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Posted by PH Meliss on December 04, 2002 at 15:17:24:
In Reply to: Thank you for all the info...more.... posted by snakeman97603 on December 03, 2002 at 19:03:56:
:I am going to build them a 8'long X 8'tall X 4' deep cage... I did some researching and seen that a cage of this size should be ok for them 2.
One full grown adult needs an enclosure that is at least 9 ft long, so already the 8 ft is too short. :( When it comes to igs, it isn't just cubic space - it's linear, as well. While more volume allows more options in terms of being able to be more creative in furnishings, linear space is required just for proper thermoregulation: the ig needs more than head and shoulders, for example, in the basking area. ;)
The igs may not be full grown now, but they will keep growing because you are going to be caring for them properly. Right? ;) I've taken in igs 7+ years of age who doubled their size after being fed a proper diet and kept at proper temps, day cycles, etc. So, we can't assume that an iguana who is undersized due to prior poor care is permanently stunted. While such a male, for example, may not reach the full 6ft length of the typical male, he may still grow considerably in length and mass. So, we need to either build based on the assumption that the male will reach 6 ft (and therefore require a min. 9 ft wide enclosure), or be ready to build as he grows, or convert to free roaming.
When you have two iguanas, it's tricker. There's no easy rule-of-thumb as there is for, say, some species of fish, where you add X number of gallons per Y number of fish. In the wild, males may have territories as big as 40 m. across - and females may roam freely through the territories of 3-5+ males. Two undersized igs of particularly compatible temperaments may be able to live in the 8x8x4 you are planning, but one cannot safely assume that any two igs will, and so need to prepare for the worst: two 6 ft igs who are anything but compatible...
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PH Meliss
Pet Hobbyist Volunteer * Iguana Forum
Iguanas for Dummies
Anapsid.org: Herp & Green Iguana Care, Herp Societies/Rescues & Vets
