hello

[minipumpkin]

hello,
my name is matt my user name is minipumpkin as i have a cats called mini and pumpkin.
so for a long time i have wanted an iguana and haven't had the money or space. i have 2 bearded dragons which are a pain in my butt at least. now my other half has always wanted one as well and i was thinking for a wedding present i could build a tank in the spare room and then we could get one, iv done allot of research into it and iv got 9 months before we get married so will still keep researching so i know what im doing.



some questions i have;
what is a could building material? mdf or something like that?
whats the best way to keep the humidity level up with out costing an arm and a leg. i know you can mist or spray the viv but as i wouldn't be able to keep it constant while i was at work i would need something on a timer to spray midday or something like that, so what would be a good but cheapish way??

thanks matt

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

Congrats for the to-be wedding I'm also engaged but we do not have the means to move out and get married yet.
But as for the iguana questions:
For building a habitat, I have seen many different options. Some people use a modified entertainment center, some people buy large iguana enclosures, some use wire (plastic or mesh [which can become dangerous for iguana toes]) with a wood or PVC frame. I've seen PVC framed enclosures with cloth sides, tarp on the bottom, and a heavy clear plastic front, and I've also seen free roamers with a basking spot and no enclosure. I have a PVC frame with cloth sides and it used to have tarp on the bottom and a plastic front but I went cheap and Gwendolyn tore through the clear front. I also took the tarp off the bottom because it got too hard to clean, not its just the carpet underneath and I vacuum it. She is allowed to free roam my room but she mainly stays in her basking spot and looks out the window.
Humidity, in my opinion, can sometime be a little overrated. Regular misting or baths along with a good variety for fruits for moisture should be ok. A problem that comes with high humidity is mold. There should be a period before the lights go out for the night that gives the moisture time to evaporate so nothing starts to multiply and sneak it way in during the night. Its important to keep your ig hydrated and do extra misting/bathing if he/she is shedding.

-Jenna

[minipumpkin]

hi, thanks for the info ill probally be asking more and more as i have a little over 9 months to plan everything before i even build anything.

im in the uk so i guess there will be a few diffrences in what i can get and what you can get in the usa as thats how it is with my beardies.

another question.. them mvb bulbs are they still crappy? i cant use they with my beardies, so the set up would be the same from an iggy as them only diffrnces is they need more room and high humidity?

thanks matt

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

I don't know the specifics about all mvb bulbs but for a long time I used Mega-Rays and the only problem I had with some of them is that the filament broke in transit or in one case, the light started flickering so I switched to Repti-Sun, temporarily at least. They have been having issues at Reptile UV (where Mega-Rays are sold) though and I just read up on it lately: www.reptileuv.com/uvb-meter-owners/problems-with-reptileuv.php
There are some important differences between iguana enclosures and beardie enclosures: iguanas like to climb and be at a higher elevation (but have to be sure not to make it too high or you can't get to them easily) and you also have to be careful what kind of substrate (stuff on the bottom of the enclosure) you use, if any. Iguanas flick their tongues a lot and if there is anything loose like bark, sand, or the stuff one would put in a hamster cage, the iguana will likely end up eating some of it and that can create a hazardous blockage. You may have already known that but I figured I would play it safe and say it anyway

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

oh, and happy birthday by the way

[minipumpkin]

ok thanks, yeah i knew about the climbing as they are from the fainforests and they sit at the top of the trees their, the substrate is the same thing for my beardies, they flick thier tounge out as well and they can get impacted room sand or barck or stuff like that, i have tile and lilo(like garden tiles, and lilo is like a plastic rubbery floor uses in kitches or bathrooms as its easy to clean if you where unsure) for their substrate.

is there anything you think i should know that maybe only owneing a iggy can teach you??

sorry my spelling sucks, im dyelexic but i just get on with it

turned 23 yesterday poop

thanks matt

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

I suppose to answer your question I'll revert back to an old saying: You know you're a true iguana owner when they sneeze in your face.

[minipumpkin]

haha never knew they even sneezed.