Posted by Christy on June 28, 2000 at 13:40:12:
In Reply to: What to do about vacation???? posted by IG27 on June 28, 2000 at 12:58:55:
Hi, I'm also going on vacation for a week in the middle of July and I have lots of birds and beardies and my snakes and my iguana that has to be taken care of, plus two dogs. I'm paying my friend $100 bucks to come twice a day and feed the dogs and all the other animals. Here are my two suggestions.
Find someone, even if it is a teen. I'm a teen and even though I have experience with reptiles I do care for dogs and other animals for my moms friends when they go on vacation. You can offer to pay for their services. Make it real simple for them, Have the food cut up. His veggies can be chopped to size and put in a tupperware container in the fridge. They should stay good. Show the person how to chop the greens to size and how to mix the two and do vitamins. Lights are on the timer and so that will be a no brainer. If your paying the person they should have no problem with taking the ig to the tub and letting him do his business. Leave a spray bottle of a mixed water bleach solution near the tub so they can empty it, wash it down and spray with bleach, just so when you get home you won't have a germ fest in your bath room. Leave a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves near the bleach with the sponge so the person isn't totaly grossed out with cleaning up. Leave a stack of towels you won't mind being used for him to use for your ig. You can use paper plates as the feeding dishes. They put the food in, the ig eats, next day, the person prepares another plate, takes out the old, dumps it and puts in the new. Make it all very simple, prepared. Write out a check list, feed, water, tub, close the cage door, lock the house when you leave. If you have any friends at work who have older kids you can ask them if they live nearby. Then you know the adults somewhat, depending on your work environment.
Another idea is to call your reptile vet and see if he would house you iguana for the week or if any of the people who work there, they probably work with reptiles, would be a iguana sitter. You vet may have the names of people who are trustworthy to do a good job.
Good luck!
Christy