to put his cage will allow for a maximum cage size of:
8' high
6' long
4' deep
Any ideas?
Anyway, to sum it up here's my questions:
1) Will the temporary cage work for 30-60 days?
2) Any ideas for an attractive LARGE cage for the living room?
3) How do I clean up & sanitize the drift wood?
4) Any other ideas on rehabbing Iggy?
5) What can I use to protect my arms & hands from Iggy when holding him?
6) Is having his cage in the living room a good idea?
I'm so sorry this post is so long you guys ... thanks so much for taking the time to read it!
Sincerely,
~Nan
As you all know, I have 2 iguanas, both male, that were rescued. Elvis was my very first Iguana ever - and due to him I have learned TONS of very cool things about Iguanas.
My passion now is taking care of neglected and/or abused iguanas - they have literally stolen my heart
Ok - now for the problem.
I am taking in a new Iguana - his name is Iggy. He's a 9 year old male, and is about 5 to 5 1/2 feet STL - and I'm guesstimating his SVL to be around 18" or so.
He used to belong to a High School, and lived in a classroom for many years. For some reason (I wasn't told why), about 4 years ago he was moved into the basement of the H.S. and left there. I do not know if he had regular care or UVB. I got the distinct impression that he never saw real sunlight after that.
About 2 months ago he was given to the pet store/rescue outfit that I got Angel from. I've had my eye on him for quite some time, but was told he was very unsocialized, which scared me. He seemed to be doing well at the rescue place. He isn't housed with the other iguanas, because he's too mean to them, he lives with the turtles and birds, and spends 99% of his time hanging out on the end of his cage that is exposed to the real sun. He has also had a Merc Vap light since he got there, but refuses to stay under it
The problem is - he won't eat or drink. He's literally starving himself to death. His poor tummy is all sunken in; his skin has wrinkles; he's very dark, almost black; his skin feels very very dry; he needs a bath bad!; and his eyes are kind of sunken also. I really need to get this guy home. He spends 90% of his time with his eyes closed
Last Saturday we went to the rescue, and for the first time I asked to hold him. The employee was too affraid of him to get him out (and the owner wasn't there yet), so with permission my husband walked into his enclosure and brought him out - not a problem! He didn't get upset!
He was FREEZING! But it was by choice
He has the needed heat and UVB, but he won't go under it. If you move it so it's over him, he moves ~sigh~ I think he's very depressed Anyway, the only problem handling wise I noticed, was that he gapes, and man oh MAN does he have a HUMUNGOUS mouth full a bazillion razor sharp teeth!!! It intimidated me immensly!!!! He never tried to bite though - thank Heavens! He literally snuggled down onto my hubby's stomach and fell asleep. I did notice that he doesn't like his head or chin rubbed - everytime you touched him there he would gape. We tried hand feeding him WHILE he was gaping, he woudl take the food, chew on it for a few minutes, but he wouldn't swallow it
I really think he needs a lot of love, and an intense regimine of food, heat, water and UVB, and he'll perk right up!My other two Ig's free-roam in their own rooms. Elvis lives in my bedroom, Angel in my oldest daughters bedroom. They literally have an entire wall each, dedicated to ramps, and basking shelves. I don't think free-roaming is a good idea for Iggy though. I think he needs to be caged until he's better and socialized. I need to protect the other Ig's from him; him from the other Ig's; as well as us protecting us humans - especially if he's as wild as I'm told, which we won't know until he's feeling better.
I have spent hours upon hours on the net looking for cage ideas (and found a LOT of great ideas!) but I need something NOW - so I spent $20.00 on a used large armoire that was missing the doors (how perfect was that!?) It measures 6 feet tall; 3.5 feet long, and only 21" deep. I know this won't adequately house Iggy for any length of time, but thought it might work while he's healing up (easier to keep temps up etc... FORCING him to heat up!) - Do you guys think it'll work for him for about a month or two until I can build him a more permenant, extensive cage?
I have someone coming in today whose going to build me some doors for the front, open up the top and cover it with wire for the lighting, and then I only need to add his climbing & basking apparatus. Yesterday I ordered his new lighting & misc stuff from reptile direct, requested 3 day delivery and am hoping it'll be here by Friday, so I can get Iggy home.
Saturday afternoon/evening we went to the Oregon Coast and found a TON of awesome drift wood, and brought it home (I didn't see the sign about it being illegal until I was driving away with the stuff - ACK! I guess I won't be doing THAT again! LOL). It was very water-logged so it's still drying out. I need to know how to clean it up and sanitize it for my Ig's - does anyone know how?
One piece I found was HUGE! It has an enormous roots that grew around a large rock, in fact it's still embedded in the root! The trunk is about 10" in diameter and about 5' tall! I'm thinking about putting that one in my living room (the color is beautiful!) and shining a basking light at the top for when my babies are joining us out here! The rest will go in the Ig's living areas
Also, I need some ideas for the new cage. I am going to keep him in the living room (I figured it would expose him to people constantly so might help to socialize him - if this is a bad idea please tell me! It also means I'll be able to watch him constantly for any changes), I would like the new cage look nice & kind of blend in with the other furniture if possible, but without costing an arm and a leg - I have 4 teenagers, 2 other iguanas, 3 cats, a rat and a husband - I have long since forgotton what money looks like! ROTLMAO!!!!!
The area I am going to put his cage will allow for a maximum cage size of:
8' high
6' long
4' deep
Any ideas?
Anyway, to sum it up here's my questions:
1) Will the temporary cage work for 30-60 days?
2) Any ideas for an attractive LARGE cage for the living room?
3) How do I clean up & sanitize the drift wood?
4) Any other ideas on rehabbing Iggy?
5) What can I use to protect my arms & hands from Iggy when holding him?
6) Is having his cage in the living room a good idea?
I'm so sorry this post is so long you guys ... thanks so much for taking the time to read it!
Sincerely,
~Nan
