DaZed85
Full Member
Being an Iguana Owner Isn't Easy!
Posts: 78
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Post by DaZed85 on Aug 5, 2004 11:01:23 GMT -8
Some places to try: 1.) in you bed spring box, often the thin liner on the bottom of them is torn or can become torn, easy place to never think of looking also try the under liner of your couch or easy chairs 2.) under the counters, there is a 2-3 inch indented rise that is ment to allow you to stand closer to the counter in the kitchen and bathroom normaly (I forget thier real name) any way if you get on you knees and look up you will see a hole that allows enough room for a young iguana to slip in, you would need a crowbar and a flash light to check there 3.) behind the washer/ dry, its a warm place and you dont think to look there 4.) look by, around, and under your computer desk and dresser, some dressers and such look as if they have a closed base area from the front but indeed if you look behind there is a nich to craw into
those are my best ideas....
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Post by mar on Aug 5, 2004 17:07:24 GMT -8
5.) Hanging cloths in your closet -- shirt and coat sleeves are favorite spots of many run aways.
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 5, 2004 19:32:03 GMT -8
Hi all you sweet iguana people :-) I am sorry to report this is Day 8. Thank you Mark for your input, I took your suggestions with the toys, great suggestion, although nothing has been knocked over yet. I can re-check sleeves and clothes, absolutely. Hi Dazed, I did the dresser thing. I pulled out bottom drawers, I did the washer dryer thing, too. I didn't notice the counter space until now, and I didn't think of the bed spring box, just under the bed itself and around the box. Those are some great ideas. Thank you. Kerry, Did you ever find your corn snake?? I phone MSPCA, pet shops and clinics, excuse my launguage but the were *&(@*$) to me. They didn't know a thing about herps, and didn't have any trained techs around to help me. How long was your snake gone? You guys its been 8 long days, I am deathly afraid of what will happen to him .... Hey but I got the best suggestions here! I am setting my alrarm to 7am tommorow and will begin a hopefully successful search with my new ideas. Thanks bunches for anyone who took their time to help me and Lewis out. Bless ya!!
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Post by Tesa on Aug 6, 2004 6:06:26 GMT -8
I SO hope you have some good luck soon. I hate to say this, but I'm very concerned that the dogs or cat may have encountered Lewis. I wish we could all come help you tear the place apart in a search effort.
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Post by Kerrydaktyl on Aug 6, 2004 7:35:04 GMT -8
No sadly not, I was really angry with the RSPCA though, but have since got into reptiles alot more and have found out that they dont care much for the un-furry creatures She was gone over six months and we had to move out I still get really upset about it, we had two corns and one died the day before the other went missing, its been over a year now. But one good thing came out of it though, a week later we heard about a little iguana that needed a home! ;D Ive heard that even in our climate (UK) corns can live quite happily in the wild and are sometimes found years later living in the wild. I heard of so many going missing and most had happy endings though. I really feel for you though, I dont know what Id do if Don (my ig) went missing, igs are so much more 'human' than corns, much more like our babies! I really hope he comes out of his hidey hole soon.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 6, 2004 9:30:24 GMT -8
Here's an idea that worked for me when one of my iguanas was lost, she finally came back about 3 weeks later, a little skinnier, but still in good health. Try taking a fluorescent light fixture with UVB lamps in it and place it on the floor of the last room you saw your ig in. Usually, propping in up in the corner between the floor and wall, so it lays length-wise on the floor at a 45 degree angle is a good way to make it easily accessible to Lewis. Leave this light on as often as possible while continuing your search, and, if he is still anywhere inside your home, you're likely to come home one day and find him sunning/warming himself by sitting on the light tubes. Just make sure you use fluorescents for this because they won't get hot enough to burn him. Good luck, and keep your chin up, mine had been gone so long I had already given up hope, but she came back. ;D
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 6, 2004 12:27:32 GMT -8
Hi Tesa . . . My cat and lewis get along fine believe it or not. She is so used to him. He may not "like" her, but she doesn't make an attempt to go after or harm him. Same with my hamsters. I trust her well enough to let my hamsters walk right near her without worrying. The dogs are a different story. However, most of you have said Iguanas are creatures of habitat and won't travel far. The dogs are forbidden on Lewis's floor, and Lewis would have to crawl down a flight and a half of stairs to reach the dogs. Something I hope he wouldn't do. Thank you for your kind words, Tesa. Kerry, I am sorry you never found your little corn. That must have been so traumatic knowing you had to move away. Let's just all hope your corn is still around, happy and free, hanging out in the sun somwhere Iguana King, Excellent idea!! I have 2 units I can use to try to encourage him. I am thinking one in my room, and one in the middle of the largest room. I am hanging out with my parents this afternoon, but when I return home I will get right on it!! I tell ya, reading your story REALLY gave me hope. 3 weeks. . . It's been 9 days. I am glad to know the worst thing that can happen is nothing a good diet won't fix. (Did i word that right??) Also, reading your story made it a little easier on myself. I really came down hard on myself these past 9 days . . . But even Iguana Kings lose their iguanas :-) Thanks to everyone, take care, and hopefully the best news is yet to come
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 8, 2004 18:57:26 GMT -8
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 8, 2004 20:14:25 GMT -8
