my Iguana Evan

This is Evan and her story..  

On vacation in Shirley NY we stopped at a pet store to waste some time.  I don't know why I stopped there.  Maybe thinking it would be different from all the rest.  I am not a fan of Pet stores at all.  Just as we were getting ready to leave Steve( Michael-Ann's boyfriend) noticed an iguana in a cage above me.  I didn't even notice her.  She had no food, water, heat or light and was in a cage that was too small for her. There was not even a place for her to relieve herself. It was very horrible conditions!!  Of course I started asking questions right away.  She had bruises on her face from trying to get out of the cage. Her spikes were covered with many layers of dried old skin, was dark and cold, missing a toe nail and not to mention very very thin..  She just looked horrible and very sad!!  I asked what they were feeding her and she rattled off all the good stuff.  When the boy came from the back he started feeding her romaine lettuce.  I was not too happy at this point.  

The pet store employee told me the previous owner had stopped in and wanted to leave her, but the pet store didn't take iguanas.  The previous owner told her Evan was 2 yrs old and was too big for them now.  She was beginning to be aggressive and they couldn't handle her anymore.  People just don't realize how big they get, and how much care it takes.  Needles to say the store employee turned her back and the next thing she new the iguana was sitting on the floor in the cage with no owner to be found.  She didn't even have a name.  I was told she was aggressive and that no one could touch her.  Well being me I had to see for myself and put my hand in the cage.  She just closed her eyes and enjoyed my attention toward her.  I asked, "how much is she?"  She said for anyone else I would sell her for $100,. but for you; you can have her.  I was the only person that has been able to touch her since she had been there.  I told the woman I would take her.  There was no way I could leave her in that situation.  The store was closing and I had to call my husband back home to tell him we are getting another addition to the family.  We picked her up the next day. they gave me her cage because I was so far from home and didn't have anything for her at the time.  I was not going home until the next day so I bought her all the appropriate foods and started cleaning her up and soon as I got back to my friends house. I really couldn't wait to get my hands on her and getting her feeling better.  It was 95* outside that day so she got some needed warmth and UVB lighting she needed.  I bought all the lighting and extra stuff I would need for her while I was down there.   She did very well with the six hrs trip home.  I am sorry I didn't take any pics of her the day I got her.  You can't image what she had looked like.  

So that is how I got Evan.  

These Pics are a week after I got her.  Because she was in such a small cage (I was not prepare to have another iguana), she spent a week roaming my room. She would only go back into the cage while I was gone or sleeping.  She now has a huge cage to call her own. She is still aloud to roam my room.

I took her to work and ask Dr Sue to take a look at her.  She said, Evan was a little dehydrated and had a calcium deficiency.  With good care and food though she should be fine. 

This is the new cage!  There are a few modifications we have to do to it.  

This is Evan only one months later.  She is doing much better.  Even though she has the big cage she has all the roaming privileges she wants.  She still has a few bruises but they are almost gone now.  Her scales are looking better along with her spikes. Her coloring is now what it is suppose to be and she is as lovable as an iguana can be.  She gets a bath at least 2 times a week and is misted 3 times a day.  She also eats 3-4 times a day. Lots of greens for this girl!! She is completely potty trained now.  She is getting use to other people petting and feeding her.  Even though when my husband try's to put food in her cage she gives him a warning shot with her tale.  LOL

This is Evan today.

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