Re: Macho Man Bud

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Posted by Kate on April 04, 2003 at 16:23:33:

In Reply to: Macho Man Bud posted by girlzilla on April 04, 2003 at 11:57:05:

Igs' growth slows down a lot after their first couple years. They keep going, just not so quickly. Just keep feeding him as much as he wants to eat, and make sure he has no parasites, and he should be okay. I think their tails often grow faster than the bodies, though. At least, Lizard's does. Lizard is probably close to 4 years old now, and is only 13" SVL. But it's only in the last year he's had a good diet and UV light, and in that time he's grown 5", probably almost 4" of it tail. I never really noticed it from looking at him, only when I measured. His appetite grew gradually from the time I got him - I had to force and assist feed for a couple weeks. It took several months before he really had a normal iguana appetite.

Spring is finally starting (if you live where I do), and breeding season is over, so he'll probably eat more now. Have you got any pictures of him to post? He can't be that skinny!

:And he just looks... skinny. Not like BIG wrinkles of skin hanging off him, or ribs showing, but if he's lying in a straight line, he definately has wrinkles on his sides. He has a nutritious diet, and eats well most of the time- just coming out of breeding season and winter- but he looks like I starve him!

:He's got the femoral pores, for sure, but no jowls to speak of. He doesn't head bob any time except for at his reflection in the mirror, and is rarely aggressive, even during this last season (although I think it was his first, so maybe that's why). He never does that funny sideways look-how-hot-I-am walk. But he did turn kind of pinky-orange during breeding season, and I know he's a boy b/c he everts his hemipenes when he goes to the bathroom, and I find seminal plugs & fresh, um...samples in his cage. :P Yuck!
:

LOL!! You should be grateful for his nice behavior during breeding season! I know we all hear horror stories, but some of the guys just don't get so aggressive. :-) And first breeding seasons are often milder than the following, I hear. Btw, although Lizard looks quite macho, with big jowls and huge pores during breeding season, he remains a sweetie most of the time. The worst I've gotten behaviorally is a poopie painting or two. He doesn't bob much either (although he did a lot the one time he encountered a female ig), or do the funny walk. Seems like you and I got lucky. :-)

Kate

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