FL Press: Your baby reptile could grow up to 6 feet long

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on February 26, 2002 at 14:27:52:

While Desiree is away, Wes will play ...

MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 26 February 02 Your baby reptile could grow up to 6 feet long
Joe Wasilewski had a female pet iguana for 14 or 15 years. ''She was house trained,'' said the Miami-Dade County reptile expert. ``And yes, they have personality.''
To keep a green iguana as a pet, Wasilewski says, be aware they could live a long time -- up to 15 years in captivity, 25 years in the wild -- and grow up to six feet long.
Here are some other tips, from the International Iguana Society:
� A small, young iguana needs a large aquarium (55 gallons or greater) with a screen or wire cover, branches inside and newspaper on the bottom. A heating pad under one end of the tank on low or medium will provide warmth the reptiles need for digestion. An outdoor cage needs a floor, as iguanas can dig, and plastic-coated wire to avoid injury.
� An iguana needs light to warm his/her body -- but specialists warn against using a ''hot rock,'' which can burn your animal. An ideal temperature is 75 to 80 degrees.
� A UV-B spectrum light is needed in addition to an incandescent bulb. The ultraviolet light helps pet iguanas utilize calcium; the incandescent bulb provides heat.
Never feed an iguana iceberg lettuce, say the experts, because it contains no nutrition. Instead, a recommended diet is 30 percent to 40 percent greens, cleaned and chopped; 30 percent to 40 percent frozen mixed vegetables, thawed to room temperature; 10 percent to 30 percent fruit; and 1 percent to 5 percent protein, from dry dog food or monkey chow that has been soaked in water.
Two or three times a week, provide a multivitamin and/or calcium powder for reptiles or birds. And iguanas love hibiscus flowers.
Never release an iguana. It's illegal. For more information, go to www.fishgallery.com. The International Iguana Society publishes Iguana Times, a quarterly magazine. You can visit the website, www.iguanasociety.org, or call 860-236-8203.

Your baby reptile could grow up to 6 feet long

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Oh my.... WHY do people have to put this JUNK in the paper?? Mark 02/26/02 (0)

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: <i>While Desiree is away, Wes will play ... </i> : MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 26 February 02 Your baby reptile could grow up to 6 feet long : Joe Wasilewski had a female pet iguana for 14 or 15 years. ''She was house trained,'' said the Miami-Dade County reptile expert. ``And yes, they have personality.'' : To keep a green iguana as a pet, Wasilewski says, be aware they could live a long time -- up to 15 years in captivity, 25 years in the wild -- and grow up to six feet long. : Here are some other tips, from the International Iguana Society: : � A small, young iguana needs a large aquarium (55 gallons or greater) with a screen or wire cover, branches inside and newspaper on the bottom. A heating pad under one end of the tank on low or medium will provide warmth the reptiles need for digestion. An outdoor cage needs a floor, as iguanas can dig, and plastic-coated wire to avoid injury. : � An iguana needs light to warm his/her body -- but specialists warn against using a ''hot rock,'' which can burn your animal. An ideal temperature is 75 to 80 degrees. : � A UV-B spectrum light is needed in addition to an incandescent bulb. The ultraviolet light helps pet iguanas utilize calcium; the incandescent bulb provides heat. : Never feed an iguana iceberg lettuce, say the experts, because it contains no nutrition. Instead, a recommended diet is 30 percent to 40 percent greens, cleaned and chopped; 30 percent to 40 percent frozen mixed vegetables, thawed to room temperature; 10 percent to 30 percent fruit; and 1 percent to 5 percent protein, from dry dog food or monkey chow that has been soaked in water. : Two or three times a week, provide a multivitamin and/or calcium powder for reptiles or birds. And iguanas love hibiscus flowers. : Never release an iguana. It's illegal. For more information, go to www.fishgallery.com. The International Iguana Society publishes Iguana Times, a quarterly magazine. You can visit the website, www.iguanasociety.org, or call 860-236-8203. :

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