New member saying HI!!!! What's your take on free roaming?

[Jadelizard]

Hello,
I just signed up today and wanted to say hi!! I love all reptiles but my favorite are lizards!!!

I have a five year old female iguana that I absolutely adore but have had quite a few problems with recently. When I got her she was affectionate enough but lately she's been rather moody and now I'm the only one in my family that can pick her up with out her thrashing about.

She's mostly a free roamer and she has her own little tower that she stays on when not wondering around. When I put her in a cage she gets really depressed and won't eat or move at all.

When I got her she was a rescue that was kept in a small fish tank and feed only green beans, she's now twice the size and a lot healthier looking. I have a rather large cage for her outside for the warmer days of summer but she still acts depressed when I put her in it.

She ran away three times last summer by tearing a hole in the patio window, sneaking out the back door when my dad cleaning, and then somehow broke her harness when I was letting her sunbathe out side!!! (thus the reason for the cage!!!)

Does anyone else out there let there lizards free roam? My dad just about freaked the first time he came to wake me up and there was a lizard laying on my chest!!! (She likes me more then her heat lamp!!!)

[ferret_corner]

You take what you with free roaming. I think every pet needs a type of cage. Dogs get a yard, cats get a house, etc etc etc.

And every animal likes the best of the best, and yours likes being free (who wouldn't??) hence being depressed when in the cage.

Maybe you could custom build something with chicken wire?? To give her maximum roaming ability?? Maybe buy a smallish tree and cage it in?

I know male iguanas "cycle" maybe your female is finally feeling her cheerioats now that she is healthy and is cycling for breeding and hence the crankiness???

Just guesses on my part.

GL!
Sharon

[BeardieGuy]

Yeah, I agree, for a low price you could probably build a MASSIVE cage with screen likke mesh or chicken wire, but how big is she?
-mike

[Jadelizard]

Sorry about the late reply. Been kinda busy....

Any way!!! She's just over three ft long, I think she would be longer but she lost her tail at some point. I got her a cage for inside (3X3X8 ft) and her one outside is a 6x6X8 ft. I had her out side yesterday in her cage and she wasn't to upset, she tried to get out for an hour before she would settle down and sunbath. She really likes it when I wet her down so I gave her a bath as soon as i put her in the cage and I think that helped some.

How would I know if she's cycling or not, should I be giving her more calcium if she is? She's been getting moodswings alot lately but never with me just my sister and dad (shaking her head, opening her mouth, tail whipping, ect)

When I first got my iguana ( named Robbin) I was told by our vet that I should never let her free roam but I didn't think he was to reliable seeing as he also told be I should feed her pinkies at least twice a week to keep her healthy. I was just wondering if anybodies done both (cage and roam) and seen any differance. this is my first lizard and while I learned as much as I could before I got her I'm still tring to figure some things out!!!

[ferret_corner]

I've never allowed an iguana or any reptile to free roam, well except for that box turtle and now I don't have that box turtle!

I do know LOTS of people with iguanas. Only three have allowed free roamng.

Man #1 - DEAD - died when a neighbors' house was bug bombed and his iguana ate the grass in the yard.

Woman #2 - called me crying to help her find her iguana - 6 months later we still can't find it.

Man #3 - the biggest whacko I've ever met - lizard #1 froze to death in his car when he drove up north and didn't take it into the hotel with him. Lizard #2 died after falling from a curtain rod and every bone in its body shattered because of calcium deficiency. Lizard #3 still alive but doesn't climb because its legs have been broken and it can't climb. This man feeds his iguanas straight canned cat food and nothing else. We argue and almost go into a fight over it. His lizards are allowed to free roam inside of his house. But he doesn't have kids, a wife or a girlfriend and the entire house is set up for them.

Iguanas can be very bright. Man #1 - his iguana used a doggy door, however it wasn't bright enough to not eat the foul smelling grass. This man could smell the poison as soon as he bent down to pick up his iguana.

