Re: Good Luck, Closet Conversions, & Cages Link

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Posted by BabyHerp on February 15, 2000 at 15:38:04:

In Reply to: Gonna rescue tonight! ....(more) posted by IG27 on February 15, 2000 at 06:42:41:

OK! Good luck tonite and Im sure even tho this Ig has 'survived' with a diet of Romaine....good to know he/she will THRIVE once you get him....I'd suggest that you continue to feed him romaine...making up the MAJORITY of his salad then...gradually taper it out....adding more and more hi calcium greens until the romaine is totally omitted or just as an addition in small amounts.....he'll more than likely not eat much anyway for the first few weeks(stress from :new owner, move, enviroment) no need to add to it by TOTALLY changing the foods he's used to.
RE: caging
IG27...Im gonna bug you to death!! until you get Hatfield's Green Iguana Ultimate Owners Manual!!;-) Believe me it will answer a quazillion questions!! I'd say its a MUST for any serious Ig owner....also has some good ideas, plans for The Ultimate Cage ...For troubleshooting advice on your caging needs post over at Kingsnake Caging Forums also
I'll link Glenn Merrills website to Iguana Cages (below), and also the article from Iguana Iguana Newsletter on converting closets to Ig enclosures:

Gina

Vol. 4/7
Build An Iguana Closet Enclosure
CAN YOU CREATE AN ENCLOSURE FOR AN IGUANA BY refitting an unused closet? Some closets are bigger than others but the minimum size is approximately two feet deep by five feet wide with plenty of height. You must take the time to refit the closet properly but it can work well if done right. Let's look at the possiblities.

The depth of a closet at two feet is slightly too narrow - but acceptable because of the height. The length of a closet is fine, especially for a young iguana or juvenile and for a female. A full grown, six foot long male would probably be cramped unless confinement was supplemented by an outdoor enclosure and a play area in another spot of the house � a place for interaction with the family. Time outside of an enclosure should ideally be a daily occurrence for an iguana to build a bond of trust with their owner and give them some freedom.

When an iguana lives in an open cage made of wire in a part of the country where the winters get really cold and a house can be underheated and drafty, he or she may have a problem reaching the optimum temperature level. A closet may provide the perfect area for creating a more controlled environment. Easy to heat, the real challenge is making a closet safe and sanitary. Since a closet is rarely in a bathroom or close to a sink, transporting water and removing waste can become the most difficult part of outfitting a closet for an iguana.

Plan the bottom two feet for storage. You shouldn't give your iguana too many places to hide and escape the heat. A nervous iguana can be so determined to find a hiding place that going to the bottom of the closet might place them in jeopardy of hypothermia. Diagrams in the printed isue of the newsletter.

Use 2x2's screwed to the wall joists (16" centers) parallel to the floor to create the supports for the floor boards. You will probably be unable to fit a full board in if the closet has only one door. Plan on using plywood sections or 1x12's for the base. A closet with sliding doors will open wider and can make the whole project much easier because the doors are removable and that gives you plenty of access. Iguanas like to poop in water so cutting a hole in the board that is the size of a kitty litter pan can give your iguana a removable pool. Position that area right in front of the door opening for easy removal. Put small strips of wood on all sides of the opening to form access to the lip of the kitty litter pan making it easier to lift out of the hole. Never fill the pan with more than an inch or two of water to avoid spills. Dump the contents into the toilet for an easy solution to waste disposal.

Build a series of shelves that are connected with either wood covered with low-nap, indoor/outdoor carpeting (carpet can catch on unclipped nails so think this option over carefully) or build a wooden ladder with 2x2 sides and 2x2's or heavy dowel (the closet rod?) for rungs. See diagram. The shelves can be carpeted and one can be set up with a basking light. Always position a hot light away from anything (including the iguana) that can be flammable or could burn. This is the area of the design that will take the most careful consideration. Wiring must be carefully stapled out of the way or run inside of the wall to prevent the iguana from getting tangled in loose or unsecured wiring. Hot metal hoods must be completely out of reach of the iguana and away from the walls. Never use a really high wattage bulb in an enclosed space. A regular 100 watt bulb can generate an amazing amount of heat especially if placed in a metal lighting hood which generates it's own heat. Two hooded bulbs are needed for night and day heat � one with a blue or black bulb and one with a regular daylight bulb. Don't forget the fluorescent fixture and UV fluorescent tube light for that important UV exposure (in addition to outside time, of course).

