Lizard in the Sunlight

We have been after our son to clean out his lizard habitat for quite some time. Today seemed to be the perfect day to tackle this project.

The weather was warm but not hot. There was a light breeze and the sun was shining, great for keeping the mosquitoes away from our hot, sweat soaked bodies.

Our son started by cleaning the water but that was just the tip of the ice-burg. Later on I helped him take the entire habitat out into the sunshine so we could wash out the debris. The lizard went crazy. He thrashed his tail and darted around inside. Watching the lizard was, to say the least, interesting.

Have you ever seen a cat that has got it's tail caught under a chair? The cat jumps and wails aloud in pain and shock. Well, the lizard didn't wail but the wind caused him to react in a fashion that was very similar. He was very skittish for quite some time.

We left him alone for a while and he seemed to enjoy the rays. When we came out to start the actual cleaning, he was laying on the bottom of the habitat, dozing in the sun.

We got the hose and started flushing the debris out of the habitat. I started spraying the lizard, little by little, gradually getting him wet and washing the habitat. By the time we were done washing everything out, the lizard seemed to be enjoying the chance to have a real "rain" shower. He would close his eyes and relish the sensation of water caressing his skin. Did I tell you that this is an Iguana? They live in rain forests and so water is one of those things that make their lives interesting. While cleaning out the habitat there were several times when he flailed around like a windmill, whipping his tail back and forth, splashing me with the water.

Many lizards lose their tails when threatened or stressed. It doesn't look very nice but it is a fact. This lizard doesn't get out very much so during this entire project he did get stressed and lost the last 1.5 inches of his tail. That was distressing to him and us.

My son finished up cleaning and started lining the bottom of the habitat with wet coconut bark, the bedding that we use. Between the two of us we got the lizard and habitat re-assembled. We finally moved him back into his clean habitat and left him basking under his "sun" lamp. He should have a good appetite tonight.