I had a rescued iguana that lived in my master bathroom. That was fun! Being menaced by a 6 ft lizard while you sit on the pot - lmbo!!

I think you've got an excellent setup for your ig going on as it is right now. He could use a good soak once in a while. I used to put mine on bath towels in the tub and turn the shower on set on "rain" and moderately warm.

Good luck,
Sharon

[Dylacat]

Hi, first I just wanted to welcome you to the site. This is an awesome forum, with a lot of great people. Secondly, I want to congratulate you on adopting your iguana. I adopted my 2 yr old beardie as well, and I feel that it's one of the best things that someone can do. Lastly, about the roaming...I feel that it's okay to allow your reptile to roam, as long as it's supervised. I have a certain area that I let my beardie roam around. It's all beardie proofed, and I never leave the room while she's out. Letting them roam sometimes every day, gives them a lot of great exercise, that they otherwise might not get as often. I just never let her out by herself; there's too many accidents and mishaps waiting to happen. Custom building a larger enclosure, as others suggested, is a very good idea. You could construct a really nice, affordable, large enclosure. There's also a lot of great sites for a DIY enclosure. Here's a couple of links:
Ron Hazelton Builds an Iguana Cage

Basic Cage Building 101

Take Care,
Rebecca

[biochic]

Personally I think the free-roaming is too dangerous. First, there are way too many dangers in a house that an iguana can get into. Secondly, like you already pointed out, they can escape easily. And third, many times, free-roaming iguanas, especially males, will get territorial and dangerous themselves. I'm not saying that will happen with your little girl but I have seen it happen several times, not to mention all the articles I've read about seasoned keepers getting bitten badly by iguanas that were free-roaming and decided certain areas were 'theirs.' A room or large cage of their own is always best. They feel more secure, they have their own territory, and you know that they are safe. And i wouldn't worry about your iguanas attitude. Sometimes they change their personalities on a dime. Maybe she'll settle back down, maybe not, it's hard to tell, but don't give in to her. Keep trying to handle her ocassionally as long as you feel comfortable with it. If you just leave her alone, when you do need to handle her she'll be even worse.
Oh, and btw, welcome to the boards!

[Jadelizard]

I can fully understand about her adopting a room as her territory, she always goes back to the living room. Like I said she has a tower that I built for her in the corner ( it resembles the multi story cat posts you see in pet stores) but she usually stays in a big window that takes up half the wall (I think she likes watching the birds that land in the bushes right out side)

I handle her every day, she likes coming over when I'm watching tv and laying behind me or on my chest. She can be very affectionate to me but tends to get cranky with other people, especially strangers. She doesn't seem to mind most animals but tends to shy away from dogs. She doesn't care about our rabbits and her and one of the cats get along really well, I see them laying together all the time!!!

Like I said Robin has gotten out a total of three times since I got her but we live out in the country so I don't have to worry to much about her bothering neighbors. The first time she was gone was a few hours but she came right back up to the house and was laying at the door waiting to be brought back in, even though it was really nice out so I know she wasn't cold. The second time she was gone for about a week and I found her in a tree out back. The third time was the only time I was really worried, she had already been gone a week and we were leaving for the weekend and it was supposed to be really stormy. She was gone for just over a month when I finally found her sunbathing out by our barn.

I've never had to worry about her to much with eating something she's not supposed to, except when she gets into the cat food bag. I know she was pretty bad off when I got her but I read that the best way to tell if an iguana is healthy is the check three things: First; that they can lift themselves off the ground when the walk. Second; that they have good coloration. And Third; that there jaws line. I figure I'm doing something right by the fact that she's grown to twice the size that she was when I got her and she sheds almost every other month. The fist time my mom found a large piece of skin she just about freaked thinking that my lizard was going to die or something!!!

I really like hearing about other people herps and there behavior. I want to be a herpetologist and like learning as much as I can about how to care for and handle them.
As I said this is my first reptile of any kind and I’m still kind of new to it.

[ferret_corner]

Like I said Robin has gotten out a total of three times since I got her but we live out in the country so I don't have to worry to much about her bothering neighbors.

