I'm looking for someone who has experience incubating green iguana eggs. Our female (mary) laid a clutch of 61 last week - we culled the obvious bad ones and are incubating the rest, but I still have some questions. Anyone out there with experience who would be willing to help out?

--Roc

Hello,

Why are you incubating iguana eggs? Do you realize that 9 out of 10 iguanas that are currently on the market will be abandoned or die within the first year? I highly advise that you cease the incubation of those eggs. Iguanas are not a reptile that should be bred. There are already far too many of them on the market and just as many of them at homeless animal shelters.

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Is this how you greet all new members? With lectures instead of answers?

> Why are you incubating iguana eggs?

Because we choose to, not that I should have to justify my reasons in *any* kind of forum.


> Do you realize that 9 out of 10 iguanas that are currently on the
> market will be abandoned or die within the first year?

Yes, I do. And when visiting pet stores that have incorrect information or setups for their juvenile iguanas, my husband and I always do our best to get the right information into the hands of those responsible for herp care at the store, regardless of how much of our personal time this may take. We have also spent hours talking with prospective buyers in stores to make certain they don't have any illusions about what it means to be an iguana owner. We do this for the iguanas, as well as the would-be owners.


> I highly advise that you cease the incubation of those eggs.
> Iguanas are not a reptile that should be bred.

I appreciate your advice and your opinion, though I don't necessarily agree with either.


> There are already far too many of them on the market and
> just as many of them at homeless animal shelters.

And if I could take them all and give them all perfect homes, I would.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first post and thank you for providing such insightful answers to my questions.

I agree whole heartedly with Rich...
If you have 50 or more knowledgeable friends who want a baby iguana, then hatch away...good luck with your endeavors....Lyn

Hello,
You asked a question regarding how to hatch an animal that has already overpopulated the pettrade industry. Did you truely expect someone to encouage that? I love iguanas,and I am all for people that teach about iguanas and the responsibility they require. However,I do not endorse breeding iguanas due to the fact that they are already overpopulating the pettrade.
I never questioned if you would sell them to responsible people or if you would provide correct care instructions. If you can find that many responsible people to purchase those iguanas,you should direct them to a local animal shelter to save one of the thousands of already abandoned igs! That is the reason I didn't tell you how to incubate them. The worl doesn't need more iguanas. The world needs more iguana owners taking in the already abandoned ones!

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Wow, Rich, you sure pile a lot into a simple request for help. I also find it amusing that both of you have chosen to assume I am incubating some huge number of eggs, despite the fact that I never indicated how many eggs we saved. We are *not* incubating 50 eggs... at the moment, there are 15 eggs in the incubator, and I'm fairly certain we will be culling out another half dozen this evening. With any luck, we'll be left with 2-3 healthy eggs which can be brought to term successfully.

The persons who are interested in adopting our hatchlings - if they ever hatch - are not interested in adoption. They do not want an adult iguana which already has a set personality and god only knows what sort of imprints, habits, etc. We have two friends who are each interested in raising a *baby* iguana, and they do not want to, nor will they, purchase from a pet store. They know our adult iggies and specifically wish to own *their* offspring. This is why I said above that we are hoping for 2-3 hatchlings. Our two friends and one for ourselves.

I'm sorry you cannot simply let my question stand, that you feel the need to get up on your soapbox and attack someone without knowing all the details. If this is the way you address all matters on your site, perhaps I would be better off elsewhere... with people who are willing to discuss topics and trade information rather than shunning someone for having a different opinion.

--Roc

Hello,

I didn't get on a soapbox. I informed you as to my reasoning for not suggesting the incubation of these iguana eggs.

That doesn't state that you are incubating 2-3 eggs. Had that been the case,you would have recieved a completely different response from me. Your initial post stated that 61 eggs were laid.Out of that clutch,it is my experience that there will be roughly half of them that will not go to term. That leaves 30 or so eggs that will still possibly hatch! That is what prompted my response. As an iguana enthusiast,and rehabber.You should be able to see why I was against that many eggs being incubated.

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I certainly understand that you *thought* you were making appropriate comments. Might I suggest that next time you *ask* before you assume you know the details. That is what angered me, that both you and the other moderator of this forum chose to ignore my question and attack what you *thought* to be the truth of situation without making any inquiries of your own first. Of course I can understand why you might have grounds to object to a non-professional attempting to bring 50 iguana eggs to term... but that is not what I am doing, nor was it what I asked about. I asked a general question about incubating iguana eggs, or, more exactly, I asked if there was anyone present who could answer questions about iguana eggs. Period. I still haven't received any response to my actual post.... However, it is becoming clear to me that this forum might not be the place for me to find the answers I need.

--Roc

Hello. I'm very sorry you got off to a bad start but you have to understand that many of us here are very opposed to people breeding iguanas due to the incredible number of unwanted iguanas that are languishing in shelters as well as the number just being destroyed that the very idea makes us a little crazy. You are more than welcome to stay a member here but I seriously doubt that any one has the information you seek.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hi Roc-

I'm sorry all this came off the way it did and that you feel slighted by it. It certainly wasn't the intention of anyone here to "lecture" you. It's a knee-jerk reaction all us Iguana activists have to the "breeding" question.

Several of us here work in Iguana re-hab, rescue and adoption. And when you strive constantly to "educate" the general public, the answers seem curt and abrupt. It was my first thought when I read your post: Yet another Iguana hobbyist out to hatch and sell them. Sorry for that mis-conception in your case. It would seem that you have a proper grasp on the whole thing. I'm truly glad to hear that.

I would suspect that if you posted that question at other Iguana only sites, the relpies might be similar. As I stated, it's a knee-jerk reply to a very sensitive subject.

So, please try not to judge this site by your first post and the consequent replies. I assure you we actually are a good bunch of folks, albeit passionate about certain subjects.

I myself have no knowledge of Ig egg incubation. I stand firm on the position that folks are better off adopting. I have to, I spend a good bit of time matching potential owners to adoption sites. Of course, this doesn't work for everyone and if you are doing all that you say, kudos to you!!! I admire your work and effort for Iguana-kind.

I truly wish I could help with your question, but unfotunately it's one area of Iguana care I never bothered to learn about, for the stated reasons.

Good luck in your project. I hope you'll post more about your experiences with this magnificent creature. I look forward to more positive interaction. Knowledge is power and we need all the power we can muster to help this unfortunate creature gain the proper respect and care that it deserves.

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Regards,
Dominick
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