Green Iguanas at Shows-Whats the deal?

[c1rc4]

So I was just looking at some of the different shows and the rules out of curiosity. Whats the deal with no green iguanas? I can understand no wild caught, farm raised, and imported, but green iguanas all together? Wasn't planning to get one, but I just wanted to know.

[snakewrangler]

Because conscious organizations such as MARS have realized and taken action on the fact that the green iguana is probably (next to the box turtle) the #1 most abused reptile pet. They are dirt cheap ($10-20 at a reptile show, $3-5 wholesale) because they are farmed in Central America, both for the pet industry and for commercial food, and when they are imported, they are very small, which creates an illusion to the uninformed that they will stay that way.

I'm glad MARS has taken action. This is the first I've heard of it, but it makes me hopeful that states might follow.

[Quig]

You'd think someone would take this kind of action with the big snakes(burms, retics, anacondas) Most rescues are overloaded with these also. They're cute and cheap as young ones and too many people that don't understand what it takes to care for them as adults can get em anywhere.

Quig

[snakewrangler]

Good Point. I think the reason that actions on the large constrictors have lagged behind the iguanas is because the iguana is a common "pet shop" animal while the burms and retics are not, at least not in my part of the country.

I posted a comment about a month ago under the White Plains Show that linked to the page with all the NY state prohibitions, and those included burms, retics, afrocks, and nile monitors.

I do not support laws that outright ban exotics, but I fully support licensing that creates accountability for the keepers.

[c1rc4]

Now that makes sense. I completely forgot all about the importing of them and everything. Just didn't cross my mind. Thanks guys.

[black phoenix]

I love permits and regulations, it keeps these beautiful monsters out of the hands of morons who do no research on them before they buy them. NY was wrong in my opinon but they are bitting the bullet for it, not only are they hurting because of a drop in visitors to their herp shows, but now they need to rewrite their laws because the new dwarf burms were reclassified as a new species, so they have to allow them! ;D score one for the herp keeper!