ok so i have posted some stuff awhile ago about getting back into reptiles but still never made the leap since everything was kind of crazy at the time but now i am really wanting to get back into it, FINALLY lol. I have some reptile experience but not a whole lot, I have had a veiled chameleon, a ball python and even an ig hatchling (that unfortunately my brother killed when he was supposed to be caring for it) and other little anoles and whatnot that i caught in my backyard when i was little haha but now i am wanting something bigger. I was thinking about trying another iguana (i know how large they get and am prepared to build an adequate habitat as it gets larger) and have researched them but the woman at the petco (actually knows what she talks about and works with a reptile rescue) said that most iguanas will be very aggressive and that i would be lucky to get a chill one if i started with a hatchling. i have only seen one iguana that was mean and that was a young rescued male, every other one i have met has always been super chill (i realize there are behavioral changes during breeding season i am referring to non-breeding behavior) anyways i wanted to see what you guys thoughts on this issue were and if you had any suggestions for other larger growing lizards that are handeable? i have looked into savannah monitors and they seem interesting what are your thoughts on them? unfortunately they arent available in my area though (stores here kind of suck) so would pretty much have to special order anything besides an iguana lol. but yeah any suggestions would be greatly appreciated im wanting something that gets at least 3ft.
Looking at getting back into reptiles...having trouble choosing :)
- Thread starter Sarah88
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When I was reading about iguanas a while ago, I read that a healthy adult green iguana will almost always be aggressive. The chill one are typically kept in cramped conditions and fed bad diets. Keeping one from a baby may be a little less aggressive but would still be aggressive. The one my old school kept ws kept in cramped conditions but would still bit at anything red.
The attitude of a healthy iguana is almost exclusively based on how it was raised in my experience.... I have known many awesome adults igs and a lot more nasty means ones, all of which (for these examples) where kept properly and healthy. Sub adults and adults that are not already tame are much much harder to tame down but it's not impossible.
The younger the better in my opinion. It takes A LOT of time and patience but when you put the work in you get a marvelous animal out of it. Also keep in mind that males are known to go through a puberty stage in which they can become very aggressive and ornery but an owner that works with them through it is usually rewarded with a nice calm iggy afterwards.
One of the easiest ways to gain an iggies trust of any age though is with food. Only offer food from or close to you and eventually it will come to you to eat. A fat iggy is a scared iggy but a hungry one is brave.
The younger the better in my opinion. It takes A LOT of time and patience but when you put the work in you get a marvelous animal out of it. Also keep in mind that males are known to go through a puberty stage in which they can become very aggressive and ornery but an owner that works with them through it is usually rewarded with a nice calm iggy afterwards.
One of the easiest ways to gain an iggies trust of any age though is with food. Only offer food from or close to you and eventually it will come to you to eat. A fat iggy is a scared iggy but a hungry one is brave.
i also had another question, my veiled actually ended up dying after becoming egg bound and i was heart broken so i have kind of wanted to stay away from female lizards for that reason but seem like a female would better fit the bill (i know when getting a hatchling there is no way to tell and would be happy with either sex and would deal with challenges either brings) but my question is how common is egg binding in female iggs with proper diet and housing? i also read something about reptile vets who will spay female iggs, do any of you have any experience with this? but yeah i am prepared to put the time in to tame it from a hatchling but the lady made it sound like no matter what i did it would be aggressive and i want a lizard that i will be able to interact with and not just be closed up in its enclosure all day
yeah Axolotls are cool but im looking for something i can handle on a daily basis. and James i think you have suggested the winner!!! i hadnt seen those before they are GORGEOUS and they seem to be the PERFECT fit for what im wanting, and since they are terrestrial the cage will be even easier to build 
as soon as i saw the pictures and video i had to look further into what care they needed haha. my main question though is what to do when they hiburnate? is there a special substrate or box i have to introduce to their cage at this time? is it even necessary since i wont be breeding?
as soon as i saw the pictures and video i had to look further into what care they needed haha. my main question though is what to do when they hiburnate? is there a special substrate or box i have to introduce to their cage at this time? is it even necessary since i wont be breeding?thanks for the suggestion but i definitely dont want a beardie, they are cool little lizards but they are too small for what im wanting, and why dont you think that the hardier lizards shouldnt be handled on a daily basis? i understand why more sensitive ones such as chameleons and geckos shouldnt be but why should hardy lizards like iguanas, the argentine tegu, or even a beardie not be handled regularly? (of course im talking about a responsible person here and not a crazy kid or something jumping around with it)
Because they are animals. By saying hardy means they can handle it, does not mean they like it. If you want to get a large lizard that can be handled, the black and white tegu is probably the best choice. But even handling one from young, does not mean it will be nice. My opinion is a reptile should be a a comfortable environment and observed. Handling occasionally is good to keep it somewhat tame(tame is not a good word as its still a animal with wild instincts for defense). Many disagree with me on this though. Reptile most likely what to be left alone IMO.