Help with decisions... again!

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Originally Posted by LGray23

And my experience with green iguanas are not good, so I can't really give any advice on that. Just prepare yourself for VERY sharp teeth. I wish I had a picture of my aunts hand when hers got a hold of it....she had to get her finger sewn back on...

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D: Holy cow!

& About the retic, I know it isn't the same as a large boa because obviously, they aren't large boas lol. Before I commit myself to anything I'm going to be trying to work with retics that are already big to see if I still think I can do it, and for maintenance I have a lot of good friends who are comfortable with snakes who would be able to help me out, as well as family members. Thanks for the input, you definitely gave me things to consider about iguanas and retics!

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

D: Holy cow!

& About the retic, I know it isn't the same as a large boa because obviously, they aren't large boas lol. Before I commit myself to anything I'm going to be trying to work with retics that are already big to see if I still think I can do it, and for maintenance I have a lot of good friends who are comfortable with snakes who would be able to help me out, as well as family members. Thanks for the input, you definitely gave me things to consider about iguanas and retics!

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These are all thing I had to consider especially since I got divorced. I wanted a boa so bad but knew females get very large and living alone, I knew I wanted a male to be more safe. I give you credit, I wouldn't consider a retic being a single female lol. Anything that can eat me I kind of crossed off my list :D

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Originally Posted by LGray23

And my experience with green iguanas are not good, so I can't really give any advice on that. Just prepare yourself for VERY sharp teeth. I wish I had a picture of my aunts hand when hers got a hold of it....she had to get her finger sewn back on...

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I totally agree with this. Adult green iguanas are nasty as adults. The males can be extremely territorial and the females are just plain mean. I don't know if red iguanas have similar temperaments or not, but if you're thinking of a pet, I would personally look at Rhinocerous Iguanas. They are not as "pretty" but they have super nice personalities and like being handled. They will get to know their keepers and often eat from your hand. Think Beardie personalities. They get bigger than the greens too if you're looking for a larger lizard.

I, too, have more experience with snakes, but I gotta say, I'd personally never get a snake that could eat me. Even if I had loads of friends who could help me. What if it's 2am and there's no one around and, for whatever reason, you HAVE to open the retic's cage? What if?

Just food for thought.......

I've handled both animals not daily as pets but I've had a good few hours with each. I have a friend with both and they are quite the handful. And good luck trying to rehome if any situation ever changed. I'm 5'3 and 130lbs and with the retic I needed a little help from my 6'7 260 friend to get her untangled from me. At that ut took 15 min to get her off of me she had wrapped around my waist and was giving me a retic hug and that was with him wrestling her pretty much. She was huge and a handful. The rediculous strength behind both of them is amazing. His male iggy gave me quite the tail whip when he got p.o'd at me and I literally had a 6 inch cut on my leg. I love both I think they are 2 of the most amazing animals on the planet... BUT I am not equipped to deal with that on a daily basis. For me to do what I enjoy doing with them I have to be able to do it on my own and comfortably. For now anyways. Therefor both came off my list a while back.

I cant say I would ever reccomend keeping an Iguana as a pet...
They are large, have a complex diet, and not to mention males in breeding season can seriously injure you.
My friends male got a hold of her face and she went to the ER and got 120 stitches in her face! I wish I still had those pics, I would post them.
I hope you have a room for when this lizard gets huge. A lizard that size needs a whole room to himself, anything smaller is just not adequate IMO.

I had a green iguana for 12 years, and I never really liked him. He was terribly territorial and aggressive on a good day. He was beautiful but pretty is a pretty does.