Still concidering-responding to some responses, (long post)

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

Posted by Melissa on February 21, 2002 at 08:41:30:

I want to thank everyone for their opinions. Well here's some of my opinions based on what all of you mentioned about Igs and some info on me.

I am 23 years old. I live in Jacksonville Florida and I am almost done with college. I work full-time and all my time in the evening is dedicated to spending time with my lizards, taking care of them and loving on them. I live with my boyfriend and like I said in my previous post, we already have three other lizards. He helps me a lot with the care of our lizards, and he knows too all the info about the Igs. I'm the one thats been getting all the info on our lizards, and bascially all day long, I look up info on different animals. I spent all afternoon yesterday researching green Igs and what they're care needs were. (I dont really have to do actual work at work and if I do it usually doesn't take more than a min or two)

I know Igs require a lot of space and a lot of food. We're going to have someone build an enclolsure for us thats probably going to be around 7-8 ft high, 6 ft long and 4-5 ft deep. We're moving to a new apartment next month, so the size of the enclosure is going to depend on how well its going to fit in one of the two rooms we'll have the lizards in. Also I wont have my Ig running around the house freely, (unless one of us is keeping an eye on it). I know one of you said you went to that eventually, but I'm just afraid that it'll get hurt. Plus I know they get big, so I dont want him getting into any dangerous trouble either.

Also we dont plan to have any kids. Its something neither one of us want, (reason why we want so many different kinds of animals), and if we did end up having kids, there's no way that I'll give up my animals, unless they show constant agression towards the child. As far as samenlia is concerned, I know how to prevent from getting it, and I figure if I can cook chicken and not get samenilia I can have a lizard and not get it either.. hehe.

I haven't completely decided yet on if I'm going to get a rescue or if I'm going to get a young Ig. I know a few of you said that a rescue is a good idea (I agree its a very good idea), I'm just more afraid of the Ig being more aggresesive if it was in a bad house and mistreated. On the positive end, I'll know whether I have a male of female (not that it matters that much) and I'll also be able to tell its personality a little better too. At the same time I want one that I can raise up from a baby, and know all of its history. Plus I feel that the more a young animal is around people, the more likely it will be friendly. Especially if its hand fed as a baby.

I've always been interseted in Igs but I neveer started thinking about it, until I decided that I couldn't have a Arg Blk and Wht Tegu. I want a big lizard, we have the space, and can provide everything it needs. The problem with the Tegu was the feeding the mice part. I dont mind feeding mice to reptiles, but at the same time, I'm also afraid of the mouse or rat hurting the reptile. Plus if the Tegu we would've had ever needed surgery, we would have to skin the mouse or rat. I'm not about doing that at all. So with that said, I started looking for other lizards that I could keep that would large, but tamable. I know some Igs aren't tamable, thats why I'm hoping to find a friendly one.

One qustion I have though, there were some differences a couple of you talked about between males and females. I was wondering what some more of those differnces are. If I do end up getting a rescue, I'll want to know what to expect tempramental wise from a male or female. I know generally males are a little easier to care for (in a lot of lizards, females can lay eggs without them being fertile, therefore you have to provide a nesting site for them, and also make sure they get extra calcium to help them recover from the egg laying). Also I've heard that females are more unpredictable (as far as moods goes) than males. I know our chameleon lets us know when he doesn't want to be tampered with, so we just leave him alone =).

My main concern right now like I said, isn't so much the care. I know how demanding they are, how big they get, and what the requirements are for keeping a healthy and happy Ig. I am more interested in temprament. From what you have all told me, they can be mean (I think most big lizards can be). Do any of you have a relatively affectionate Ig? I know some lizards like to be petted and held, then they go onto do whatever it is they want to do. (much like a cat).

Anyways, sorry for the rambling, just wanted to give you all some background about me, what our Ig will have as far as enclosure size, and what kind of living situtation I'm in now. On a side bar, I know how long they can live (I know this is a huge concern in some animals such as birds) and I'm totally commited to keeping him until its his/her time to go. With that said, I'm going to keep quiet now.. hehe. Thanks again everyone. =)

Follow Ups:

Re: Still concidering-responding to some responses, (long post) Tmom 02/21/02 (0)
Great post...a big pat on the back to you. I have a question tho.... jif 02/21/02 (9)
- the answer to your question about the Tegu Melissa 02/21/02 (8)
  - Heres a way to have a tegu... Sklavin 02/21/02 (7)
    - Re: Heres a way to have a tegu... Melissa 02/21/02 (6)
      - Tegus rule, I'm sure you'd be happy with one, and jif 02/21/02 (1)
        
