Iguanas for Dummies

Big, green, scaly, and surprisingly cuddly, a well-adjusted iguana is like a cross between large, friendly dog and an independent cat. On the other hand, a poorly trained iguana can be a living nightmare. With his muscular, three-to-four-foot-long tail and 116-120 razor-sharp teeth, a nasty iguana can be a genuine danger to life, limb and property.  Iguanas require a constant 90-degree Fahrenheit environment and lots of room to range around in.

Iguanas For Dummies lets you take a long, well-informed look before leaping into the exotic world of iguanas. Written by one of the most respected experts on the care and feeding of iguanas, this fun, entertaining book fills you in on everything you need to know to successfully adopt, nurture, live with and love an iguana. You’ll discover how to:

• Decide if an iguana is right for you
• Feed and house your iguana properly
• Keep your iguana healthy
• Bond with your scaly friend
• Integrate your green amigo into your life
• Socialize and train your mini-dinosaur

Ideal for first-time and veteran iguana owners alike, Iguanas For Dummies is a gold mine of advice, guidance and tested-in-the-trenches tips on:

• Iguanas 101: history, anatomy, physiology and different species
• What you should know and what to look for when shopping for an iguana
• Housing your iguana—includes tips on buying or building an enclosure and how to create a safe environment for a free-roaming iguana
• How to feed your iguana and how often
• Health issues, concerns and treatments
• Breeding iguanas for fun and profit

Whether you’re thinking about getting an iguana, or you already have a whole herd of big green herbivores, this fun, friendly guide will answer all your questions.

This essential reference covers all aspects of iguana care, including facts about its family tree as well as misconceptions about the reptile. Includes an 8-page color insert plus b&w photos & drawings.

Advises how to select and care for an iguana, providing tips on health, socialization, habitat, and other issues.

"If you get only one book on iguanas, this is the one to choose." Stephen L. Barten, DVM, noted reptile veterinarian Praise for Iguanas For Dummies^® "So much more than a simple ‘care’ book, Iguanas For Dummies is a blueprint for compassionate and responsible ownership." — Tracy Basile, Features Editor, ASPCA Animal Watch "Melissa's trademarks — long experience, extensive research, and humor — make this book an essential for every iguana owner, present and future." — Sue Solomon, Sacramento Wildlife Care Association

The essential guide for you and your iguana!

Get the lowdown on keeping your pet iguana happy and healthy So, you wanna iguana. Or you already have one. Now what? This fun and friendly guide gives you expert advice on selecting an iguana and taking care of your fascinating pet throughout its life. It provides valuable tips on diet, habitat, health, and other important iguana issues.

Discover how to: Decide if an iguana is right for you Feed and house your iguana properly Keep your iguana healthy Bond with your iguana Integrate your iguana into your life

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Melissa Kaplan is an educator and wildlife rehabilitator. She has worked with reptiles for nearly a decade and has written extensively on reptile care and health.

Foreword.

Introduction.

PART I: So, You Wanna Iguana?

Chapter 1: Is an Iguana the Pet for You?

Chapter 2: Picking an Iguana.

Chapter 3: Bringing Home Baby.

Chapter 4: If One Iguana Is Good, Are More Iguanas Better?

PART II: Iguana: The Species and the Lizard.

Chapter 5: Cat-ig-orizing Iguanas.

Chapter 6: Iguana Anatomy.

Chapter 7: The Inner Iguana: Why Iguanas Do What They Do.

PART III: Setting Up the Environment.

Chapter 8: Basic Supplies.

Chapter 9: Furnishing the Iguana Home.

Chapter 10: Keeping Your Iguana Comfortable.

Chapter 11: The Great Outdoors.

PART IV: Basic Iguana Care.

Chapter 12: Cleaning and Caring for Your Iguana.

Chapter 13: The Good, the Bad, and the Processed: Nutritional Requirements.

Chapter 14: Brunch Is Served.

Chapter 15: But Iguana Go with You! (What to Do When You're Going Away).

PART V: Socializing Your Iguana.

Chapter 16: Gettin' Iggy with It.

Chapter 17: No, They Don't Get Tame All by Themselves.

Chapter 18: Integrating Iguanas into Your Life.

PART VI: Health and Well-Being.

ChaPter 19: Healthy Is As Healthy Does.

Chapter 20: Common Injuries: What to Look for and How to Treat Them.

Chapter 21: Common Diseases and Disorders.

Chapter 22: Dealing with Reptile Mites.

Chapter 23: Human Health Concerns.

PART VII:Breeding and Reproduction.

Chapter 24: Caught in the Act.

Chapter 25: Eggs, Eggs, and More Eggs.

PART VIII: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 26: Ten Plant Identification and Nutrition Web Sites.

Chapter 27: Ten Suggestions for Socializing Your Iguana.

Chapter 28: Ten Reasons to See a Veterinarian.

PART IX: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Toxic and Edible Plants.

Appendix B: Associations and Veterinary Resources.

Appendix C: Publications and Booksellers.

Appendix D: Supply Sources.

Index.

Book Registration Information.