Spiny-tailed Iguanas
(Ctenosaura sp.)
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| Norbert: Our original Banana Iguana |
We began working with Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura species) in 2001 with the purchase of some juvenile wild collected C. similis. They are a very attractive but very poor tempered species and we eventually chose to pass on continuing the project. In 2003 we decided to look at C. pectinata which was reputed to be a much calmer species. They proved much more pleasant to work with but our line had fertility issues that made them frustrating as a breeding project. We then gave C. melanosterna, the Black chested blue backed Iguana a try. They were an interesting mix of the previous two species being pretty much intermediate in all respects. They were still a little flightly for my tastes and we were offered a good trade for them so ended that project in 2012. Our goal now is to try to find some new blood in pectinata as we really miss working with that species. We have a line on some for late 2012 but until we have them in hand you never know if that will work out or not. Plan "B" is to acquire some Florida feral stock (poorly colored but fertile), and cross those into the Banana line of Kelly Paul. Either way we fully intend to work with pectinata again. Below is a brief synopsis of how we have kept our Ctenosaurs to date.
We rear them on the same base diet as our Uromastyx (see our care sheet for Uromastyx) but with the occasional insect and canned dog food added (they grow much better with the added protein but will become very aggressive feeders (nippy) at feeding time - especially for the canned dog food). We also drop the ambient temperatures to the mid 90's. We bed them on coconut husk chunks and occasionally mist their cages with water (weekly as hatchlings, much less so as they mature). We also give them taller habitats with large branches for climbing and basking (see photos).
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| Iguana Hatchling Tank (upper cage in stack) | Breeder Tank (modified shower stall) in our home |
Kelly Paul, producer of most the spiny-tailed iguana
species in the U.S. with a pair of his Banana morph Mexican iguanas
(C pectinata).
We've set up a group of six 4' x 2 1/2' x 2 1/2' Vision tanks to sit in waiting to rear our next groups in so we are ready to go. Now if we can just get some hatchlings! We don't expect to have any Ctenosaurs available for 2012 but feel free to e-mail us if you wish to get on a waiting list for some. We don't take deposits but fill "Wanted" lists on a first come, first served basis.
Email:
douglasdix@deerfernfarms.com
