| Is a green iguana a good pet for a child? The story of Green Goblin Unfortunately, since the perception of what a green iguana requires is muddied by the fact that pet stores don't really educate people about their new potential "pet", many poor iguanas never reach maturity.In answer to the question of whether an iguana is a good pet for a child, I say absolutely not. Now, that does not mean I think an iguana does not make a good FAMILY pet, but I think the expectation that a child could be expected to be responsible for this type of an animal alone is a recipe for disaster, both for the child AND the iguana. I speak from first hand experience of having been a proud owner of a green iguana, whom I raised from four inches nose to tail, to a full grown male of six feet nose to tail. Yes, potential parents of green iguana pets...I said six FEET! I wish that people considering buying an iguana had some way of knowing in advance (of course they do, but many times we rely on information from a pet store) what they are looking at in terms of feeding, housing and caring for an iguana. Another important consideration will be whether or not you have access to a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about iguanas and actually will treat an exotic pet. Many iguanas will never require the help of a vet in their lifetime if they are properly cared for barring any accident that puts their life in danger. I want to share with the world the story of "Green Goblin". He was my first and last green iguana, and a wonderful example of what the life of a green iguana CAN be, but usually isn't. The story is long, but informative and absolutely an eye opener for people considering buying an iguana as a pet for their child. Believe me when I say.... they may start out as a pet for the child, but they will become the responsibility of the adult. You will be left with more knowledge about iguanas than you had before reading his story. THEN, you can decide for yourselves what the answer to the question is regarding buying this type of a pet for a child. "Green Goblin" The story of a beloved green iguana Chapter 1 Goblin's story begins with the 16th birthday of my oldest daughter. My daughter, who has always been a responsible child, had mentioned on a few occasions that she was interested in having a reptile for a pet. She talked about turtles, iguanas, even snakes. When she turned 16, we went to a local pet store to choose a cool new pet. As we roamed the aisles, we saw the cute little iguanas scampering around their cages, and thought we would inquire about buying one. They were adorable little creatures, with their little dew flaps under their chins (I loving later named the dew flap the Goblin Chin), and their lovely green color. Tiny little toes with adorable little nails, and little eyes that tempted us with their curiosity. They were about four inches long from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. How cute, how appropriate a little pet, we thought. I noticed that their food dishes held bits of lettuce and a few crickets jumping around inside the cage. "Well, how difficult could it be to feed these animals?", I thought. An employee comes over and asks us if we are interested in one of these cute creatures. "A great pet for your child", they said. Not hard to care for...all they need is some lettuce, maybe some green beans and an occasional cricket for their diet. Oh, and a heat rock. Gotta have a heat rock. The helpful employee assisted us in choosing a small 5 gallon aquarium with a light in the lid, a couple of food dishes, a heat rock, and a cute iguana. I personally picked Goblin because I loved "the look in his eye". Boy, was he a cute little guy (although at the time, I had no idea whether he was a male or a female.) Those supplies, and the iguana chosen, out we walked with a new pet for under a hundred bucks. A steal, if you compare it to a purebred puppy or perhaps an exotic snake. Stay tuned for chapter 2 Expert Page: Freelance native English writing services, proofreading and editing |
