That gorgeous guy in the group photo is Buddha.  He is five years old and a rescue.  He's been a member of my family since he was rescued as a hatchling (about 2-4 weeks old).  He had been purchased at a flea market in Maryville Tennessee by some guy for his girlfriend who thought that little lizard was "soooooo cute".  Later that evening, after a few beers, he figured he'd get up close and personal with the little guy.  When the baby iguana attempted to avoid capture the boyfriend grabbed him and threw him against a wall with force.  It caused a bloody snout, some broken ribs, and knocked the baby out. 

The girlfriend, afraid of the unconscious baby, picked him up with serving tongs and thinking him dead, threw his body in the trash.  Then she saw him move,  retrieved him from the trash with the tongs (again) and dropped him in a shoebox.  She then brought him to me. 

I cleaned him up, fed him a puree of fruit,  put him on a cloth covered board to support those broken ribs, and comforted him.  I didn't really think he would make it through the night, but I woke up with him laying across my neck, and he was hungry. 

Now, five years later, he free roams, and when he is cold he comes and climbs in bed with me.  His favorite place is laying across my neck or on my chest with his head under my chin. 

We've learned a lot from one another, had some close calls (medically), and he's been kidnapped, got out of an enclosure and trapped under a fish pond!!!   

He has broken his tail twice!  But is a loving, curious family member.  He naps with the cat, and will walk right over the dog if she is in his path! 

I look forward to meeting everyone, and helping out with those who are new to the experience when possible.  It is my goal to have an information exchange with others who have an iguana (or more?) and to provide real information to those who are seeking.

Dreamsinger

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Mary and Sophie....Happy to have you here!Welcome to our green family!!~

Wanna Slither Around With Me?

Prayers for Sophie..to get well soon!

~JoAnnaB.~

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Try as I might, between being a full time student and working at the restaurant, I don't get over here very often.  Buddha is absolutely wonderful and I will post some new photos of him soon!  Like Shakespeare, Buddha seems to love hamming it up for photos! 

We have several new members and I look forward to reading all of your posts and seeing photos of your beautiful iguanas!  If you have questions feel free to ask.

Dreamsinger & Buddha

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That story about the baby ig is absolutely horrible.  What demented people.  I can't imagine throwing a living being and trying to hurt it- OK I can imagine trying to throw horrible people like that into a wall- they are the only ones who would ever deserve such treatment!

I actually applied so long ago that I completely forgot about it, but I am glad I am here now!  Maybe I can drum up some business and get the group active again.  There are so many myths about iguanas that I'm sure it will take a very long time to dispell them all!

I will put up pics of my two igs and their old enclosure soon.  We are currently living in a basement right now while we wait to buy a house ( hopefully in two months) and none of us are too happy about it.  I'll tell their stories later too as I am at work right now.

 Hope to talk to you all soon! Aimee

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Hello everyone,its been so long since Ive posted here, I just invited a new friend of mine Marty to the group and told her about all the great people and valuable resources here at this wonderful group! F.Y.I for anyone in the Illinois/Chicago area the biggest reptile and amphibian show "REPTILEFEST" is this Saturday..theres no live animals sold(such a blessing) but theres lots of education,sellers,shows,exhibits. Its being held at the University Of Illinois-Chicago-P.E building 901 West Roosevelt Road(One block west of Halsted) Chicago its from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm there will be 40,000 sq feet of exhibits,vendors,and activities. Im going to go. My Iguana Shakespeare just went into full fledged breeding hes orange and honory! I call him the green-mean-machine during this hellish time! L.O.L anyway hes bigger and bossier then ever bobbing like a madman!  Im so glad I got a minute to post today looks as if we got some new faces and new friends! Hope some of you get to the Reptile show theres going to be a show on the Galapagos Islands Iguanas and conservation. Hugs to all and thier Iggys! Love,Lanie

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The Reptile show is Saturday and Sunday April 14 and 15 from 10:00-5:00 and you can aquire coupons at

http://www.reptilefest.com

It should be a great time... Love to all,Lanie

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Press Information

New! ReptileFest 2007 Flyers

New!Half Page Flyers with Coupons

Download maps and directions to ReptileFest

Learn more about Education and Conservation

Picture Gallery

Click here for Exhibitor information

Click here for Vendor information

Herps from last year

Contact the ReptileFest chair

The Chicago Herpetological Society

presents

ReptileFest 2007  

The Nation’s Largest Educational

Reptile and Amphibian

Show