There is always a top shelf and a round closet bar in a closet. While it may be tempting to leave them in, the shelf may be too high and the bar is really in the way. The bar could be used to suspend the lighting fixtures but it will probably prove to be too low for this. You could always move it up to the top of the closet and clip the lights to it instead of hanging them from the ceiling. Your choice. But remember that maximizing space is utmost on the list.

Let's look at the door to this enclosure. The closet door itself would help hold in the heat but would prevent any air circulation. The addition of a recirculating fan would help but who wants to completely cut their iguana off from the rest of the world? One possibility is to fit a screen door into the closet door space. If your closet iguana enclosure has a pocket door or a set of sliding doors, you can inset the screen door on one side and still have a solid door to pull shut for those really cold nights. Always cut an air vent in the wall above the door if you have a solid or plexiglass front.

The screen door can be custom fitted to your specs at the hardware store or you can buy a screen door at the discount home and garden supply that you can cut to fit. Look for a thin screen door that has a half metal door at the bottom to help hold in the heat. You can design a light wooden cover for cold nights that either is hinged or hangs OR you can hang a heavy piece of fabric on a piece of the closet bar refitted to become a wall hanging holder. Examine the existing closet doors to see if they can be modified for wire or plexiglass panels.

Air circulation is an important addition as moving warm air helps an iguana thermoregulate. Look for a small, inexpensive but quiet fan that will help move the air and raise the temperature and humidity in the closet. Plug the fan in at the store before you buy it to make sure it is has a low speed setting and is not too powerful. And make sure it is quiet or it will scare your ig! But don't dismiss the importance of air circulation. Good air circulation and an open but screened door will go along way in preventing any mold or mildew growth. If you have a mildew problem, you will need to wash the walls down with bleach and water and paint with a special sealer to prevent the growth of mold due to the humidity. Obviously, if you do any sealing or painting, you must let it completely dry and air out before putting your iguana in there.

The electrical wiring can be the cause of the most serious problems and dangers. All dangerous appliances and wiring must be carefully positioned so that your iguana can't reach them. This cannot be stressed too much. Iguanas are inquisitive creatures that will try and climb up wiring or jump on hot light fixtures if they are too accessible. If you are thinking of remodeling a closet as an iguana habitat, you must take the time to do it right. The ideal way to treat electrical wiring is to drill into the wall and run the wiring through the wall. Even if you drill directly through the wall and out into the room to plug the cord into a wall outlet, you've removed the exposed electrical cords from causing potential problems INSIDE of the closet where the iguana lives. Always use new wire that is up to code and heavy enough to handle the appliance that you are connecting to it. ALWAYS make sure the lights are far enough away from your iguana and covered with protective wire screens to prevent burns.

Proper placement of the shelves and lights will make the enclosure work the way you want. The heat must be close enough for the iguana to reach POTZ but not too close. Approximately one and a half to two feet is about right. Always check with a strip thermometer right under the basking light to be sure. The same placement holds true for the UV light fixture. Keep the basking shelf and the UV fixture in close proximity so that your iguana can reach proper temperature and get the benefit of the UV at the same time.

Don't forget about nighttime heat. A 75 watt black bulb in a metal hood placed over another larger shelf can serve as a sleeping area. Once the day light goes off, the heat coming from the dark night bulb and a well-designed sleeping area will draw your iguana there to sleep. Be sure the sleeping area is large enough for an iguana to sleep comfortably and to find the "perfect" spot. Iguanas will move in and out of warmer areas even at night. Locate the sleeping area in a place that is easy to get to and has a path that is not cluttered with obstacles to climb over. If you set your day timer to go off before or at dusk, it should be light enough in the enclosure for your iguana to make his or her way to the warmest location for sleeping.

