I've Lost My Mind and Made Iggy a Skirt!

I always used to poke fun at my mother's love of dressing up our little yappy dogs. She would buy skirts, rain coats, shoes and coats. I thought this is just pure madness! The dogs hated it and would do a funny little sit down, jump up, sit down dance all the time. It was hilarious and pathetic, at the same time! ha ha. Well, what did I go and do? I made a skirt, yes- an iguana skirt. I won't spend money on animal clothes but I will certainly make them myself. I am new to sewing so this was quite simple! Blame it on my current unemployment or blame it on my love for Iggy, I just couldn't help myself.

She looks ridiculous, I love it! Check out her expression, she's mad!

 

 While trying to figure out a way to put it on her, I accidently ended up turning it inside out. There is a cute green flower on one side.

The band around her belly is elastic so it was sort of pushing down on one of her spikes but I only had it on her for about 5 minutes. She just sat there staring at me and then doing a quick head turn eyeing up the skirt. It was pretty funny. I took a video, too and will be posting that shortly.

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So, I've been unemployed but at the same very busy with getting our apartment rented out and starting to pack. I hope that once I am settled in, back in NJ, I will start posting some more substantial and helpful posts. I've got a lot of ideas saved and can't wait to get back on. 

I love all of your e-mails and for anyone new, if you ever have any questions, please e-mail me! I try to gather the best information, opinions and facts I can. I will never just throw out a suggestion based on one person or even just based on solely what I think. I know how important our babies are to us! I will do my best to help you so long as you do your best, too.

Vote for Iggy!

PetMeds Cutest Pet Contest! <---- Click me and vote for Iggy, please!!!

 

Thank you!

Iggy's 'Odd Behavior' Continued

A couple posts ago I mentioned how Iggy had a week of yellow urates and decreased appetite. On Sunday of this past week, after properly freaking myself out reading Melissa Kaplan's kidney disease articles, I made a vet appointment. I know how iguanas like to hide sickness so I wasn't going to chance it, but still everyone kept telling me that it was either nothing or, perhaps, she was in season. Well, wouldn't you know it, one hour after I made the appointment she started eating a big plate of food. I figured it was a fluke, so I kept the appointment.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday she ate 1.5-2 plates worth and also started pooping regularly and with her normal healthy looking urates. On Thursday afternoon, I canceled the 4:30 appointment (sorry Animal House of Chicago!) Iggy seemed completely back to 'normal' so I figured I would just keep an eye out for any signs of becoming gravid, then make an appointment for possible x-rays, etc. In the mean time, I ordered a calcium supplement and will be feeding her a way more varied diet of leafy greens. She usually eats collards plus one other green but now she has 4 different.

I don't know if this had anything to do with her feeling better and more hungry but she was out on our bed Sunday-Thursday, basking under her MegaRay and laying next to her humidifier. She seemed way more comfortable on a queen size bed vs her 4' wide 1' deep shelf in her enclosure. She moved around more, rubbed her head on the towels, ventured down and up the bed a few times and then fell asleep around 5pm each night.

Today she hung out on her tree, laid on the window sill and now is quite comfortable on her new pillow!

I wanted to mention to those reading, I did not cancel the vet due to laziness or financial issues. Many people ask my opinion on whether they should take their iguana to the vet and quite often, they should. But I have read a lot on iguanas, know my girl's habits and health, and have many reliable experienced people to ask for advice- so that is why I canceled the appointment. I know a vet visit is probably in the very near future but I felt that taking her now, (also in a cab in 15 degree weather) would be more stressful.

Luckily, I found a great herp vet only about 40 minutes from where I will be in NJ!

 

A little dark looking- notice her dewlap is extended to absorb more heat. Can't wait until I can let her hang out on the windowsill with no glass blocking out the UVB!

 

So pretty : )

I placed this pillow inside and the second she saw it she walked over, tongue flicked, rubbed her head and then stuck an arm back...So cute!

I Am Turning Into An Iguana!

Here's a quick and sort of pointless post that I'm writing at 12:44 am. I just ate a salad which consisted of chard, collards, mustard greens, and dandelion greens along with some bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, and carrots...What am I- an iguana? We've been recently reading into the benefits of whole/raw foods and decided to give it a go. Not bad with a little dressing, an avocado and a piece of whole wheat bread (another of Iggy's faves!) How about that for a (after) midnight snack!

"All's Well That Poops Well"

That quote is the darn truth, especially in our house. It was said by a devoted iguana care giver and follower of my blog regarding an out of the ordinary incident with Iggy. The issue is still going on, but Brian keeps telling me I am overreacting. Basically, last weekend on Saturday, Iggy didn't poop or eat all day. I was a little concerned but relieved when she did poop Sunday morning. The rest of the day she only had about half a plate of food.

