I thought it was about time I really introduced myself and gave a little info and history about us.

My name is Karen, I am a 50+ wife and mother of 5 children all of whom have left home except one (16 year old girl). We have more pets left living at home than people. We have 2 cats of our own and are fostering one for a friend, a 4 yr old male boxer (love of our lives and baby of the family), a 5 yr old male chinchilla (easiest to care for of all), a 12 yr old rabbit who is definitely living on borrowed time and of course, Critter.

After a very sad experience with a hatchling iguana who died (purchased from a pet store and given to my son for his birthday with no information for care and feeding) my son decided he wanted to try again to "do it right". A family member worked for a pet store that had a 3 yr old male, hand raised ig and so Critter came into our lives. My son was a teenager then and still living at home so care and feeding was all up to him. At one point he moved out and Critter went with him, then later they moved back home. Now he has moved out again, but is not able to have Critter with him. Well we all know what happens when kids get pets then grow up don't we. I too have a "sucker tatoo".

And so it has evolved that I have taken over caring for him. Some days I get overwhelmed with how much work is involved and frustrated when he is a ferocious beast who chases me around the room and tries to bite me, but when he lets me pet him and brush the poo off him in the bath and seems to listen to me it keeps me going.

Critter is 12 years old now and quite a fine specimen of an iguana if I do say so myself. He's pretty tame, but I can't pick him up and cuddle him or really even physically move him although I can pick him up to get him in the tub (most of the time). I'm trying to re-train him to not poo on his basking shelf but I think he might be too old to re-learn some things. I've been wondering lately if I could teach him to be held or introduce him to some of the other pets (one of the cats likes to hang out in Critter's room and they have come face to face without bloodshed) but I'd be ecstatic if he just wouldn't poo on his shelf!!

Anyway that's our story. I am really enjoying this site and especially hearing from and about other ig owners.

And a huge welcome to you Karen...thanks for adding your story.....Iguanas have been my passion since 1994....I have several of them now...they are great!!!Enjoy!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Thanks for the formal introduction. I know there is an article/book on taming igs, but off the top of my head I can't remember it. I think Nicole might no.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

There's quite a lot in the Ultimate Owner's manual book, but I think we needed to start a long time ago.lol

I'm glad you shared your story. I came to be Gil's mommy much the same way. Failed attempt with a first iguana (very, very poor care advice given), then my son wanted a second try.

Sometimes having "sucker" tattooed on one's forehead is not a bad thing!

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Every winter (during his breeding season) Dizzy decides he'd rather do his business on his shelf than in the tub. I usually start out every morning putting him in the tub with warm water and I leave him there until he goes...sometimes you have to change the water a couple times, you just have to be more stubborn than he is.

Don;t give up, I'm sure you can teach an old Ig new tricks.

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"The power of imagination makes us infinite." - John Muir

~Lacey~

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