meet big al (long and rambling)

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Posted by Mickey(TLK) on February 01, 2001 at 12:34:13:

I got into reptiles about 4 years ago.My first pet reptile
was/is my iguana Al.He has lived on my fridge for the last
3 years, and is paper trained to do his business on the
stair landing on newspaper.He is over 5 ft now, and is tame
as can be.He eats dog food out of the dogs bowl, allong
with a variety of greens and fruits.

Now Im shure many people can find many things wrong with
the way al is housed, and I must agree.I started off housing
al in aquariums, and then moved him to homemade cages, and
soon he had a room of his own.Well living in Nebraska makes
it hard to keep a large room at the right temp and humidity
for a reptile.But having housed him in a room for over a year
I felt it would me very cruel to move him into a small cage.

So one winter I put him on the fridge with some heat tape and
lights for him.I planned on only keeping him their shortly, but
he became accustomed to it, and seemed to do well so its stuck.

Allthough I love al dearly, I must say that I feel an iguana
was not the right reptile for me to buy as a first pet.I have
since owned/ bred many different reps. and have also run my
own reptile specialty store, but al is the first and last
iguana I will ever own.I think that the trade needs to take
a hard look at the way iquana's are dealt with.I think it is
a shame that such a large, and somewhat difficult to care for,
animal is sold so cheaply and readily to anyone who just gets
a whim and buys a pet.Shure many people do care for their iggy's
well, but I personally have seen hundereds on abandoned or
neglected iggys in the 4 years I have been in the hobby.Many
times I have thought of getting rid of the responsibilities
and hassles caused by al, but have always relized it was my
responsibility to see that al was cared for as good as possible.

Why I have rambled on like this I dont know, but I hope that
maybe my experience with al can help others see that they
should think long and hard before purchasing an iquana.They
do make great pets, and are smart (heck how many papertrained
beardeds have you heard of) but they also bring with them
hudge responsibilities that many people can not or will not
be able to meet.I in no way am a perfect keeper, but I have
tried to make als life as happy as possible, allthough I would
never again get another iggy after he passes on.

Sorry so long and no pic. but Ill put up one of him when
I can.

Mickey

my web page

Follow Ups:

Bet you never thought .... Mr. D 02/01/01 (0)
When there are no other choices, he'll eat the salad. This happened with... JNelson 02/01/01 (0)
dog food!!!!!!!!! Jim White 02/01/01 (12)
- yes occasionally he does..not his diet, but is his habbit Mickey(TLK) 02/01/01 (11)
  - Just an idea Ronnie 02/01/01 (7)
    - Actually the store closed a year ago due to a robbery (more) Mickey(TLK) 02/01/01 (6)
      - actually mickey, yes we do have a great iguana vet..... sue3 02/02/01 (0)
      - At the risk of belaboring the point.... JohnT 02/01/01 (4)
        
        Once again thanks for all the advice, and al has had his last dog food.. Mickey(TLK) 02/01/01 (3)
        
        Great news! Thanks, Mickey, and best wishes to you and Al... np JohnT 02/02/01 (0)
        
        Cool Beans! Ronnie 02/01/01 (1)
        
        ummm i thought beans were a no no also? phantoms 02/01/01 (0)
  - more about the dog food, and the store... Mickey(tlk) 02/01/01 (2)
    - Re: more about the dog food, and the store... xta 02/01/01 (0)
    - Re: dog food Harry's Dad 02/01/01 (0)

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: I got into reptiles about 4 years ago.My first pet reptile : was/is my iguana Al.He has lived on my fridge for the last : 3 years, and is paper trained to do his business on the : stair landing on newspaper.He is over 5 ft now, and is tame : as can be.He eats dog food out of the dogs bowl, allong : with a variety of greens and fruits. : Now Im shure many people can find many things wrong with : the way al is housed, and I must agree.I started off housing : al in aquariums, and then moved him to homemade cages, and : soon he had a room of his own.Well living in Nebraska makes : it hard to keep a large room at the right temp and humidity : for a reptile.But having housed him in a room for over a year : I felt it would me very cruel to move him into a small cage. : So one winter I put him on the fridge with some heat tape and : lights for him.I planned on only keeping him their shortly, but : he became accustomed to it, and seemed to do well so its stuck. : Allthough I love al dearly, I must say that I feel an iguana : was not the right reptile for me to buy as a first pet.I have : since owned/ bred many different reps. and have also run my : own reptile specialty store, but al is the first and last : iguana I will ever own.I think that the trade needs to take : a hard look at the way iquana's are dealt with.I think it is : a shame that such a large, and somewhat difficult to care for, : animal is sold so cheaply and readily to anyone who just gets : a whim and buys a pet.Shure many people do care for their iggy's : well, but I personally have seen hundereds on abandoned or : neglected iggys in the 4 years I have been in the hobby.Many : times I have thought of getting rid of the responsibilities : and hassles caused by al, but have always relized it was my : responsibility to see that al was cared for as good as possible. : Why I have rambled on like this I dont know, but I hope that : maybe my experience with al can help others see that they : should think long and hard before purchasing an iquana.They : do make great pets, and are smart (heck how many papertrained : beardeds have you heard of) but they also bring with them : hudge responsibilities that many people can not or will not : be able to meet.I in no way am a perfect keeper, but I have : tried to make als life as happy as possible, allthough I would : never again get another iggy after he passes on. : Sorry so long and no pic. but Ill put up one of him when : I can. : Mickey

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