You can leave the night light on all day to add additional heat to the entire enclosure but check with thermometers to make sure you have a RANGE of temperatures from 65 - 70 degrees to 100 degrees at the basking spot. While putting the night light and the day light close together will mean your iguana won't have to travel far from basking and sleeping, the more area your iguana has to travel means the more exercise they will get.

You can consider using a heating pad or undertank-type heating pad for nighttime warmth but remember that a light bulb uses far less electricity than a heating pad. Buy a 75 watt black screw-in light bulb at a store that sells party supplies. You can also find them on sale at discount stores before Halloween. The bulbs are very cheap so stock up and you'll always be ready if a light blows out.

Always remove food that isn't eaten as soon as possible to keep ants and other pests from moving in. Cleanliness is the most important factor in eliminating potential problems.

The addition of artificial plants and a few branches will make your "iguana closet" a great home for your pet. One reminder � if your iguana is really young and small, be sure to make the area smaller with no holes that an inquisitive iguana can squeeze into. As your iguana grows and get accustomed to his new home, you can expand the area.

Never put an iguana in a new enclosure without acclimating them to it first. Iguanas don't like change and can hurt themselves or become traumatized if put into a new area and then left to their own devices. Start out with only a one hour introduction and try and stay with your iguana while they explore. Increase the time the iguana is in the new home gradually. An iguana that is put in a new enclosure will react by scratching and rubbing against any area that gives them a view to the outside. Nails can be pulled out, rostrum or nose damage will result if the iguana is not acclimated properly. This also holds true for an outdoor enclosure.

A closet enclosure is not big enough for more than one iguana. The space is too confined and could cause one iguana to bully the other.

Consider the situation carefully and use all the proper precautions if you decide to remodel that closet (you know, the one that seems to collect nothing but junk) and make it into a safe, large, warm enclosure for your iguana.

The printed newsletter has more information on this subject including diagrams. For a copy of the printed newsletter, send $2.00 to 23852 P. C. H. Ste. 123, Malibu, CA 90265 and request the July/99 issue. Sample issues from other months are $1.00. The above is a suggestion only and IGUANA IGUANA is not responsible for any accidents or problems incurred by refitting a closet for an iguana. All safety measures must be used to create a safe environment for an iguana

Glenn Merrills Iguana Cages

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Re: Who in the heck has an unused closet!?! LOL nm Lola and Harry's Mom 02/15/00 (0)

