Oh Radar

[platedlizard]

Oh Radar.

I switched my iguana's water dish from a small kitty litter pan to a large one. He weighs about 5 1/2 lbs, so he needs a big one. Its really more of a water dish/bathtub/toilet, and he usually does all three at once. It's actually good for him, most iguanas are chronically dehydrated and suffer kidney problems later in life. He loves soaking in it, if I didn't know better I'd say he was half water dragon. The litter pan is just the right size for him, he can get his whole body inside, including his tail if he curls it. It's deep enough to cover his head if he dunks it, but shallow enough that he can rest his head on the edge comfortably.

Today he was soaking in it as usual after splashing a good portion of water out as usual. I was reading something on the computer and not paying attention. After a few minutes I realized that he hadn't moved at all for quite some time. I glanced at him and realized his head was under water. Slightly concerned I went over and looked at him. Radar has a habit of sticking his tongue out--it's really quite cute--and instead of it's normal pink it was blue.

Yeah.

I grabbed him and set him down, wondering if I was going to have to do CPR on a reptile who had been soaking in poopy water*. He lay there limp and out of it for a couple moments and then he got up and walked over to his food dish like nothing was wrong. It under a minute his gums and tongue was pink.

Keep in mind, this was in a normal kitty litter pan. The rim is shoulder level to him, a height that he can easily climb out of. There is nothing that he could get caught on. He was just lying there.

Weird critter.


*yeah, I change it as soon as he goes. Animals are gross.

Comments

[tetradecimal [journalfen.net]]

o___O

Your igunana's a weirdo. Is... is it okay to poop in his bath water ?

[platedlizard [journalfen.net]]

He's really strange, I had to stop using fruit or flower smelling body lotions, or he'd try to eat my legs. Fortunately his' I'm Going To Eat That Yummy Smelling Fruit bite is much gentler then his You Die Now bite.

A lot of iguanas are tub poopers. It actually makes clean up easier. As long as it gets washed out at least once a day it's fine.

[tetradecimal [journalfen.net]]

I had to stop using fruit or flower smelling body lotions, or he'd try to eat my legs

That's kind of adorable, actually. D'awww, reptiles.

[darknightjess [journalfen.net]]

He was so comfy he was lulled to sleep.. and almost drowned. Silly creature.

[platedlizard [journalfen.net]]

Actually I think he took a bath too early in the day. It takes an hour for the cage to warm up after I turn on his Zoo Med PowerSun. Since he's coldblooded temperature really affect his energy level. Usually he basks on the top shelf of his cage for half the day before he gets down and starts pacing, but today for some reason he reeeeaaaaally wanted Out. I think he's coming into breeding condition again, which means I have to watch out for aggression. (this is a big deal because he can and has bitten through a leather coat)

Anyways, TL:DR, iguanas are not for beginners or children.