Help with decisions... again!

If you've seen my posts you'll probably notice I'm pretty indecisive when it comes to getting new pets haha :P

SO that being said, it's that time of year again... The time for me to start saving to get a new pet! I know, I know, the two that I chose aren't beginner pets, but I know what I'm getting into with both of them, and I have tons of time to think them over between now and buying time anyways, so...

Should I do a young retic or a young green iguana as the next pet? I've been doing tons of research and will be until probably next year when I plan on actually buying the animal, and I never jump into things, so which do you think is best?

Wow, you don't mess around. Some points to consider:

Do you have people around to help with snake-wrangling when it's time to clean the cage, etc? If not, the retic is a bad idea, as the conventional wisdom is that there should always be more than one person present when handling large constrictors.

Do you have the space available for the LARGE caging that either of these animals will need?

Realistically, the snake will be easier (or at least, less time commitment) to care for, but requires more caution/care when handling. The lizard will require a lot more in terms of day-to-day work on your part, but (theoretically, at least) doesn't require other people's help to deal with.

They're so different that it seems like kind of a weird pair to be choosing between, TBH. What animals do you currently care for, and does any of that experience carry over to the potential new arrivals?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by olstyn

They're so different that it seems like kind of a weird pair to be choosing between, TBH. What animals do you currently care for, and does any of that experience carry over to the potential new arrivals?

---

I know, they're a weird mix lol. To be honest, I don't really have much experience at all with lizards other than having babysat my friends beardie for three weeks, so I'd probably be better off with the snake. I have two bps and a nic. boa, but have handled larger boas and have been dying for a large python of my own since I was 2 and saw an albino burm lol!

Again, most of my experience is with snakes, and so I feel I can read them much better than lizards, and I have the means/skills to build caging for a large snake as well as friends who would be willing to help out with maintenance. I'd intend on getting a really young one of either to get used to them and get them used to me from a young age so they're comfortable with me (and vice versa) as they grow.

Have you looked in Red Iguanas? I just saw some babies for sale a few weeks ago. I just think they look cooler :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Have you looked in Red Iguanas? I just saw some babies for sale a few weeks ago. I just think they look cooler :)

---

Wow, they look amazing! I've actually never heard of them before. From what I know their care is the same as that of a green iguana, right? If I find one at the right time, it will for sure be a candidate!

Yes but unless I'm mistaken, I think they stay a tad smaller than green iggys. One of my sisters has done research on them and wants to get one. I hadn't heard of them before I saw one at the NARBC show a few years ago.

I don't know enough about either to offer any meaningful opinions. However did you check the by laws in many other Canadian cities there is a max length on snakes of 3m or sometimes 3.5m around 9-10 foot make. That makes retics questionable on the legal side. You might just do a quick search and find out for sure, it may make the decision for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kitedemon

I don't know enough about either to offer any meaningful opinions. However did you check the by laws in many other Canadian cities there is a max length on snakes of 3m or sometimes 3.5m around 9-10 foot make. That makes retics questionable on the legal side. You might just do a quick search and find out for sure, it may make the decision for you.

---

I've been looking it up for a while, and I haven't found anything on the subject of exotics in QC other than that you aren't allowed to breed large scale without a permit (which goes for any animal I think), so that leads me to believe that we don't have any restrictions on snakes and reptiles except venomous, which are completely illegal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alexandra V

I know, they're a weird mix lol. To be honest, I don't really have much experience at all with lizards other than having babysat my friends beardie for three weeks, so I'd probably be better off with the snake. I have two bps and a nic. boa, but have handled larger boas and have been dying for a large python of my own since I was 2 and saw an albino burm lol!

Again, most of my experience is with snakes, and so I feel I can read them much better than lizards, and I have the means/skills to build caging for a large snake as well as friends who would be willing to help out with maintenance. I'd intend on getting a really young one of either to get used to them and get them used to me from a young age so they're comfortable with me (and vice versa) as they grow.

---

Even large boas are much smaller than full grown retics...You HAVE to consider that you are a female (like me) and there is a possibility that you will be living alone when the retic is full grown. I don't think it'd be safe to handle alone even for cleaning and feeding. It'd be impossible! I handled a not even full grown female at NERD with 5 other guys in the room, and she was a lot more work to hang on to than I thought. She was 15 feet long easily. You can't assume you'll have a boyfriend (or girlfriend lol), or be married, or have a roomate, or whatever your situation is 10 years from now when the snake is much much bigger than you.

http://i56.tinypic.com/1249f2f.jpg

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...

Quote:

---

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...

---

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!

Quote:

---

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!

---

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

Quote:

---

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...

---

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.