        I'm going to go with the Tegu Melissa 02/22/02 (0)
      - Re: Heres a way to have a tegu... Sklavin 02/21/02 (3)
        
        The tegu I would be getting... Melissa 02/22/02 (2)
        
        Re: The tegu I would be getting... Sklavin 02/22/02 (1)
        
        Re: The tegu I would be getting... Melissa 02/22/02 (0)
Re: Still concidering-responding to some responses, (long post) Silke 02/21/02 (1)
- Re: Still concidering-responding to some responses, (long post) Melissa 02/21/02 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I want to thank everyone for their opinions. Well here's some of my opinions based on what all of you mentioned about Igs and some info on me. : I am 23 years old. I live in Jacksonville Florida and I am almost done with college. I work full-time and all my time in the evening is dedicated to spending time with my lizards, taking care of them and loving on them. I live with my boyfriend and like I said in my previous post, we already have three other lizards. He helps me a lot with the care of our lizards, and he knows too all the info about the Igs. I'm the one thats been getting all the info on our lizards, and bascially all day long, I look up info on different animals. I spent all afternoon yesterday researching green Igs and what they're care needs were. (I dont really have to do actual work at work and if I do it usually doesn't take more than a min or two) : I know Igs require a lot of space and a lot of food. We're going to have someone build an enclolsure for us thats probably going to be around 7-8 ft high, 6 ft long and 4-5 ft deep. We're moving to a new apartment next month, so the size of the enclosure is going to depend on how well its going to fit in one of the two rooms we'll have the lizards in. Also I wont have my Ig running around the house freely, (unless one of us is keeping an eye on it). I know one of you said you went to that eventually, but I'm just afraid that it'll get hurt. Plus I know they get big, so I dont want him getting into any dangerous trouble either. : Also we dont plan to have any kids. Its something neither one of us want, (reason why we want so many different kinds of animals), and if we did end up having kids, there's no way that I'll give up my animals, unless they show constant agression towards the child. As far as samenlia is concerned, I know how to prevent from getting it, and I figure if I can cook chicken and not get samenilia I can have a lizard and not get it either.. hehe. : I haven't completely decided yet on if I'm going to get a rescue or if I'm going to get a young Ig. I know a few of you said that a rescue is a good idea (I agree its a very good idea), I'm just more afraid of the Ig being more aggresesive if it was in a bad house and mistreated. On the positive end, I'll know whether I have a male of female (not that it matters that much) and I'll also be able to tell its personality a little better too. At the same time I want one that I can raise up from a baby, and know all of its history. Plus I feel that the more a young animal is around people, the more likely it will be friendly. Especially if its hand fed as a baby. : I've always been interseted in Igs but I neveer started thinking about it, until I decided that I couldn't have a Arg Blk and Wht Tegu. I want a big lizard, we have the space, and can provide everything it needs. The problem with the Tegu was the feeding the mice part. I dont mind feeding mice to reptiles, but at the same time, I'm also afraid of the mouse or rat hurting the reptile. Plus if the Tegu we would've had ever needed surgery, we would have to skin the mouse or rat. I'm not about doing that at all. So with that said, I started looking for other lizards that I could keep that would large, but tamable. I know some Igs aren't tamable, thats why I'm hoping to find a friendly one. : One qustion I have though, there were some differences a couple of you talked about between males and females. I was wondering what some more of those differnces are. If I do end up getting a rescue, I'll want to know what to expect tempramental wise from a male or female. I know generally males are a little easier to care for (in a lot of lizards, females can lay eggs without them being fertile, therefore you have to provide a nesting site for them, and also make sure they get extra calcium to help them recover from the egg laying). Also I've heard that females are more unpredictable (as far as moods goes) than males. I know our chameleon lets us know when he doesn't want to be tampered with, so we just leave him alone =). : My main concern right now like I said, isn't so much the care. I know how demanding they are, how big they get, and what the requirements are for keeping a healthy and happy Ig. I am more interested in temprament. From what you have all told me, they can be mean (I think most big lizards can be). Do any of you have a relatively affectionate Ig? I know some lizards like to be petted and held, then they go onto do whatever it is they want to do. (much like a cat). : Anyways, sorry for the rambling, just wanted to give you all some background about me, what our Ig will have as far as enclosure size, and what kind of living situtation I'm in now. On a side bar, I know how long they can live (I know this is a huge concern in some animals such as birds) and I'm totally commited to keeping him until its his/her time to go. With that said, I'm going to keep quiet now.. hehe. Thanks again everyone. =)

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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