Softie becomes iguana keeper, need info!

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Posted by Cheryl on September 12, 1999 at 18:38:10:

OK, I've worked at a veterinary office for 2.5 years, and I've NEVER taken an animal home, until last Friday. The week before, and elderly woman called, asking if we knew anyone who would like to buy her iguana. She had bought it and was terrified of it (one of the milder stories we hear, truly.). I gave her numbers of humane societies, etc. Then she calls on Friday, in tears, no one will take the iguana, she hasn't been able to feed it in days, and she wants it put to sleep.

So now I have "Sleepy" in my living room. Now, I'm working on a tank upgrade, it will be here tomorrow, he is eating well, his stool is better already, he looks great.

My questions are:
Is it OK to feed mainly a diet of commercial food, with a supplement of veggies? (I have box turtles and commercial food for them is taboo.)

How do I approach handling him? He was doing well, but I had to trim his toenails, and now he is afraid. I don't want to make him aggressive, he will lash with his tail,
but the moment I rub his head he goes into that trance. Should I ignore him until he settles in? I have been going over several times a day just to pet him without picking him up, and does seem to have calmed down. (Perhaps the food woke him up a little too.)

I live in northern VT- if you know of anyone who would like an iguana, have them email me! If we can't find a home for him, he can live with us, but I don't NEED to own him.

If you have any other advice that I should know, good books to buy, etc, please let me know!
Thank you, Cheryl

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Re: Softie becomes iguana keeper, need info! xta 9/13/99 (0)
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: OK, I've worked at a veterinary office for 2.5 years, and I've NEVER taken an animal home, until last Friday. The week before, and elderly woman called, asking if we knew anyone who would like to buy her iguana. She had bought it and was terrified of it (one of the milder stories we hear, truly.). I gave her numbers of humane societies, etc. Then she calls on Friday, in tears, no one will take the iguana, she hasn't been able to feed it in days, and she wants it put to sleep. : So now I have "Sleepy" in my living room. Now, I'm working on a tank upgrade, it will be here tomorrow, he is eating well, his stool is better already, he looks great. : My questions are: : Is it OK to feed mainly a diet of commercial food, with a supplement of veggies? (I have box turtles and commercial food for them is taboo.) : How do I approach handling him? He was doing well, but I had to trim his toenails, and now he is afraid. I don't want to make him aggressive, he will lash with his tail, : but the moment I rub his head he goes into that trance. Should I ignore him until he settles in? I have been going over several times a day just to pet him without picking him up, and does seem to have calmed down. (Perhaps the food woke him up a little too.) : I live in northern VT- if you know of anyone who would like an iguana, have them email me! If we can't find a home for him, he can live with us, but I don't NEED to own him. : If you have any other advice that I should know, good books to buy, etc, please let me know! : Thank you, Cheryl

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