Green Iguana Adoption Site

Available Animals | The Adoption Process

Animals Currently in my Care

I have several iguanas currently available for adoption. Iguanas at the top of the list have had more time in foster care. All foster iguanas have been dewormed and seen by a vet. I also spend time socializing each iguana.

• Laurel is a healthy 4 ft long female green iguana. She's not too fond of young iguanas, but is not dominant around other igs closer to her size. She likes high places and hanging out on your shoulder. Laurel also has a very healthy appetite and loves to have water dripped on her nose and spritzed along her body.
• Iglet (or should I say Jumping Bean?) is about 20 inches long. She's an active, healthy, bright green little iglet. She's 15 months old, given up by a family with a lot of love but who didn't know a lot about iguanas, so she's small for her age but is making up for it in record time! She's also nicknamed the "eating machine." (If you don't want to build or locate your own cage, Iglet's foster cage (3'x2'x3') is available for resale at my cost [$100]. I occasionally offer cages as a convience only. You are NOT obligated or encouraged to take a used cage from us.)
• Puffer is a 2.5 ft male green iguana. He's 3 years old, but still in good health in spite of his small size. He's a nice, calm iguana and likes to be held.
• Dino is another 2.5 ft male green iguana. He came in as a stray. We suspect that he was outside most of the summer because he's such a brilliant green. Dino is sometimes a little skittish around people, but is making great strides. He can be a little anxious when you hold him, but he likes being stroked under the chin. He is NOT agressive, but will sometimes tail lash when he's stressed. He's never bitten anyone.
• Two new iguanas one male, one female, 2' each. These iguanas were really loved by their previous owner. They've got great personalities and are in good health.

The Adoption Process

I'm sorry, but we are unable to ship iguanas. We do, however, do out-of-state adoptions as long as you're with a three hour drive of Rockville.

The adoption process usually takes at least a week from start to finish. This serves as a "cooling off" period, giving you time to change your mind if you decide that a rabbit or iguana is not the right pet for you.

1. Visiting the Pets Available for Adoption
   The formal adoption process begins when everyone living in your home comes to visit the animal. If there is a good distance involved, I can bring This is to make sure that everyone wants the new pet. If everyone agrees, you are then asked to fill out a short three page adoption application. The questions are designed to find out a little bit about you, your past pets, and how you plan to care for the animal. They're mostly designed to get you thinking about what it means to bring a pet into your home. Many people get an iguana because they think it's cute, without stopping to consider what they're going to feed their new pet, where it's going to live, and how much it might cost.
2. Adoption Interview
   The next step is the adoption interview. It's primarily an opportunity to talk about the care your new pet will need. Experienced pet owners can trade tips and new stories. First time iguana parents can learn more about the needs of their new pet.
3. Home Visit
   The third step is the "home visit." What we're looking for here is to make sure that your other pets are happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. We also make sure that you have a proper cage or habitat ready for your pet.
4. Sign Adoption Papers
   After the home visit, you will be asked to come to the Montgomery County Humane Society and fill out the final adoption papers. This paper says that you will take your new pet to the vet and won't sell, breed, or eat your pet.
5. Bring Your New Friend Home
   Finally, I'll deliver your new friend to you, or you can come get him or her to bring home. You will also be provided with any medical records. All of my foster pets go through a general exam and fecal check.

Adoption Fees

There are no fees for adopting an iguana, although donations to the Montgomery County Humane society are always appreciated (and are tax-deductable).

Things to Consider: Iguanas

1. Iguanas grow to be SIX FEET in length and 20 years old. They will eventually need a cage that is six feet long, six feet high, and four feet deep.
2. Iguanas need a special diet of fresh vegetables. They should NOT be given commercial iguana food, dog food, or animal protein.
3. Iguanas need regular exposure to natural, unfiltered sunlight or you will need to buy a special florescent UVB light that will need to be changed every six months. The screw-in "full spectrum" reptile bulbs are not good enough.
4. Iguana cages need to be warm with a 95 degree basking spot and no less than 80 degrees in the cooler areas. They also need high humidity.
5. Iguanas need regular vet visits to monitor their health (especially their calcium levels).
6. Iguanas usually don't get along. If you have more than one iguana, you need to be prepared to house them separately.

For more information on green iguanas, see:

• Melissa Kaplan's Giant Green Iguana Information Collection
  Considered to be one of the best researched and most informative websites on iguana care, this is a site every iguana lover should read particularly her ICFS (Iguana: A Guide to Care, Feeding, and Socialization) information.
• NIAD (National Iguana Awareness Day)
  NIAD is devoted to stoping iguana abuse and educating people about iguana care. They have some basic care information, graphic horror stories about what can happen to iguanas, and a list of common misconceptions about iguanas.
• Baskingspot.com
  Jennifer Swofford's iguana care site.
• Adam Britton's Iguana Care Site