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: OK! Good luck tonite and Im sure even tho this Ig has 'survived' with a diet of Romaine....good to know he/she will THRIVE once you get him....I'd suggest that you continue to feed him romaine...making up the MAJORITY of his salad then...gradually taper it out....adding more and more hi calcium greens until the romaine is totally omitted or just as an addition in small amounts.....he'll more than likely not eat much anyway for the first few weeks(stress from :new owner, move, enviroment) no need to add to it by TOTALLY changing the foods he's used to. : RE: caging : IG27...Im gonna bug you to death!! until you get Hatfield's Green Iguana Ultimate Owners Manual!!;-) Believe me it will answer a quazillion questions!! I'd say its a MUST for any serious Ig owner....also has some good ideas, plans for The Ultimate Cage ...For troubleshooting advice on your caging needs post over at Kingsnake Caging Forums also : I'll link Glenn Merrills website to Iguana Cages (below), and also the article from Iguana Iguana Newsletter on converting closets to Ig enclosures: : Gina : Vol. 4/7 : Build An Iguana Closet Enclosure : CAN YOU CREATE AN ENCLOSURE FOR AN IGUANA BY refitting an unused closet? Some closets are bigger than others but the minimum size is approximately two feet deep by five feet wide with plenty of height. You must take the time to refit the closet properly but it can work well if done right. Let's look at the possiblities. : The depth of a closet at two feet is slightly too narrow - but acceptable because of the height. The length of a closet is fine, especially for a young iguana or juvenile and for a female. A full grown, six foot long male would probably be cramped unless confinement was supplemented by an outdoor enclosure and a play area in another spot of the house � a place for interaction with the family. Time outside of an enclosure should ideally be a daily occurrence for an iguana to build a bond of trust with their owner and give them some freedom. : When an iguana lives in an open cage made of wire in a part of the country where the winters get really cold and a house can be underheated and drafty, he or she may have a problem reaching the optimum temperature level. A closet may provide the perfect area for creating a more controlled environment. Easy to heat, the real challenge is making a closet safe and sanitary. Since a closet is rarely in a bathroom or close to a sink, transporting water and removing waste can become the most difficult part of outfitting a closet for an iguana. : Plan the bottom two feet for storage. You shouldn't give your iguana too many places to hide and escape the heat. A nervous iguana can be so determined to find a hiding place that going to the bottom of the closet might place them in jeopardy of hypothermia. Diagrams in the printed isue of the newsletter. : Use 2x2's screwed to the wall joists (16" centers) parallel to the floor to create the supports for the floor boards. You will probably be unable to fit a full board in if the closet has only one door. Plan on using plywood sections or 1x12's for the base. A closet with sliding doors will open wider and can make the whole project much easier because the doors are removable and that gives you plenty of access. Iguanas like to poop in water so cutting a hole in the board that is the size of a kitty litter pan can give your iguana a removable pool. Position that area right in front of the door opening for easy removal. Put small strips of wood on all sides of the opening to form access to the lip of the kitty litter pan making it easier to lift out of the hole. Never fill the pan with more than an inch or two of water to avoid spills. Dump the contents into the toilet for an easy solution to waste disposal. : Build a series of shelves that are connected with either wood covered with low-nap, indoor/outdoor carpeting (carpet can catch on unclipped nails so think this option over carefully) or build a wooden ladder with 2x2 sides and 2x2's or heavy dowel (the closet rod?) for rungs. See diagram. The shelves can be carpeted and one can be set up with a basking light. Always position a hot light away from anything (including the iguana) that can be flammable or could burn. This is the area of the design that will take the most careful consideration. Wiring must be carefully stapled out of the way or run inside of the wall to prevent the iguana from getting tangled in loose or unsecured wiring. Hot metal hoods must be completely out of reach of the iguana and away from the walls. Never use a really high wattage bulb in an enclosed space. A regular 100 watt bulb can generate an amazing amount of heat especially if placed in a metal lighting hood which generates it's own heat. Two hooded bulbs are needed for night and day heat � one with a blue or black bulb and one with a regular daylight bulb. Don't forget the fluorescent fixture and UV fluorescent tube light for that important UV exposure (in addition to outside time, of course). : There is always a top shelf and a round closet bar in a closet. While it may be tempting to leave them in, the shelf may be too high and the bar is really in the way. The bar could be used to suspend the lighting fixtures but it will probably prove to be too low for this. You could always move it up to the top of the closet and clip the lights to it instead of hanging them from the ceiling. Your choice. But remember that maximizing space is utmost on the list. : Let's look at the door to this enclosure. The closet door itself would help hold in the heat but would prevent any air circulation. The addition of a recirculating fan would help but who wants to completely cut their iguana off from the rest of the world? One possibility is to fit a screen door into the closet door space. If your closet iguana enclosure has a pocket door or a set of sliding doors, you can inset the screen door on one side and still have a solid door to pull shut for those really cold nights. Always cut an air vent in the wall above the door if you have a solid or plexiglass front. : The screen door can be custom fitted to your specs at the hardware store or you can buy a screen door at the discount home and garden supply that you can cut to fit. Look for a thin screen door that has a half metal door