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Post by twiggie on Aug 26, 2007 18:34:02 GMT -5
Thought i would post a quick hello I dont own an iggy just yet, collecting as much information as possible first. Hoping to be ready for one in a week or so after years and years of waiting - how excited am i!!! Used to be owned by a bearded dragon (Duke) but we sadly lost him to old age. He was a little darling, and being disabled just made him even more adorable Been reading through the board and found it very helpful no doubt i will be picking a few brains when questions pop up
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Post by Patrick Kubeja on Aug 26, 2007 19:16:18 GMT -5
Well Welcome to the Forum!!!
And Questions Are Good before getting a Iguana or any Reptile!
So Ask away if we can not help you, we will point you to a place that can!
Patrick
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Post by twiggie on Aug 27, 2007 7:29:21 GMT -5
Thank you for the welcome Patrick The only reason i am now able to get my long awaited iggy is because we have recently moved house and now have the room to give him the size vivarium that he will need when is is fully grown. Before now, 12 ft housing just wasnt an option. I have read so much that i think we are almost ready to start putting a viv together for his first home in readiness to go shopping!! I do have one question so far though, i have read all sorts of conflicting advice on using "mesh" (or sometimes referred to as "screen") vivariums, some say they are no good for iggy's as they dont hold the humidity well enough, and others say they swear by them. We will be housing him to start with in smaller surroundings until he gets big enough for my husband (maxlean on here) to build his 12 ft "bedroom", are these mesh ones a bad idea? would he be better off in a glass version to start with? Also "substrate" - in three of the books i have read it claims astroturf is best and in the other 2 it claims non-woven carpet is best. What would you recommend? Diet i have got covered, and i am already registered with an "exotic" vet as Duke was very well looked after by him so will stick with them.
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Post by prismwolf on Aug 27, 2007 10:14:06 GMT -5
Welcome and KUDOS for researching first!! My first viv was a molded plastic mesh with three solid wooden sides. It was extremely hard to keep the humidity level up. Now I have one completely enclosed and now I kick myself for not going with plexiglas (safer than glass) on the other one where I had the mesh. For the substrate in the larger one I use astroturf. It's easier to rinse out than the carpet. I have two pieces cut to size so when one needs cleaning...all I need to do is swap. When he was in the smaller one I used newspaper. It's SO much easier for cleaning, but in the large one he scoots the newspaper all over the place and poops directly on the bottom of the floor...
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Post by twiggie on Aug 27, 2007 16:58:51 GMT -5
Thanks for that it is appreciated
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Post by Dawn on Aug 31, 2007 9:01:46 GMT -5
Welcome Twiggie (o:
We prefered to use astroturf for the same reason Veronica does. It's so much easier to clean than indoor outdoor carpeting. I've noticed, it also seems to help Emmy shed his toes easier than me fighting with him to let me help. And as Veronica stated, it's a good idea to have two sheets cut to size. Makes cleaning and drying alot easier.
With our iguana's tank, we have both glass and screen. Our tank is composed of two kereo cabinets fused together. It's a wooden frame with glass panes on two sides and a glass pane on the top of the door. The bottom pane on the door we removed and filled with animal screen. Since there are different types of screen, if you choose to use any, pick one that is durable, yet flexible. That will keep your iguana from cutting anything or getting their claws stuck in the holes. Screen does allow the humidity to escape the tank, so we bath Emmy regularly. He gets bathed daily to keep his external hydration up. Instead of glass, I would also suggest plexi glass. It's much harder to break than regular glass. Also, in the event that it does break, there is less of a chance of cutting as there is with regular glass. Don't get me wrong, it will still cut, but it's not as easy as it is with regular glass.
I'm very glad to see you doing your research! I was one of the bad iggy owners who didn't do full research where I should have and it ended up in Emmy getting sick and me finding this bored begging them for help. Since then, Emmy's lights have been regulated, his diet is alot better than it was and he is thriving! He has a wonderful vet here who just adores him and enjoys the anual visits for screening.
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