And yet, a new addition......

[Billyman]

to my family.

As most of you know, I have a great big galizard named Princess. Please note that she is a four year old female measuring three foot-four inches and one big galizard. But not in comparison to.........

Tico.

"Tico" is what Costa Ricoians call iguana's and that just happens to be her name. Lemme fill you in on the delails.

Earlier this week a co-worker asked me If I would like another "big" iguana. I asked him how big, how much, what the conditions where, and why. It turned out, that somewhere down the line of his family and a family members boss, there was an iguana to be gotten rid of for free. I asked what was wrong with it, he said he didn't know all the details so he gave me a number to call. I did. Well Tico IS in the Guiness Book of World Records for being one of the largest "home raised" iguana's ever recorded. Cindy, the lady that raised her, told me over the phone that Tico was simply too big for their house (her, her husband, and four year old daughter). She simply wanted to find her a good home without advertising it in the newspaper where anyone could have taken her and gosh now's where Tico would've ended up. I talked to Cindy and her husband several times throughout the day on the phone and she was pleased with me. She WANTED me to take her baby. She even said that someone like me was what she was looking for.

I went and got her this morning.

Tico is a nine year old, fifteen pound iguana. At the time of her induction into the "world records" she was tad over six feet in length. Since that time her tail has broken off (not too uncommon) which brings her to a shorter four+ feet. I must tell you that she is an absolute baby doll. She's as gentle as a puppy without the biting and chewing. She and Princess seem to be getting along fine.

Here's some pic's, keep in mind that the enclosure makes them look smaller than they are. Get out your measuring tape to get an idea of size. Wow! Fifteen pounds!

I'll move this to D&D laterz.

http://billyman24.homestead.com/files/newadd1.jpg

http://billyman24.homestead.com/files/newadd2.jpg

http://billyman24.homestead.com/files/newadd4.jpg

[ACE]

Originally posted by Billyman
Well Tico IS in the Guiness Book of World Records for being one of the largest "home raised" iguana's

Wow, you got a special Iguana there, Billy ;) hehe

[MAC]

daaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyuuuummmmmm......
a herd of iguanas at Billyman's house.

*theMAC set soff a small nuclear explosion in billyman's kitchen, watches the iguanas mutate and sits back to wait for the destruction to begin*

[MAC]

Billy,
I don't know if you read reptiles magazine (http://www.animalnetwork.com/reptiles/default.asp) but in this months issue is a very interesting editorial article about iguanas diets.
Some one asked about feeding the iguanas dog food and "monkey bones" (a high protein iguana treat).
Some people insist its ok while others swear it'll kill them.
As it turns out:
Some iguanas where dieing for no apparent reason between 2-5 years old. What they believe was happening is that people where feeding them HIGH protein dog food or giving them large quantities of "monkey bones". An INCREDIBLY high protein diet seems to have done them in. They do need some protein even after they reach full size (thought they are primarily vegetarian at this stage) but overdoing it can be detrimental.

:)

[Cruise Director]

My buddy's iguanas ate spagettios. Really. They loved the damned things. The female, Joan, was also potty trained. She would wait for her daily bath in the tub or pool to do her business. Her mate, Phillip, wasn't quite as cordial. Iguana shit is gross. He also got a third iguana that he named Terrance. He built them a huge outdoor playpen for the summertime. It was easily 12 feet long, 3 feet deep and a full 8 foot tall. They loved their little habitat.

Iguanas= good

[Billyman]

Taking care of ig's is a bit of work. Since they are out of there original habitat, it's up to me/other owners, to take care of them. They aren't cats or dogs who can almost take care of themselves. But, I think they are beautiful creatures and nothing short of interesting one's at that.

As for the "monkey bones". I checked out back and didn't see any monkeys (alive or dead) so that's pretty much out. I'm keeping Tico's diet as the way it has been for the past nine years. It's worked for that long, it'll prolly work a little longer. ;) Tico's diet consists of only fruits and veggie's. I fact, Princess's diet is slowly changing to what Tico eats. If it works for one, It'll work for another I think.

Iguana shit: It's no more gross that what you and I leave behind I suppose. The difference is, they don't flush. :D

As with any animal, time and dedication is the key. I take pride in every animal I own and that includes Jojo. (Don't tell her I said that). ;)