Um, its not her bothering the neighbors that you need to worry about. I live in the country too, and I wouldn't dream of letting an iguana wander around. Hawks, owls, coyotes, stray dogs, even feral cats are a danger to your iguana. And those are just the natural predators.

I've never had to worry about her to much with eating something she's not supposed to, except when she gets into the cat food bag.

The point is you have to catch them at it. I saw an episode of Emergency Vets on Animal Planet. The iguana was allowed to roam ONE room while its owner was there, and STILL no one noticed this iguana eating coins on the desk. Several hundred dollars later, the iguana made change, via surgery, and recovered.

I read that the best way to tell if an iguana is healthy is the check three things: First; that they can lift themselves off the ground when the walk. Second; that they have good coloration. And Third; that there jaws line.

To the best of my knowledge nearly all of that is wrong. Color is possible indicator, but color is an effect of what they eat too. I fed a certain squash (I forget the name) to an iguana and he turned a nice shade of orange - it took a while.

One indicator for health - and the best one if you are feeding a "CORRECT" diet is the base of the tail. An ill iguana has a very thin tail base.

Even an iguana fed ONLY cat food can reach 6 feet. Its not healthy.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to this site and read EVERYTHING this woman has to say about taking care of iguanas- LINK: http://www.anapsid.org/

Its awesome that you are making such an effort to educate yourself about the proper care for iguanas.

Good luck.

Sharon

P.S. Sorry if I sound "short" but I'm frying chicken and raising 3 small children and my husband at the moment! LOL!

[Jadelizard]

To Ferret_Corner;

First of all you seem to have a lot of knowledge about iguana s and I really appreciate any and all information that I can get. As my dad usually says if we're only told when we're doing something right then we'll probably never get very far.

I guess I should elaborate on the three health points because I was really shocked when you said that they were all wrong.
Number one: For them to lift themselves of the ground when they walk. I read that if an iguana cannot raise him/herself up when the walk (I.E if they drag themselves on the ground using there front feet to pull them selves and push with the back) that they aren’t getting the proper nurturance.
Number two: That there coloration should be some what vibrant or darkish but never dull colors like grayish greens and such If sot he/she is not getting the right nurturance and/or sun they/them or it needs. (when I first got Robin she was a pail washed out blue/gray color now she's almost always either dark green, black, or orange.)
Number three: The jaws aliens properly. A crooked jaw alignment is a sign that they're not getting the calcium that they need. (again, when I got Robin her jaws were all crooked and they never lined up, even when she was eating.)

As for the base of her tail it has always been fairly large and strong, it has been broken off before so it's not quite the same color as the rest of her body (a little bit orangish compared to the rest) but never skinny or weak looking. I feed her a diet of mostly carrots, celery, strawberries, grapes, clover, apple, dandelion leaves, usually what’s in season at the time. When I got her she had lost a few toes and some of her spikes are missing but I chucked that up to the fact that probably nobody ever helped her shed or that she lived in a fish tank. Robin loves it when I get all the loose skin off of her, but I'm always very careful.

I fed a certain squash (I forget the name) to an iguana and he turned a nice shade of orange .

I found it a little funny when you said you feed an iguana squash and he turned orange, I've tried to feed Robin three different kinds of squash and she wont touch it.

I would never NEVER let my iguana out side to run loose unless I was right there beside her the entire time. When she broke her harness my mom was supposed to be watching her but she left for a few minutes to do something and a few minutes is all it took for Robin to brake loose.

Any way, I'll be ready that web page as soon as I get the chance (my life is kind of hectic to) And thanks to all who have any handy tips and or knowledge of herps of any kind!!!

[ferret_corner]

LOL! My iguanas never wanted to eat the good stuff!! They just want their iguana twinkies! (lettuce and fruits!)

I'm really sorry, I wanted to be more indepth, or at least more "politic" lol, but we wound up eating dinner at 10PM last night thanks to sick puppies and the kids breaking a set of bay windows at dinner time.

