how large does a green iguana have to be to somewhat accurately sex it?

[driver]

th pet store in town gets a whole lot of iguanas come through, and they're pretty reasonably priced at 40 bucks. all the little guys they have in stock right now are called for, and they told me they'd have to order more from the breeder if i wanted some. i was thinking of getting a boy and a girl if i could. i figured if these guys are big enough to sex, and they are coming directly from a breeder it shouldn't be too big a deal to request a male and female of different bloodlines.

head/body length on the ones in stock are around 7-9 inches, maybe close to a foot and a half nose to tip of the tail. can a breeder who nows what he's doing accurately sex a green iguana of this size?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Not only should one never, ever support pet store iguanas, but why in dog's name would you knowingly BREED MORE when rescues are already overflowing with dumped and unwanted igs, and iguanas are like the number one most abandoned-in-the-wild animal, even in places where the weather will kill them, just because there are too many iguanas and not enough responsible iguana owners?

That was a long sentence, but dang, seriously. Don't contribute to the problem; rescue an iguana that's already alive and needs your help. I seriously doubt those came from a breeder anyway, unless by "breeder" they meant "farm in Brazil which packs these guys en masse in unsanitary crates."

 

[driver]

i've already searched through all the nearby rescue centers, and no one has any iguanas for adoption. i would MUCH rather adopt a big old boy right now than buy young, but nothing is available right now. as for getting a male and a female, of course i want a male and female, if they happen to breed one day so be it. i think everything deserves to have a chance to breed at some pointinit's life...

 

[Mushroom Spore]

of course i want a male and female, if they happen to breed one day so be it. i think everything deserves to have a chance to breed at some pointinit's life...

This is incredibly irresponsible. Animals do NOT get any kind of emotional reward out of breeding; they're just obeying their instincts when the opportunity arises. Furthermore, there are too many iguanas in the pet industry and not enough good homes for them all period full stop. If you breed iguanas, you are contributing to the problem, full stop.

This is no better than the people breeding their backyard dogs for money or to show their kids "the miracle of life"...you know where most of those dogs end up? Dying in a shelter. Because there are too many pets AND WE KEEP BREEDING TOO MANY MORE. Miracle of life my behind.

Can you guarantee good homes for every single offspring for the rest of their lives? Can you justify why iguanas you created through breeding "because it just seemed like the thing to do" should go to those good homes instead of the iguanas already out there in need of help?

I'll gladly help you hunt down a rescue to adopt from, but I won't support irresponsible breeding of a species that's already in a lot of trouble.

 

[ZooRex]

This is incredibly irresponsible. Animals do NOT get any kind of emotional reward out of breeding; they're just obeying their instincts when the opportunity arises. Furthermore, there are too many iguanas in the pet industry and not enough good homes for them all period full stop. If you breed iguanas, you are contributing to the problem, full stop.

This is no better than the people breeding their backyard dogs for money or to show their kids "the miracle of life"...you know where most of those dogs end up? Dying in a shelter. Because there are too many pets AND WE KEEP BREEDING TOO MANY MORE. Miracle of life my behind.

Can you guarantee good homes for every single offspring for the rest of their lives? Can you justify why iguanas you created through breeding "because it just seemed like the thing to do" should go to those good homes instead of the iguanas already out there in need of help?

Seconeded! I completely agree. I'm also amazed that through searching, Driver wasn't able to find a single ig for adoption. Where are you, in the Alsaskan tundra? ~ Rex

 

[Sequin]

I agree a hundred percent with everyone else.

Have you ever owned an iguana? How do you know one is suitable for you, never mind two? Do your homework, the pet industry is FLOODED with iguanas. They make terrible pets, they are unpredictable and have the potential to cause alot of damage.

Don't get me wrong, I love my iggy, but most people have NO idea what they're getting into when purchasing one. I studied for months, and when I finally adopted a sub- adult male, I was still extremely over-whelmed. The rescue I adopted him from, found him wandering the streets. His claws had all been ripped out with pliers and he was missing his entire tail. How can you be sure this won't happen to your babies? Bottom line, It's extremely selfish to bring them into a world where they're not wanted.

 

[driver]

Where are you, in the Alsaskan tundra? ~ Rex

northern alberta, so not too far off. i could make it there in less than a day's drive. the nearest animal rescue i have found who handles reptiles is actually a FURTHER drive than the arctic circle for me. If anyone can find me a rescue that can ship within canada, i'd gladly adopt instead.

 

[GartenSpinnen]

Agree with above posts, if we get much more of them we will have to start eating them.

 

[Jmugleston]

Eating them is not such a bad idea. A restaurant here serves exotic meat. I wonder if they have that? Anyway, if you do your research and you still decide you want an iguana, AND YOU HAVE THE NEEDED SPACE AND TIME for one, secondary sex characteristics aren't noticeable until they are a bit larger than the sizes you mentioned. As for breeding, sadly green iguanas are seen as a disposable pet. So as mentioned above, breeding them is not the best of ideas. If you do have some and you allow them to breed, just don't incubate the eggs. That way you feel good about allowing the animal to take part in a process that it evolved to do without all the trouble of adding more unwanted pets to the pet trade.

 

[driver]

i have plenty of space and time, which is why i was thinking of getting young one to begin with. i'd rather put the time into taming them, then chance adopting a haywire adult which wasn't properly cared for by it's previous owners. i'm looking at gettng some iguanas as a step up in practicing for larger lizards. i'm already experienced with smaller guys. the ultimate goal here is either a monitor or a tegu. i figure you don't just dive in buying a retic when you're caring for snakes, so why would you do the same with a lizard?

 

[Jmugleston]

Okay, much more research is needed about igs. They are not a stepping stone before monitors or tegus. In all reality, a tegu might be a better choice. Igs have a highly specialized diet. Tegus are more generalists. Ig males can get very aggressive whereas tegu males don't do the whole breeding season mood swing. (Females sometimes do, but usually when they are gravid. Mine never did.). Igs are not easy to care for, but their price makes them a "training lizard". If you want a larger lizard and you like tegus, I suggest starting with a tegu instead of an iguana. Only research and purchase and Ig if you are interested in them. If tegus are what you are more interested in, then I'd recommend going with one of them. Just be sure to get Tupinambis merianae or T. rufescens, or a blue tegu. Stay away from T. teguixin (the colombian black and white or gold tegus) The teguixin are more aggressive so don't make the best first tegu pet. I am rambling somewhat so I'll stop now. I have owned monitors, iguanas and tegus in the past, so if I can be of any help, just let me know.

 

[ZooRex]

northern alberta, so not too far off. i could make it there in less than a day's drive. the nearest animal rescue i have found who handles reptiles is actually a FURTHER drive than the arctic circle for me. If anyone can find me a rescue that can ship within canada, i'd gladly adopt instead.

Well that explains it...If you haven't already checkout www.anapsid.org is an amazing site for igs as well as all herps. ~ Rex

 

[sweetmisery]

I got an iguana and the only problem I have with it is that it never become tame. Every day I handle him, and even if he become tame when handled after 5 mins., getting him, he lashes and scratches. lol

But they are beautiful creatures indeed.

 

[Sequin]

Driver, I'm located in Northern B.C. and I still found over three rescues with igs. You have ALOT more options living in Alberta. The rescue I adopted my ig from is located in Vancouver, and she ships. She has four iggys in right now, ranging from babies to juveniles.

Though, she won't adopt one out to you if she knows your intentions are to breed.