Iguana condo!

[Jay]

Hi all, With the amount of rescues I've been taking in I had to build an apartment complex! Here is a link to my website so you can see that I truly need therapy. It measure 9' wide x 7' high x 4' deep. And is divided into 3 equal houses.
Enjoy!! www.jaysreptiles.com/page5.htm

[WillemsMom]

Good Luck, Jay! I went to your site and saw what a huge project is was! I'm so sorry about Chub Chub. I didn't think he looked well at all in his first picture. I guess he just couldn't make it. Poor little guy!

[prism_wolf]

Nice setup.

However...I'm going to play the devil's advocate for a minute...but don't take offense. I just want to understand all you have behind the design.

The 3' in width is so short. I know your making as much room as possible for more rescues, but those are phone booth style enclosures which are not the recommended style and often create space so small that large igs cannot lay out fully under the basking area. Igs use there whole body, including in large part throug hthe tail, UVB absorption. Nor do they have have a place to cool off unless they go low, which many igs are uncomfortable with doing since they are arboreal in nature, which sometimes causes stress of it's own.

Having just screen between the igs is another thing a rescuer cannot do. Most of the time for males in breeding season...just smelling one in the same house can set off serious breeding season behavior, let alone being in the same room...and right next door. Living right next door can highten this behaviour. For very small igs this can create an incredibly stressful situation...and for the recovering ig as well.

Stress of any kind breaks down the immune system and hinders the ability to produce the levels of hormones/antibodies needed to heal sick bodies, or can take healthy bodies and weaken their natural defenses against illness and cause sudden growth of internal parasites.

What's your adoption rates? Do they leave again fairly quickly?

The lights look awfully far away. Even with an MV, depending on the brand (with the exception of Zoo Med's 160W spot and the new Mega-Ray EB), the majority of them lose significant UVB emmisions after 12"-18" giving incredibly low readings.

On the lighter side...I would SO love to be able to provide additional housing for rescues here! Until my children are on their own...I'm afraid this will have to wait. I am limited to 1-2 rescues at a time depending on the size of the ig...

[Jay]

I understand your concern and believe me I considered every option when building this.

Most of my rescues are not full grown Ig's and every enclosure has 2 levels and an l shaped basking level built on the 4 foot side. The lighting is still under construction but the One Ig had to be moved in now (he was in a 60 gallon fish tank his whole life). There is a megaray and che ordered for each enclosure. I'm still looking for colored plexi to seperate the apartments.

I work with scales and tails, there adoption rates are $30. Unfortunately more come in than go out.

The Average prefab Ig cage is 36x36x60. I did what I could with the space I have.

When you are resueing animals it's really hard to find a balance as to what we all know is the best thing to do, and knowing that others are doing nothing.

[prism_wolf]

When you are resueing animals it's really hard to find a balance as to what we all know is the best thing to do, and knowing that others are doing nothing.

I certainly understand...and I thought of that as I posted ready to hear you reply. I'm glad you got in with Scales and Tails. They're some of my favorite rescuers... Gail was one of the original ones to help me with Zair 4-5 years ago...and her continued help over the years along with so many more has been such a plus.

Good to see they're finally charging an adoption fee, too.

I wish you luck in you're search for plexi...and thank you for doing this for the igs...

[Jay]

Veronica, thanks for putting in feedback, after your post I went back and modified the way the lights are in the habitat. They were 24" from the basking area. I didn't realize it at the time. I changed the mounts and they are now between 12" and 16" depending on which light. When the megarays show up all I have to do is remove 2 screws and reposition again.

Sometimes simpler is better.

[prism_wolf]

Awesome on the lights. Even with the Mega-Rays you can leave them at the same distance you just adjusted to. The heat they put out is nothing like what you're using now. I have mine set at about 12"-18" depending upon where the Zair is Laying on the shelf.