lonnnnnnnnnnng + rambling replies and some pix ...

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

Posted by iZ's mom on August 17, 2001 at 00:19:10:

In Reply to: Lets get something straight.... posted by Enemy on August 16, 2001 at 23:02:31:

winter '99

the missing toes shouldn't cause any probs (unless it's JUST recently happened, then he needs vet care, etc.) ... if it's an old injury, he's learned to adjust + is no longer a big deal ...

spikes tend to get damaged, it's not a "good" thing, but it's not a cause for concern either ... sometimes the spikes get too brittle when they're trying to shed and that can cause them to break too ... good hydration helps tremendously with shedding ~ so does daily soaks in the tub if he likes that ...

always assume that an ig DOES have salmonella and act accordingly ~ hand washing, don't put his plates on the counter or in the kitchen sink, etc ... as far as igs are concerned, salmonella isn't a bad thing, it doesn't make THEM sick and it's not something that can be safely + reliably treated in them anyway ... just take precautions for the humans ...
good idea with any "new" ig to have a "well-ig" check-up at the vet's ~ at the very least, i'd strongly suggest having a fecal done to make SURE he doesn't have worms or other parasites ... those WILL make him very sick ... i'd do this even if you know the person who's owned him for his entire 5yrs and he's in good health ~ just cuz i'm a paranoid ig-mommy and peace of mind is worth a few bucks ... :)

healthy , happy igs can live 20+ years ...
the majority of them (there's always an exception!) HATE CHANGE of ANY KIND ... even little things can stress them out sometimes ... iZ has been known to throw a major FIT cuz i was 1/2 hour late getting him for his bath ... (*geesh* can you say "spoiled baby"!?)
so chances are, he's gonna be stressed for a while ~ how long? depends on his personality and on you ...

also possible that he's gonna be very quiet + seem likes he calm for the first bit and then suddenly turn into a demon ~ OR the other way around ... he's scared, he's stressed, he's in a totally new place ~ keep reminding yourself of that (*grin*) and help him adjust ... a set daily schedule helps ALOT ... he'll soon realize *what* to expect and *when* ~ lights on/off at the same time, food at the same time, etc etc etc ... takes some of the fear away ... if he'll be aggressive or not is also totally up to his personality ~ tho i'd interpret that as fear as well right now ...

the thing with igs is that you have to EARN their trust and do it pretty much on a daily basis ... and yes, it can be done ~ some easier than others ... be prepared for it to take weeks or longer tho ...

how to trim nails??? verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry carefully!!!!! (sorry ~ HAD to say it)
ask his current human how *she* does it cuz if you can duplicate her routine, that'll help ...
otherwise, can either use the kind of clippers they have for dog's nails or can use the large clippers made for humans ... different people/igs prefer different methods ...
my favorite trick is to use a penlight flashlight to shine thru the nail ~ it makes it very obvious where the vein is and avoid cutting too short ... usually, the very *tip* of the nail is the "sharp little needle" part and just snipping that off is enough ... for a 5' ig tho, might not be quite enough ... :)
another trick/hint ... when you are holding him or sitting by him, just kinda nonchalantly play with his toes ... he'll get used to the feeling of you messin' with 'em and *nothing* else happening ... helped with iZ alot!

lights on timers is up to you ~ depends on if your schedule ... i get up earlier than iZ does in the dark winter and he does NOT appreciate being rudely awakened before the sun does it more gently ... :)

can they be handled alot? again, depends on the ig ...
iZ goes thru moods + phases ... during mating season he is EXTREMELY anti-social and "vants to be left alone ..." ... the rest of the time, yeah, he likes to snuggle, or sit on the top of the chair or sofa where i'm sitting ... depends on the time of day for him as well ... iZ is NOT a morning kindaa guy!!! (what a grouch!) ... he's very anti-social til about 3pm ... don't even TRY to talk to him in the morning! eeeeeeeeeeeeek ... he's worse than ME ... :)

transport ~ again, ask what HE is used to ... a large pet-carrier like you'd use for dogs will work ... a pillow case will work too ~ what i've done is put iZ in the pillow case with his tail stickin' out and vet-wrap the pillow case to his tail and then i wrapped him in a towel (cuz it was cold) ... have also used a pet carrier for him, put a bathtowel in the bottom of it and expect it to be pooped upon in a show of protest ... cover the pet carrier with a towel or blanket ~ the dark will calm him down a bit ... keep the car WARM ...

