Re: Which is best to buy???

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ]

Posted by keith on August 13, 2001 at 23:43:07:

In Reply to: Re: Which is best to buy??? posted by alisha on August 13, 2001 at 10:47:09:

Hey thanks for all the info. The reason I was asking about dominance is because if one particular baby iggy in the tank is showing some type of dominence then wouldn't it make some sense that maybe he is the strongest,healthiest, and more dominent in the tank?? Maybe I'm wrong. I just want good odds to start off with!!!!! : If you do purchase from a pet store it's easier to just pick one that for some reason catches your eye (of course you wouldn't pick the brown laid back ig that doesn't mind when you reach in and pick it up). Check for any swollen joints, limbs, toes etc. Check for *any* injury to the skin all over...including tail. Make sure eyes are clear. Nose is dry (no bubbles). The ig should be green not brown. Make sure there are no missing claws or toes. The baby should be very active and attempt to escape...after catching it, it should be hard to hold on to. Some times they will close their eyes after being caught and sometimes they will look around being very alert to their surroundings. I would prefer one that looks around to the one that closes it's eyes...IMO, one that closes it's eyes is more stressed than one that doesn't. Make sure the base of the tail is plump and not sucken in. You should not be able to see any bones very well (pelvis, shoulder, spine, ribs, etc.). Check the food dish provided for the ig's and see what they've been eating. It's best to find one that hasn't been started out on lettuce and carrots. Ask many questions...How often do they get ig's in?, Where do they get them?, On an average, how many of their ig's die before making it to a new home?, Have they ever had an ig returned by the customer due to health reasons or death?, What's the temp in the ig enclosure?, etc...and hope for honest answers. As for dominance...It is to my understanding all ig's are. All will fight to be the dominant one. That's why all ig's should have thier own cage to live in...if you follow this rule then it shouldn't matter if the ig is dominant or not.:)

: : There are hundreds of juvie iguana's in the pet store aquarium. I know the basic characteristics to look for, but is there anyway to tell if one (Juvenile) has claimed dominancy or is that a trait displayed when they mature. I am asking since all the juveniles in the tank all look healthy, no scratches, no leackage from snout, no fecal matter on the underside , and pretty wild. Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Hey thanks for all the info. The reason I was asking about dominance is because if one particular baby iggy in the tank is showing some type of dominence then wouldn't it make some sense that maybe he is the strongest,healthiest, and more dominent in the tank?? Maybe I'm wrong. I just want good odds to start off with!!!!! : If you do purchase from a pet store it's easier to just pick one that for some reason catches your eye (of course you wouldn't pick the brown laid back ig that doesn't mind when you reach in and pick it up). Check for any swollen joints, limbs, toes etc. Check for *any* injury to the skin all over...including tail. Make sure eyes are clear. Nose is dry (no bubbles). The ig should be green not brown. Make sure there are no missing claws or toes. The baby should be very active and attempt to escape...after catching it, it should be hard to hold on to. Some times they will close their eyes after being caught and sometimes they will look around being very alert to their surroundings. I would prefer one that looks around to the one that closes it's eyes...IMO, one that closes it's eyes is more stressed than one that doesn't. Make sure the base of the tail is plump and not sucken in. You should not be able to see any bones very well (pelvis, shoulder, spine, ribs, etc.). Check the food dish provided for the ig's and see what they've been eating. It's best to find one that hasn't been started out on lettuce and carrots. Ask many questions...How often do they get ig's in?, Where do they get them?, On an average, how many of their ig's die before making it to a new home?, Have they ever had an ig returned by the customer due to health reasons or death?, What's the temp in the ig enclosure?, etc...and hope for honest answers. As for dominance...It is to my understanding all ig's are. All will fight to be the dominant one. That's why all ig's should have thier own cage to live in...if you follow this rule then it shouldn't matter if the ig is dominant or not.:) : : : There are hundreds of juvie iguana's in the pet store aquarium. I know the basic characteristics to look for, but is there anyway to tell if one (Juvenile) has claimed dominancy or is that a trait displayed when they mature. I am asking since all the juveniles in the tank all look healthy, no scratches, no leackage from snout, no fecal matter on the underside , and pretty wild. Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ]