Re: UGH! My iguana population has just doubled...

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Posted by bexley on January 04, 2003 at 14:15:28:

In Reply to: UGH! My iguana population has just doubled... posted by Annaka on January 03, 2003 at 19:19:41:

You are so kind to take them in! I agree with you, I have no idea how people can give pets as Christmas presents without knowing they will be completely wanted, adored and cared for in the long years to come. All they have done is taught their child that living creatures are disposable, and that "someone else will look after it". Good luck, I hope they both turn around for you and are fine.

:Did I ever mention that I work at a grooming shop? It's mostly oriented towards dogs and cats, though there are a few birds and reptiles, including one medium-size Male ig (the owner's personal spoiled pet).

:This morning, a parent came by, and dumped off their kid's neglected christmas present - two tiny baby iglets in a crappy plastic critter keeper. No heat, no light, no food, no water. Apparently the kid played with them for a couple of days and then got bored and forgot about them. Unfortunately I wasn't there to greet them, otherwise I'd have given the parent a piece of my mind (and then some)...

:Now, since "my" store does not sell iguanas, guess who they called to come and pick them up? That's right, I now own the two poor things. They are very dehydrated and shriveled. Super tiny li'l things! The bigger one is at most 9" total length, the smaller one maybe an inch shorter. Their bodies are the size of large green anoles! The only thing the non-reptile-oriented store worker remembers is that the parent told her these were "those special christmas iguanas" and that they were "really nice and tame". Sounds an awful lot like what Reptile Depot is advertising, doesn't it? Suriname "christmas" iguanas? That store is not too far from me, so they could be, but then again who really knows or cares anyway?

:So far, three hours and counting, one is still mostly limp, but the other is visibly picking up. Opening eyes and checking things out. I'm keeping their humidity at 100% for now, and give them a couple of drops of water on the nose every time I check on them (every hour or so). They show no interest in drinking or eating on their own, but when the water lands on their noses they eagerly drink/lick it up. The bigger baby ate a tiny shred of collard green when I stuck it under his nose - he is certainly the stronger of the two. I'm fairly sure he'll make it, don't know about the other one though... Send them good thoughts for quick recovery, please...

:I truly hate people who get their kids living things as a present, and then expect the kids to be responsible enough to care for it. Come on, expecting a kid to be reponsible for another creature's life? A creature they treat as a new toy? Wonder how many more iglets out there are dying right now... I guess these two little ones are lucky they were dumped so quickly - they're still alive, and now have a good chance of staying that way.

:Thanks for letting me vent... At the moment, I'm still going "OMG what am I doing with these two more potential monsters". If they live, they WILL be monsters in a couple of years. Right now, Kaaz can get them both in one gulp and barely notice it, they are so tiny. (sorry, no pics. I don't photograph or name them untill I'm sure they'll live)
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