are you going crazy????
hmmmmmmmmm ... as a certified crazy person myself, i am qualified to tell you YES and you will become even more insane as time goes on! *wicked laughter*

good luck + best wishes!
Bon. + iZ

a couple good info sources:
The Basking Spot
MK's Giant Green Iguana Care

Follow Ups:

ps ~ me again 08/17/01 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: <img src="http://members.home.net/iznmom/pix/supper.jpg"> : winter '99 : the missing toes shouldn't cause any probs (unless it's JUST recently happened, then he needs vet care, etc.) ... if it's an old injury, he's learned to adjust + is no longer a big deal ... : spikes tend to get damaged, it's not a "good" thing, but it's not a cause for concern either ... sometimes the spikes get too brittle when they're trying to shed and that can cause them to break too ... good hydration helps tremendously with shedding ~ so does daily soaks in the tub if he likes that ... : always assume that an ig DOES have salmonella and act accordingly ~ hand washing, don't put his plates on the counter or in the kitchen sink, etc ... as far as igs are concerned, salmonella isn't a bad thing, it doesn't make THEM sick and it's not something that can be safely + reliably treated in them anyway ... just take precautions for the humans ... : good idea with any "new" ig to have a "well-ig" check-up at the vet's ~ at the very least, i'd strongly suggest having a fecal done to make SURE he doesn't have worms or other parasites ... those WILL make him very sick ... i'd do this even if you know the person who's owned him for his entire 5yrs and he's in good health ~ just cuz i'm a paranoid ig-mommy and peace of mind is worth a few bucks ... :) : healthy , happy igs can live 20+ years ... : the majority of them (there's always an exception!) HATE CHANGE of ANY KIND ... even little things can stress them out sometimes ... iZ has been known to throw a major FIT cuz i was 1/2 hour late getting him for his bath ... (*geesh* can you say "spoiled baby"!?) : so chances are, he's gonna be stressed for a while ~ how long? depends on his personality and on you ... : also possible that he's gonna be very quiet + seem likes he calm for the first bit and then suddenly turn into a demon ~ OR the other way around ... he's scared, he's stressed, he's in a totally new place ~ keep reminding yourself of that (*grin*) and help him adjust ... a set daily schedule helps ALOT ... he'll soon realize *what* to expect and *when* ~ lights on/off at the same time, food at the same time, etc etc etc ... takes some of the fear away ... if he'll be aggressive or not is also totally up to his personality ~ tho i'd interpret that as fear as well right now ... : the thing with igs is that you have to EARN their trust and do it pretty much on a daily basis ... and yes, it can be done ~ some easier than others ... be prepared for it to take weeks or longer tho ... : how to trim nails??? verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry carefully!!!!! (sorry ~ HAD to say it) : ask his current human how *she* does it cuz if you can duplicate her routine, that'll help ... : otherwise, can either use the kind of clippers they have for dog's nails or can use the large clippers made for humans ... different people/igs prefer different methods ... : my favorite trick is to use a penlight flashlight to shine thru the nail ~ it makes it very obvious where the vein is and avoid cutting too short ... usually, the very *tip* of the nail is the "sharp little needle" part and just snipping that off is enough ... for a 5' ig tho, might not be quite enough ... :) : another trick/hint ... when you are holding him or sitting by him, just kinda nonchalantly play with his toes ... he'll get used to the feeling of you messin' with 'em and *nothing* else happening ... helped with iZ alot! : lights on timers is up to you ~ depends on if your schedule ... i get up earlier than iZ does in the dark winter and he does NOT appreciate being rudely awakened before the sun does it more gently ... :) : can they be handled alot? again, depends on the ig ... : iZ goes thru moods + phases ... during mating season he is EXTREMELY anti-social and "vants to be left alone ..." ... the rest of the time, yeah, he likes to snuggle, or sit on the top of the chair or sofa where i'm sitting ... depends on the time of day for him as well ... iZ is NOT a morning kindaa guy!!! (what a grouch!) ... he's very anti-social til about 3pm ... don't even TRY to talk to him in the morning! eeeeeeeeeeeeek ... he's worse than ME ... :) : transport ~ again, ask what HE is used to ... a large pet-carrier like you'd use for dogs will work ... a pillow case will work too ~ what i've done is put iZ in the pillow case with his tail stickin' out and vet-wrap the pillow case to his tail and then i wrapped him in a towel (cuz it was cold) ... have also used a pet carrier for him, put a bathtowel in the bottom of it and expect it to be pooped upon in a show of protest ... cover the pet carrier with a towel or blanket ~ the dark will calm him down a bit ... keep the car WARM ... : are you going crazy???? : hmmmmmmmmm ... as a certified crazy person myself, i am qualified to tell you YES and you will become even more insane as time goes on! *wicked laughter* : good luck + best wishes! : Bon. + iZ : a couple good info sources: : <a href="http://www.baskingspot.com/iguanas/">The Basking Spot</a> : <a href="http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/ig_care.html">MK's Giant Green Iguana Care</a> : : <img src="http://members.home.net/iznmom/pix/15"> : <img src="http://members.home.net/iznmom/pix/14">

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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