Melissa Kaplan is just awesome.

Color is a decent indicator, but I know a couple iguanas that look gorgeous and yet I know they can't be.

1. has a plant light on it, and is fed iceberg lettuce and CHUNKS of zucchini. I mean this woman cuts up the chunks so big the iguana is gagging them down, but he is starving. When I showed up to pick up a cat, she mentioned he hadn't been fed for a couple of days. I WISH WISH WISH I could take him, he is going for free from her.

As for the proper iguana food. I shred the squash, the thing that looks like a white carrot and start with a P I think, and OMG, I can't believe I forgot what else goes in that mix!!! Anway I shred the stuff they hate and when feeding time rolls around I add a little applesauce or smash a fresh berry into it. LOL! The suckers eat it right up!

Then I clip bits of lettuce, spinach, kale or whatever is the veggie of the week, here and there about the cage.


TTYS,
Sharon

[biochic]

I think you mean parsnips? lol I don't think we've ever tried that. it's amazing the things people feed their iguanas. My sister got one last year and she was calling me twice a day from Nashville trying to figure out how to take care of it. I had her go back to the petstore several times (once to have her return the heat rock they told her she needed...liars) and had to send her a list of foods that he could eat because the list they gave her, although not dangerous, was totally incomplete and there were several inaccuracies. Oddly enough, the best caresheet I've ever seen from a petstore for iguanas, was at Petco.

[Dylacat]

Oddly enough, the best caresheet I've ever seen from a petstore for iguanas, was at Petco.

Yeah, I had thought the same thing. I usually don't listen to too much that they (the employees) have to say, but I do grab their care sheets. Heck, most of the pet stores I've been to, don't even have care sheets available. :?

~Rebecca

[ferret_corner]

OH wow! You guys gotta try Melissa Kaplans site! Really I just can't say enough good things about her.

She doesn't sell a thing. There were never any advertisements on her sites. PURE REPTILE LOVE from this woman.

ALL of her info is backed up by the latest scientific discoveries, regarding light, food, additives, you name it!

HEY! One of you check out her site and back me up why don't you!?? ROTFL!!!

And parsnips rock (you rock for thinking of the danged word!!!) they are SO loaded with vitamins (as I remember her site saying) my squash selection might change from mix to mix but the parsnips were always there! And the Igs HATED THEM!!! LOL! I've got three gallon cans from the warehouse store of applesauce, thank god the human kids like it too!!! LMBO!!

Sharon

[Dylacat]

OH wow! You guys gotta try Melissa Kaplans site! Really I just can't say enough good things about her.

Yes! I love her. I have her site bookmarked, and I have recommended it to many. Have you ever tried the Iguana Salad? She recommends it for beardies, but I've never tried it...or, eh, I mean Amayeta hasn't tried it, and I haven't made it. The quantity the recipe makes seems to be too much for only 1 beardie.

~Rebecca

[Jadelizard]

I'll have to try the applesause trick, I don't think I've ever tried parsnips or applesause on Robin. I know she absolutly loves it when I give her freash strawberries (especialy the wild ones) and other berries though so I'll try and mix those in with the squash and other foods she doesn't like. I've just started reading some of the things on that website and so far have found it very informative.

P.S. Good news, my sister went to get Robin yesterday and she was able to pick her up with out Robin getting agressive at all!!! I'm so happy!!!

[ferret_corner]

Hey Rebecca, lol, yep the salad, absolutely. I got all the mixings and makings for iguana cuisine from her site. So I must have made the salad.

Sorry I don't keep iggys anymore, the last one of the rescue escaped this past spring and um, well, he lost his head.

I like iguanas, but their care and feeding is SO involved and I'm tired of harrassing the produce guys at the super market for this oddball item and that oddball item! LOL! EVERYTIME I buy a parsnip some asks me "what do you make with that?" ROTFL, um, pet food? Iguana salad, then I have to stand there and explain reptile diets, lighting and affection!!!! Between care for the animal and stuff at the grocery store, its just to involved!

Sharon