Of course igs remember all of that stuff, they're very intelligent and have a very good memory. I know its day 12, just keep your UVB lamps out on the floor, he'll be back as long as he's still in your home. Food won't really work unless he's warm enough to have an appetite, but UVB light/infrared heat will attract him no matter what. As long as you keep the temps in your home above 70 degrees, he'll still have the ability to seek warmer/healthier areas. Try to relax, LovingLewis, it happens to even the best of us (Heh...I'd hardly consider myself "the best", but, you know what I mean, don't be too hard on yourself ). Also, I must say that I am very happy to see you checking/posting to this thread so often, it shows that you really do love your litttle green guy. Again...keep your chin up...and feel free to look here for emotional support (most of us are here for ya, don't be afraid to PM me either, I'll be happy to help) BTW...little-known facts about green iguanas: Some have been known to successfully hold their breath for more than 30 minutes when submerged in water, with no lasting adverse effects (don't try this at home ), others have been known for their ability to survive for weeks, even months, without feeding, they lived off of fat stored in their tails (again, don't deliberately do this at home ). We know you love Lewis, but try to smile and have faith in the fact that you're doing everything you can do to bring him back home. Oh, and don't forget the most important, little-known, fact about them, they can fit into/through spaces much smaller than your wildest imagination would allow them to in your dreams. ;D
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 8, 2004 20:51:24 GMT -8
Hi Iguana King!!! Boy you sure are right, I come back here all the time, can't stay away from the Iguana Zone!! Even if there isn't a new post, I come back and re-read what you guys have said to see if I missed anything. I have a question. Which do you think would attract Lewis more .... his day lights or his ceramic heat emmitter?? Those suckers get VERY HOT, but they do not produce any light (Not to worry, Lewis' heat lamps have a home made "cage" over them if you can picture, so he can't touch the heat emmiter.) I only have one heat emmitter, so I can only put it on one floor of the house. Lewis has several day lights so those can be scattered on 2 floors. Those facts sure are something!! Where did you aquire them?? Good reading, or did your ig's whisper them in your ear? I think I can sleep MUCH easier tonight thanks to your sweet words, Iguana King. It's 1am here and I'm still wide awake, I guess I know what it's REALLY like to be a parent these past 12 days!! Even certain songs remind me of him LOL ;D More updates tommorow!!!
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 9, 2004 14:46:14 GMT -8
Its best to use both your daylight lamp and your heater, but the daylight lamp will be the best to attract him from longer distances. On the other hand, it might not be such a good idea to put an infrared heater close to a wall or carpeting, so the daylight lamp will be safer and it will definitely do a good job of warming Lewis up if he sits directly on it. Remember, use fluorescents for this so he won't burn himself.
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Post by Kerrydaktyl on Aug 10, 2004 13:56:58 GMT -8
Wow 3 weeks, glad he got back pretty much ok ;D Im sure thats greatly reassuring to you LovingLewis, I went straight to the forums when I lost my snake and am still tapping away over a year later! I think I really needed to hear other peoples experiences, I was feeling very much like a bad mother and blaming myself too, it was great to hear that its possible for them to come back because we tend to think the worst in these situations. Also I got loads of new ideas I hadnt thought of for tempting her back. although it never turned out for me there were alot more stories with happy endings and I hope Lewis comes back real soon!
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Post by Cyndi on Aug 10, 2004 15:19:21 GMT -8
This may sound stupid, and I'm not sure if its a good idea (other members help me out here) and it may have been already suggested, but what about sprinkling flour or calcium powder in areas that he may be in. Then you would be able to see tracks or tail swishes or something. And how about light fixtures? I found out the hard way that Kyo has no problem climbing the textured walls in our room and wreaking havoc with the wall lighting that we had Could he have fallen or gotten stuck behind a bookcase, wardrobe etc? Do you have an attic? Ours is accessible through our closet, and I know that Kyo would be able to get up there (till we fixed it). Cyndi
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jbgoalie31
Junior Member
Tom the Iguana and Jerry the Dragon to the rescue!!
Posts: 18
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Post by jbgoalie31 on Aug 10, 2004 17:15:15 GMT -8
Wow 3 weeks, glad he got back pretty much ok ;D Im sure thats greatly reassuring to you LovingLewis, I went straight to the forums when I lost my snake and am still tapping away over a year later! I think I really needed to hear other peoples experiences, I was feeling very much like a bad mother and blaming myself too, it was great to hear that its possible for them to come back because we tend to think the worst in these situations. Also I got loads of new ideas I hadnt thought of for tempting her back. although it never turned out for me there were alot more stories with happy endings and I hope Lewis comes back real soon! Just wondering if Lewis was found? The way this post sounds he came home after 3 weeks? But I didn't see any posts by LovingLewis confirming that? I hope he came home so you can stop worrying!
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 10, 2004 17:20:55 GMT -8
This may sound stupid, and I'm not sure if its a good idea (other members help me out here) and it may have been already suggested, but what about sprinkling flour or calcium powder in areas that he may be in. Then you would be able to see tracks or tail swishes or something. And how about light fixtures? I found out the hard way that Kyo has no problem climbing the textured walls in our room and wreaking havoc with the wall lighting that we had Could he have fallen or gotten stuck behind a bookcase, wardrobe etc? Do you have an attic? Ours is accessible through our closet, and I know that Kyo would be able to get up there (till we fixed it). Cyndi The calcium powder idea sounds like a fairly good one actually, it may not actually help find him, but at least it would help LovingLewis get her lights closer to where Lewis can see them. Iguanas can easily get stuck behind furniture, so a good "no stone unturned" search is always a good idea (she's already doing that though ) When an ig wants to disappear, they're masters at doing it. My iguana that came back to her lights after 3 weeks must have been hiding in the crawlspace or something because she was nowhere to be found, but she came back to her lights on her own.
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