I think they’re pretty cool looking, though I’ve never known one in person.

I have heard that they require a lot more care than people think (just like bunnies!) so make sure you do your research. I know they can get huge!

They require a LOT of special care – temperature control, heat lighting, lots of space, fresh water (iguanas like to swim, you can’t just put them in a tiny cage or aquarium) that they can comfortably fit in, special diets, etc. It takes a lot of space, as they get HUGE as they get older and the initial expense alone is pretty pricey. Then vet care is more expensive, as they are exotics. So be sure to do a lot of research and grab a good book before you decide. If your uncle has an alligator (though, those are illegal to own as they are protected… are you sure it’s not a caiman? o.O) he likely knows a lot of tricks he can teach you.

My brother had one when we were growing up. Getting whipped by their tails can hurt too haha but they are cool pets, as long as you know what to do with them – ours was a bit hands off unless he wanted his head pet and he took a chunk out of my mothers finger once going for his salad.

Chlorine and chemicals that we put in swimming pools isn’t very good for their skin. Usually a little “fish pond” like thing is what people use, doesn’t have to be very deep or extremely large, just big enough for a full grown iggy to lounge around. Or a kiddy pool! Should be changed often though, cause they do leave a lot of droppings in there.

We had a monitor lizard so that’s a little different than an iguana. Lizards are neat, but not always the friendliest things. Our lizard had a death wish for us. They are a lot of work to maintain and there’s a lot of expensive equipment that’s required. Gosh, I don’t know how many times I had to buy a new bulb because they kept burning out. It was on a timer and he knew it was supposed to be on. I just remember coming downstairs and seeing it was dark in his room. I looked through the doorway and he was sitting there in his basking spot and he was giving me the death stare. Haha! The vet bills were insane. We spent so much money on him.

I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into before going out and actually get an iguana.

Yeah and those bulbs aren’t cheap! And if they don’t have it, they can’t keep their body temps regulated. I swear they blow faster than any normal light bulb lol

Pandorachik – He was a speckled water monitor, so he wasn’t HUGE. There are some monitors that are really big. He was maybe more the size of an iguana, but his body wasn’t as heavy. He was streamlined and built to swim.

Stickerbunny – Those things were ridiculously expensive. We were buying ones that were $30 and they kept burning out. Then this pet store guy talked us into this one that was $70. He said that they last years. We had it for maybe 6 months, not even, and it burned out.

I know, I never can get any bulbs (even regular ones) to “last years” like they say … lol I think we were paying $15 a bulb at our store.

Reptiles! Here is my area of expertise, although I am more into geckos than I am igs.

Read several books, online resources, http://www.herpfamily.com is like binkybunny for reptiles. I hang out there from time to time, under the same screen name. People there are friendly and can give you a lot of advise.

From What I understand, they need a varied diet of greens, fruit, and insect protein, especially when young. A nice, large well ventilated enclosure. A lot of people who live in warm environments like Florida build secure outdoor enclosures for their igs.

They get very big. And you NEED to tame them down to at least be handle-able. I know more than one person who has had their hand/arm get split open by getting tail whipped by an adult ig.

As for bulbs burning out. Yeah I feel that pain too. 4 gecko cages and a python cage. But from what I have heard, jostling the lamp around when the bulb is hot is part of what does them in. Try to set it so that the lamp stays completely stationary while opening the cage lid. I have a ceramic heat emitter on my python cage, and her cage opens in front, so the bulb is never bothered. It has been going for a couple of years now non stop. Also, if you do use ceramic heat emitters, use a wire basket lamp or dremel holes into a normal one so the heat can disperse properly. Those things get so hot they fry themselves if not allowed the right circulation.

I had an iguana for a brief time when I was a teenager. I got him from a friend, and had him for about a year. Looking back, I know he wasn’t cared for properly. Once he started getting bigger and we were no longer able to house him, we surrendered him to an Iguana Rescue/Sanctuary. They had humongous pens for their iguanas and I knew he’d be cared for well there, even if he was never adopted.

I wouldn’t suggest an iguana for a teenager or someone who is limited to a single room. I had to keep him in my bedroom and there just wasn’t going to be enough space for him AND me. I like Joyful’s idea of joining a group for reptiles and just reading threads of what is required. They need such specialized care, so much moreso than bunnies. My rabbits on the other hand are comfortable in the same environment as me. They don’t need special heat sources or water for swimming. I can vacuum out their pen and dump litterboxes a couple times a week and they’re good. Cleaning a habitat with water is messy and very time-consuming (this is also why I don’t have fish tanks anymore!)

So, I certainly wouldn’t want a reptile again at this point, but obviously some people are “reptile people” and enjoy the extra work. To each their own.

Besides, I thought you were wanting to get a new bunny? I wouldn’t recommend both, that would be way too much work on top of what you already have going on.

I have 5 cats, 5 geckos, 1 python, 1 dog, and 1 rabbit. A job, a house, and a husband in school full time. IF you think you can take on the challenges of owning your own zoo, then power to you, but it is very expensive and time consuming. Not to mention one of my geckos is a baby, and needs to be hand tamed so he is taking a lot of work right now. Also vet bills for reptiles do get expensive. But if you are the type that enjoys the unique experience of owning a reptile, then go for it. Just really know what you are getting yourself into. Not all reptiles are difficult to keep. Snakes are pretty easy, and many species of gecko are too. Iguanas from what I know of, can be quite difficult.

Yeah, I definitely think iguanas are cute! Maybe if someone you know has one you could interact with theirs… without the responsibility… lol!