(The guy at the pet store had thought that she might be a male. I later took her to a Reptile Vet who confirmed otherwise. I kept the name.)
I originally wanted a snake but my parents thought a snake would be too dangerous. Little did we know that green iguanas are no walk in the park.
The pet store guy neglected to tell us any useful information. He should have told me, that my baby iguana that fits in the palm of my hand, is going to grow as fast as an inch per month. That they grow sharp strong talons, have serrated teeth like sharks, and a muscular tail that they use as a whip.
I didn't learn any of this until AFTER I took Elvis home. My parents thought that they were buying me a cute little lizard, not the five foot mini Godzilla she grew into.
Still I was determined to be the best damn iguana owner ever.
One day in the pursuit of this pipe dream I came across an Iguana Harness and Leash.
I immediately started having images of Elvis and I walking through the park, and it being amazeballs.
I bought it, of course, and when I got home I put the leash on Elvis. At first she just angrily examined it.
Scratched at it once or twice. Eventually she decided that it didn't bother her too much. She was more interested in walking around out of her cage. Everything was going as planned.
Until I tugged on the leash.
She started to DEATHROLL like a fucking alligator.
I was panicking, I didn't know how to stop her from hurting herself or from hurting me. She finally wore herself out. She was completely tangled. I had to cut her out of the leash with scissors. I didn't see myself using it in the future.
I’m so intrigued about how things turned out after you cut her out of the leash. You seem to have a penchant towards exotic pets. First the snake, then settling on an iguana. Sure, taking care of the latter is not a walk in the park, but I agree with your parents that it would be less dangerous than the snake. How's the iguana doing, btw?
ReplyDeleteRandal Barber @ Poggi's Animal House
No walk in the park indeed. Following the leash incident I decided that it was safer to let her roam untethered. It was much more enjoyable for both parties. When I left for college my parents begged me to find her a new home. I lived with roommates in a cramped apartment at the time so I couldn't keep her with me, as much as I wanted to. She was about five feet with her tail and 6 years old when I found a suitable family with space and green iguana experience to take her. I had raised her from a baby and had never given up a pet before, I still miss her. I'm pretty sure that they changed her name. I do have a fondness for the exotic creatures. I now know more than ever the special care and research that goes into a pet, especially a non-traditional pet.
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