Don't write off the iguana just because he takes up space.
I don't write them off just because they take up space. I write them off because, for any but the most experienced herp owner, they're extraordinarily difficult to handle.
A dedicated, experienced reptile owner and handler can take good care of an iguana, yes. And for those owners, they're incredibly rewarding pets. They're friendly, social, and beautiful. But for inexperienced owners, the demands of space, temperature gradients, humidity, lighting, UV balance, diet, supplementation, and hygiene are nearly impossible to juggle. The average lifespan of iguanas in the wild is over 20 years; in captivity it's about 8 months.
There are starter-lizards that are much easier to handle, and in my experience equally rewarding. Once a person has some experience, then if they want to jump into the commitment of owning an iguana, it might be worth trying.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2004-03-27 09:41 pm (UTC)I don't write them off just because they take up space. I write them off because, for any but the most experienced herp owner, they're extraordinarily difficult to handle.
A dedicated, experienced reptile owner and handler can take good care of an iguana, yes. And for those owners, they're incredibly rewarding pets. They're friendly, social, and beautiful. But for inexperienced owners, the demands of space, temperature gradients, humidity, lighting, UV balance, diet, supplementation, and hygiene are nearly impossible to juggle. The average lifespan of iguanas in the wild is over 20 years; in captivity it's about 8 months.
There are starter-lizards that are much easier to handle, and in my experience equally rewarding. Once a person has some experience, then if they want to jump into the commitment of owning an iguana, it might be worth trying.