Re: Surveying sleeping igs

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Posted by Jason Z. on August 20, 1998 at 09:52:04:

In Reply to: Surveying sleeping igs posted by Karen on August 19, 1998 at 23:17:32:

: Hi - just wondering if all igs are as set in their sleeping habits as mine seems to be ... (s)he's about 3 months old, and by lights out every night is tucked away in exactly the same spot, wedged under a rock arch in the enclosure. Wondering what's going to happen when (s)he outgrows this spot, which may happen soon at the present growth rate. Also, I had a small question/concern about the iglet possibly damaging dorsal spikes by wedging under the rock every night - any opinions/suggestions? (I dont want to take away the favorite sleeping spot, maybe I could enlarge it as the ig grows).
: Thanks and happy igging!!

For the most part iguanas are creatures of habit so to speak. I think as he gets older you will notice many routines that he follows religiously from when he eats and where he sleeps to when and where he poops. They are so dependent on their habits that I have found iguanas will get rather upset when you make changes. Mine becomes angry and won't eat for a few days if my wife rearranges the room and moves his cage to a different spot. You generally don't have to worry--they just get an attitude for a couple days. It also seems that they outgrow the need for a "cave" to hide in by 12-18 months old. I wouldn't take it out until he stops using it on his own. Of course you may have to get a bigger one once he outgrows it. My iguana is 4 years old and seems secure to sleep on open branches. He has dense foliage to hide in if he desires, though. You will find that animals will generally feel safer if they have somewhere to hide nearby--even when they get older. They may rarely use it, but they know its there if they need it.

As far as dorsal spines go, he can damage them by sleeping in cramped quarters. I posted about this problem a few weeks ago if you're interested. This is not a real health problem but it doesn't look as nice and shedding can become a problem if they get bent. That is what happened to mine.

Good Luck,

Jason

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: : Hi - just wondering if all igs are as set in their sleeping habits as mine seems to be ... (s)he's about 3 months old, and by lights out every night is tucked away in exactly the same spot, wedged under a rock arch in the enclosure. Wondering what's going to happen when (s)he outgrows this spot, which may happen soon at the present growth rate. Also, I had a small question/concern about the iglet possibly damaging dorsal spikes by wedging under the rock every night - any opinions/suggestions? (I dont want to take away the favorite sleeping spot, maybe I could enlarge it as the ig grows). : : Thanks and happy igging!! : For the most part iguanas are creatures of habit so to speak. I think as he gets older you will notice many routines that he follows religiously from when he eats and where he sleeps to when and where he poops. They are so dependent on their habits that I have found iguanas will get rather upset when you make changes. Mine becomes angry and won't eat for a few days if my wife rearranges the room and moves his cage to a different spot. You generally don't have to worry--they just get an attitude for a couple days. It also seems that they outgrow the need for a "cave" to hide in by 12-18 months old. I wouldn't take it out until he stops using it on his own. Of course you may have to get a bigger one once he outgrows it. My iguana is 4 years old and seems secure to sleep on open branches. He has dense foliage to hide in if he desires, though. You will find that animals will generally feel safer if they have somewhere to hide nearby--even when they get older. They may rarely use it, but they know its there if they need it. : As far as dorsal spines go, he can damage them by sleeping in cramped quarters. I posted about this problem a few weeks ago if you're interested. This is not a real health problem but it doesn't look as nice and shedding can become a problem if they get bent. That is what happened to mine. : Good Luck, : Jason

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