Funny you should post that

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Posted by BeDreamin on April 17, 2003 at 19:08:37:

In Reply to: A REALLY SICK posted by IGUANA JOE on April 16, 2003 at 22:47:14:

I was having a conversation with a friend in school early this week about herps and kids our age raising them, (I'm 17, he's 15 and mostly into geckos). He mentioned that many people cut the tails off of igs to avoid whipping, and honestly I didn't believe him when he said it. It just seems like such a fundamental violation of all the reason behind why an iguana has a tail... It really does blow my mind that people would do that if they cared at all about the animal... I mean, even "cool factor" buyers must see something in overal length.

:Iguanas are big. Cycluras are bulky, and greens are as long as the Turnpike. And Cteno's...tho medium-sized...can definately kick your @$$ even when blind-folded.

:Almost everyone, by now, knows that these are not aquarium reptiles. Big, often custom-made, enclosures are needed.

:Yet some people have really sick and twisted minds to solve their "blues" with space.

:EX:
:If an iguana is 6 feet long in total lenght, it is mandatory to have something AT LEAST 5-6' deep, 8'+ long and 7'+ high. Duh...

:An iguana's tail makes up about 200% the length of the animal's SVL. So a 6 footer might be about 2 feet long SVL and about 4 feet is tail. This is a gross estimation of course.

:This is also where the sickos come into place. I have actually heard of kids purposely "breaking" almost all of the iguanas' tails off!
:After all, what better way to transform a 6 footer into a 2.5 foot lizard? They probably do treat the wound, because if not it might very well result in expensive vet bills or the death of the animal. The tail will regrow but never as long, and so voila`! The incredible-shrinking-iguana is born!

:(Do keep in mind that I'm using 6 feet as an example, since 6' iguanas are not easy to come by in a store).

:It is mostly done to juveniles or young adults. That way their growth is supposedly "limited".

:The point to this twisted story is that once the animal has been "stunted" (the ever-so-famous "s" word) it is possible to invest in a smaller, cheaper enclosure. ...........in their mind.

:A friend of mine over-heard a couple of teens disucssing it.
:To me it makes no sense at all, for numerous reasons...........
:.....but I'll let you folks discuss them if you wish, as I'm too lazy to list them all. lol

:It is sad though, that there are people out there who these things to animals...exotic and domestic. And maybe it is an issue worth mentioning at some educational meetings, expos, and the like.

:After all, all it takes is one stupid person with a dumb idea to spread it like a virus right?

:Hope to chat with ya all on Friday!

:-IJ
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