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#2271501
Mrs.Bonsell
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New to the group but I have some questions 
Hello everyone! My name is Nikki. I recently acquired an 8 year old female iguana name Ella. I have had a large iguana before and at that time he was able to run my bedroom instead of being caged. But with this girl (who is between three and four feet long) I am unable to let her run free since I have 5 very curious dogs and a mischievous cat who, although I don’t think they’d intend on hurting her, may hurt her or end up getting hurt themselves. Anyway, Her cage is not sufficient at all (they cage she was in when given to me is one of those large kitten cages that breeders put their kittens in or that you’d see at a pet shop with kittens in. it’s only maybe 2.5 feet wide 5 feet tall and 2 feet out from the wall). So I plan on building her a very large cage in the next few weeks. It will measure 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide and 2 feet out from the wall. My problem is, when her previous owner found her she had four of her right toes missing right bellow the nail and I think its’ two or three on her left missing (both on her front feet. All toes on her back feet are intact.) I am just wondering when I build her new cage I was going to get long tree branches (with all small pieces removed to prevent cuts or scrapes) but do you think she’d be able to climb it with her nails missing? I want to make it look and feel as natural as I can. I also want to add some live plants if there are any that would be good to put in her cage please let me know. I know they like to eat hibiscus flowers so would it be okay to get the actual live bush and put it in there? Sorry this has been so long and I’m sure I have more questions but I will leave it at this for now. Thank you for reading this and any info you may have for me!!
Nikki & Ella <3
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06/28/12 03:11pm
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#2271504
Tempestborn
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271501
New to the group but I have some questions
welcome to the forums.
my miss martie tore all of her front claws out digging in her lay box this past breeding season:
it has really rendered her somewhat climbing-impaired, but i found rope and/or jute twine works wonders:
she does still have a problem with straight up, but if you make the angles easy, she’ll be fine (i’d go 3 feet deep on the cage--it’ll give you more room to work with her climbing needs).
jesse
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06/28/12 03:35pm
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#2271506
SSALB
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271501
New to the group but I have some questions
Her missing toes can be a problem when it comes to climbing but you can definitely work around this. Using thick branches and laying them at an angle will allow her to keep herself balanced on the branches without the possibility of her slipping and hurting herself, then adding shelves and ramps along the back of the enclosure will allow her easy access to the branches so she doesn’t have to climb the branches and risk injuring herself by falling. You can also drill holes in to the branches to give her a better grip on them with the remaining toes she does have. I know you said you wanted an all natural looking enclosure but some times you have to make sacrifices when you have a reptile with a disability.
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06/28/12 03:42pm
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#2271509
Mrs.Bonsell
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Message To: SSALB In reference to Message Id: 2271506
New to the group but I have some questions
Thanks for all your replies! I was definitely thinking about the twine around the branches. And putting shelves in the sides and back of the cage. I can still put some greenage in her cage to make it look a little natural. But I don’t really want to use fake plants for fear of her trying to eat them! Does anyone know of any vine type plants that would be safe for her? I’m so excited to start building her cage! I’ll have to post pictures of her and her current cage and then some of her new one!
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06/28/12 03:53pm
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#2271513
SSALB
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271509
New to the group but I have some questions
There is a wide variety of plants that you can use inside of the enclosure Link
Link
Please do post pictures when you get a chance, everyone around here loves seeing them!
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06/28/12 04:15pm
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#2271514
Mrs.Bonsell
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Message To: SSALB In reference to Message Id: 2271513
New to the group but I have some questions
So, How do I post pictures?
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06/28/12 04:29pm
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#2271552
Really
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271514
New to the group but I have some questions
Welcome to the forum! The best way to post pictures is to upload them to photobucket and then copy and paste the image location. It looks like you got some great pointers already.
Over time, you may find your dogs and cat get along just fine with your iguana! Nevertheless, it’s good for her to have her own special retreat!
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06/28/12 08:08pm
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#2271562
Mrs.Bonsell
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Message To: Really In reference to Message Id: 2271552
New to the group but I have some questions
Her and the dogs get along pretty well but if they were allowed around her outside of her cage they would probably be too excited and rush at her and scare her. She’d probably hurt them. I have five dogs and they are all 35 pounds and smaller. So she could probably hurt them. But my cat seem to have an obsession with her. He hasn’t left the side of her cage since she got here. My cat would probably try to hurt her. So as for now, they won’t be free in the same room at the same time lol much easier to just keep it that way.
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06/28/12 08:51pm
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#2271617
Tempestborn
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271562
New to the group but I have some questions
cats and iguanas often get along very well. i think it’s because iguanas are really just cats in disguise (think about it--they act exactly like them). GROWN iguanas--my dear sylvester did kill a hatchling recently. it was hard to remember that he was just being a cat.
jesse
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06/29/12 03:28pm
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#2271636
Milan
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271501
New to the group but I have some questions
i was wondering, do you live near pittsburgh and did you find her on CL? if so i almost considered adopting her lol (i know im crazy)! i see your from PA too and i just saw the ad the other day for an 8 year old female iguana. also as far as cages go i vote for free roam. to me there isnt a cage large enough for an adult iguana. my big boy has his own bedroom and free roams the rest of the house when i am at home. this would make it alot easier to set up basking areas that she can get to with her toes missing.
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06/29/12 07:15pm
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#2271638
Milan
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Message To: Milan In reference to Message Id: 2271636
New to the group but I have some questions
i just checked the ad again, was her name previously juliette? it looks like the pic on CL the ig the guy is holding is missing toes but its hard to tell. if this is her THANK YOU! i have my hands full enough with Levi and Arokh (but i thought hey maybe i need a little less testosterone around here lol) but i cant stand the thought of some people on CL just giving pets away to people with no knowledge, and then the animal is worse off then it was before so im a sucker and i take them!luckily i emailed the guy with her and didnt call so he never got back to me. but you seem like a great new owner, and if this is the ig i think it is and you are nearby then maybe we can meet somewhere and have an iggy date hahaha!
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06/29/12 07:21pm
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#2271977
Mrs.Bonsell
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Message To: Milan In reference to Message Id: 2271638
New to the group but I have some questions
Milan, yes I am in Pa. But no her name has been Ella. I got her from Bellfonte, Pa.
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07/02/12 01:50pm
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#2272002
Milan
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Message To: Mrs.Bonsell In reference to Message Id: 2271977
New to the group but I have some questions
Darn it lol. That means that beautiful girl near me is still up for grabs lol. Oh the temptation haha!
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07/02/12 06:09pm
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#2272046
Cphill58
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Message To: Milan In reference to Message Id: 2272002
New to the group but I have some questions
Just wanted to say Hi...we are always eager to help ...just shout as you can see it works around here.
Myself and my GF share the joy of rescuing a female a few years ago...she is turning 7 soon. She is a free roamer, luckily for her no dogs or cats... just snakes and other lizards around here....lol
Chris
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07/03/12 04:59am
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