I attributed this out of the norm behavior to a few things. One being, she had an entire banana on Friday. Normally she gets banana, just as a treat, once or twice a week. Second, we had some people coming in and out on Friday and Saturday because we are trying to rent out our apartment. Iggy dislikes new voices and people peering into her enclosure, too. And the third, out of the ordinary thing, her lights timer didn't turn on Saturday morning at 6:45a like it usually does. We slept til 9 so, she didn't start basking until quite late. I don't know if it was one, two or all of those things. Perhaps it wasn't any of them, but I do know iguanas definitely don't like change.

So, that was 5 days ago and she is still not eating too much. Before last weekend, she ate around 2 plates a day, now it's around one half to one plate a day. She has been pooping regularly but with slightly yellow urates, even sometimes a bit thicker, as well. I attribute this to lack of food intake which means a decrease in water in take. But she has been getting extra long tub soaks and more misting to compensate, as well as more water soaked bread.

Well, I will be closely monitoring her over the next week. If anything changes for the worse, I will schedule a vet visit promptly. I took a few pictures today and have to say she still looks really good. Nice coloring, still a fatty, and is alert and looks comfy all the time. Maybe it is just the Chicago winters getting her (and me!) down....

 

 

Putting Your Iguana Up For Adoption

Life brings us many expected turns and twists. Sadly, there are certain times where we may need to give up our beloved pets to another trustworthy individual such as an unexpected move or an unforeseen financial crisis. Before you decide to give your iguana up for adoption make sure you really and truly can't take care of him anymore. Iguanas don't do well with change and would much rather stay with you. This is true even for a little mischievous juvenile- don't think that your new pet "hates you" either. It always takes time (i.e. months, sometimes up to a year) to get your new friend situated, calm and trusting of you.

With that being said, if you are looking into putting your iguana up for adoption keep in mind that it is your responsibility to find a safe, caring and financially capable home. Sometimes people are just looking for a cheap pet and aren't aware of all of the needs that iguanas have, so please check out the adoptive parents. This may sound crazy to some people but if I were in this situation, I'd even call references!

The first place I'd go to is any local herptological society, lizard/herp rescue, or just general animal shelter. Even if your local animal shelter doesn't take iguanas more often than not they can point you in the right direction.

Second, I would check out the Green Iguana Society's Adoption Board. There you can submit information about your iguana in hopes of someone locally looking for an iguana.

Third, I would also post on the Green Iguana Society's Message Board, and also any other reputable herp forums or blogs. You may just get lucky and meet someone who is willing to foster your iguana.

Finally, I would use www.craigslist.org. While not always being reliable, craigslist offers a valuable tool for networking with people in your area. You may just find the perfect new iguana mom or dad on there. However, before I would adopt out my iguana I would check references with the possible new owner- including personal references, job title, and would even visit their home. I would request further contact to make sure things were going well, too. Another word about craigslist, when you are looking to adopt out your iguana- be reasonable with the adoption fee. You don't want to set it too low (unless you find the perfect person) because many young kids or those not having the means to take care of an iguana may try and adopt. Setting it too high would just be unfair to those who are willing to adopt but would rather put that money towards a better quality of life for your iguana.

Shedding, Again

She's at it again people, shed number 50 something, I've lost count! Her tail hasn't even finished shedding and now the top of her head is turning milky white again. I'm glad she's healthy and growing but my goodness, I can't keep up. On Friday and Saturday she only ate 1/2 plate of food, normally she eats 1.5-3 plates total in a day. I got scared but kept an eye on her. Sure enough Sunday, I saw that milky color coming over her scales and she was back to eating 2 plates.

I wanted to share an experiment I am doing on shedding and the uses of aloe vera. I use aloe vera, straight from the aloe leaf, on my own skin twice a day. It's wonderful and I have to say I believe it's a magical plant! I was applying some to my own skin last week when I looked over at Iggy who was shedding her spikes. Despite bathing, humidifiers, and misting her spikes felt so dry! I looked it up online and read that aloe is non-toxic to iguanas. I also read that some types are native to the southern United States all the way down through South America, pretty much iggy territory. I put a little bit on her spikes as I was slightly afraid of a possible allergic reaction but the next day it seemed nothing had happened. So now I am applying once daily to her skin- spikes- tail etc. I am wondering if this will improve the feel of her skin, not just for me to touch but for her. I know it does wonderful things for my skin, and of course, I'm not an iguana- but we'll see! So far, her spikes have shed and they feel more pliable- less stiff/brittle.

I will post some updates once I have more information on the possible aloe vera uses for iguanas!

Hanging out, looking comfy

Her color looks a little odd here, but it's the flash...Almost 44 inches! 4.5 more inches before she reaches the four foot mark, holy crow!

Green

Perfect! <3

Now she's saying, "Okay, that's enough!"