Got a few questions or tip requests for ya guys.
Here's the thing:
I already have 2 adult igs, a 7 year old female and a 6 year old male, who live very well together and seem to be genuinely happy and I love 'em to peices. Now, I'm adopting another 2 adult igs from a couple that lives about 15 miles from me and put them up on the GIS's adoption page. I went and saw them about a week and a half ago, when their daddy called. They are another male and female that are living together. The female is 15 years old and the male is 4. I couldn't take them right away cause I was going out of town for 4 days this past weekend and wanted to wait till I got back. They are in great shape and very friendly, well the little boy is very friendly, the old girl is happy to just hang out on her shelf. The couple is looking for a new home for them becuase the wife went back to work full time and with their kids and such, they just don't have the time to devote to them anymore. And they want them to find a home with someone that knows how to take care of them, and I guess that's why I was led to them. I just couldn't bring myself to deny these babies, or they could end up with who knows who? And the big plus is that they come with their enclosure, lights, everything. So I don't have to go get them anything right away, that helps. I just have to buy more of the food that I already do, I'll be going through it faster, lol.
So, I'm bringing them home. And I know the risks with having 2 males in the same house, and this is my main concern, but I'm hoping that since the new guy is only 4 and no threat in size to my big ol' cow of a male, that there won't be any major problems as long as they don't have contact with one another. My male has never shown any type of aggression in any way, not even during breeding. I know this isn't a garauntee of anything, but he is such a big ol' sweet heart.
Now they will NOT be in the same room or anywhere that they are forced to see eachother, I think the new enclosure will go in my bedroom. (It's big enough) I know about washing scent off my hands, that's fine and they will be kept seperate and not have "free roam" time together, to aviod contact, etc.

Is there anything else that you guys can suggest that might make adjustment period a bit easier for all of them? I know mine will be able to smell the new ones, so it's not like they won't know they are here. And one will probably get a peek at the other when one is out playing and the other is in their enclosure. So any tips or tricks to help with the adjustment/transition period, and ways to help eveybody involved be as stress free as possible, would be most appreciated. They come home Sunday.
Thanks guys.

Just be ready for a possible behavior change in both sets. While they may have worked things out between the 2 pairs (so far!) The introduction into the mix of the other pair may upset the balance. They will be able to sense the presence of the other igs and this may trigger behaviors you aren't expecting.
Be very cautious.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Yeah, be careful and watch for signs of stress on the smaller male and more agression in any of them. When I had 3 males in the house it was a real pain. I had to wash up and change clothes just to go from room to room if I didn't want to deal with anyones cruddy attutude. We made it work for about 6 months but then we finally decided that it was effecting everyones quality of life (our and the igs) and she one went to live with my boyfriend and another was adopted out to a friend. All three are much happier now that they are the top iguanas in their domain.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I agree that having both sets most likely will cause behavioral changes and you need to watch for them.

I live downstairs from 4 iguanas (Mr Worf and 3 females) and 3 iguanas (Huff and 2 females) live in my place with me. Huff temporarily stays in the room right below from Mr Worf--both are in breeding season. I know Huff knows something is above his room--you can hear Mr Worf move around. Huff has recently started trying to dig his way out of his room. Several times but not always when I go check on him, I hear both trying to dig out of their respective rooms or both wandering around. I thought Huff was coming out of his awhile back but he now seems to have gone more into it. But I think that has to do as much with my cycle. Also my cat has recently gone into heat which also coincides with his increased mating season behavior. So maybe other animals' cycles effect them along with human females'.

I think that when there is multiple iguanas and/or even multiple animals, you can have a lot of changes in behavior occur.

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Jan. 25, 1963 - Sept. 10, 2006 (R.I.P)

Yeah, I'm concerned about possible behavior and attitude changes. Right now everyody's happy and it'd be nice if it stayed that way (hey, it could happen, lol) and my biggest worry is how my big male will respond. Normally he's not aggressive at all, for some odd reason he loves looking at himself in the mirror and went through breeding season without me even noticing any change(only way I knew was when they "did it" in front of me) and no behavior change at all during my monthly "visitor". The closest thing to being aggressive he's ever done is squirm a bit once in awhile when I go to fetch him from a window ledge and he knows that he's going back into the enclosure, lol, and he doesn't want to go. So I'm wondering if he's just a mellow kinda guy and might take the arrival of the newbies ok? I'm hoping anyway.

Well, in my house I have 3 males. 2 of them are in my living room with their enclosures side by side....with no ill effects...there is a solid wall between them so they do not look at each other all day. But they have seen each other when I pull them out for roaming, cleaning etc. But that doesnt mean that you wont see the behavior change...Some males will NOT tolerate another male in the same household....have heard of it but never had problems with it myself....

Kudos to you for taking in these unwanted igs..GIS's site is loaded with them....quite sad actually....I have adopted all of my igs...wouldnt want it any other way.....they are wonderful animals.

Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Thanks Lyn, I was hoping I wouldn't be perceived as selfish or anything, because I want to take these two in along with my other two.

I agree with how sad (actually heartbreaking) it is to see the adoption page at GIS. I peek in every so often, just to see if there are any near me that I could help, and this time there was. They are so close, only about 15 miles. The only other offer they got was from somebody that is in downstate IL. I'm in the southern subarbs of Chicago. And they wanted the owners to drive the igs and their enclosure half way down there. The owners are much happier with the prospect of me taking them, since I'm so close, they can come visit if they want.

I too adopted my igs. I am a firm believer in giving a home to an ig that is already out there, in need, rather than purchase a baby when another will just be imported to replace it. We need to take care of the ones that are here, we brought them here, we need to be responsible. It's such a shame that igs are treated with such disrespect and disregard. They are amazing, beautiful, regal, magestic creatures that deserve our respect and love. Mine bring me so much joy and I have so much fun playing with and taking care of them. My green babies

And I have a mattress, blanket and pillows all ready and made for the new guys. I just love to spoil and pamper iggies.