at the bottom to help hold in the heat. You can design a light wooden cover for cold nights that either is hinged or hangs OR you can hang a heavy piece of fabric on a piece of the closet bar refitted to become a wall hanging holder. Examine the existing closet doors to see if they can be modified for wire or plexiglass panels. : Air circulation is an important addition as moving warm air helps an iguana thermoregulate. Look for a small, inexpensive but quiet fan that will help move the air and raise the temperature and humidity in the closet. Plug the fan in at the store before you buy it to make sure it is has a low speed setting and is not too powerful. And make sure it is quiet or it will scare your ig! But don't dismiss the importance of air circulation. Good air circulation and an open but screened door will go along way in preventing any mold or mildew growth. If you have a mildew problem, you will need to wash the walls down with bleach and water and paint with a special sealer to prevent the growth of mold due to the humidity. Obviously, if you do any sealing or painting, you must let it completely dry and air out before putting your iguana in there. : The electrical wiring can be the cause of the most serious problems and dangers. All dangerous appliances and wiring must be carefully positioned so that your iguana can't reach them. This cannot be stressed too much. Iguanas are inquisitive creatures that will try and climb up wiring or jump on hot light fixtures if they are too accessible. If you are thinking of remodeling a closet as an iguana habitat, you must take the time to do it right. The ideal way to treat electrical wiring is to drill into the wall and run the wiring through the wall. Even if you drill directly through the wall and out into the room to plug the cord into a wall outlet, you've removed the exposed electrical cords from causing potential problems INSIDE of the closet where the iguana lives. Always use new wire that is up to code and heavy enough to handle the appliance that you are connecting to it. ALWAYS make sure the lights are far enough away from your iguana and covered with protective wire screens to prevent burns. : Proper placement of the shelves and lights will make the enclosure work the way you want. The heat must be close enough for the iguana to reach POTZ but not too close. Approximately one and a half to two feet is about right. Always check with a strip thermometer right under the basking light to be sure. The same placement holds true for the UV light fixture. Keep the basking shelf and the UV fixture in close proximity so that your iguana can reach proper temperature and get the benefit of the UV at the same time. : Don't forget about nighttime heat. A 75 watt black bulb in a metal hood placed over another larger shelf can serve as a sleeping area. Once the day light goes off, the heat coming from the dark night bulb and a well-designed sleeping area will draw your iguana there to sleep. Be sure the sleeping area is large enough for an iguana to sleep comfortably and to find the "perfect" spot. Iguanas will move in and out of warmer areas even at night. Locate the sleeping area in a place that is easy to get to and has a path that is not cluttered with obstacles to climb over. If you set your day timer to go off before or at dusk, it should be light enough in the enclosure for your iguana to make his or her way to the warmest location for sleeping. : You can leave the night light on all day to add additional heat to the entire enclosure but check with thermometers to make sure you have a RANGE of temperatures from 65 - 70 degrees to 100 degrees at the basking spot. While putting the night light and the day light close together will mean your iguana won't have to travel far from basking and sleeping, the more area your iguana has to travel means the more exercise they will get. : You can consider using a heating pad or undertank-type heating pad for nighttime warmth but remember that a light bulb uses far less electricity than a heating pad. Buy a 75 watt black screw-in light bulb at a store that sells party supplies. You can also find them on sale at discount stores before Halloween. The bulbs are very cheap so stock up and you'll always be ready if a light blows out. : Always remove food that isn't eaten as soon as possible to keep ants and other pests from moving in. Cleanliness is the most important factor in eliminating potential problems. : The addition of artificial plants and a few branches will make your "iguana closet" a great home for your pet. One reminder � if your iguana is really young and small, be sure to make the area smaller with no holes that an inquisitive iguana can squeeze into. As your iguana grows and get accustomed to his new home, you can expand the area. : Never put an iguana in a new enclosure without acclimating them to it first. Iguanas don't like change and can hurt themselves or become traumatized if put into a new area and then left to their own devices. Start out with only a one hour introduction and try and stay with your iguana while they explore. Increase the time the iguana is in the new home gradually. An iguana that is put in a new enclosure will react by scratching and rubbing against any area that gives them a view to the outside. Nails can be pulled out, rostrum or nose damage will result if the iguana is not acclimated properly. This also holds true for an outdoor enclosure. : A closet enclosure is not big enough for more than one iguana. The space is too confined and could cause one iguana to bully the other. : Consider the situation carefully and use all the proper precautions if you decide to remodel that closet (you know, the one that seems to collect nothing but junk) and make it into a safe, large, warm enclosure for your iguana. : The printed newsletter has more information on this subject including diagrams. For a copy of the printed newsletter, send $2.00 to 23852 P. C. H. Ste. 123, Malibu, CA 90265 and request the July/99 issue. Sample issues from other months are $1.00. The above is a suggestion only and IGUANA IGUANA is not responsible for any accidents or problems incurred by refitting a closet for an iguana. All safety measures must be used to create a safe environment for an iguana

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