Connecticut Iguana Sanctuary Residents
Bunny
Bunny has been at the Iguana Sanctuary almost since the beginning and has spent many years making friends, educating young people and illustrating to the general public the true proportions of a healthy adult iguana. He had been fed nothing but shaved carrots for three years prior to being surrendered, and arrived with an intense case of hypervitaminosis A - an overdose of betacarotene that left him glow-in-the-dark orange from snout to tail, hence the name "Bunny". Bunny also has a slightly deformed lower jaw due to his poor early diet; the result is his signature "perpetual smile". At approximately 12 years of age, close to five feet in length and weighing 14 pounds, Bunny has battled papilloma virus, as evidenced by the scarring on his flanks, and continues to fight a chronic infection in the femoral pores of his left hind leg.
Merlin
At close to 20 pounds, Merlin is the heftiest iguana at the Sanctuary, and the anchor of the Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta) family. He was born with a deformity in his tail that rendered him unsuitable for sale by the breeder. Despite his substantial proportions, 10-year-old Merlin is actually extremely shy.
Castro
Castro, the Cuban Iguana (Cyclura nubila nubila) is around 10 years old and, at 12 pounds, is actually a little undersized for his age. His beautiful colors and outgoing personality have made him a favorite at shows and exhibits. As gentle as he is in public, Castro is actually highly territorial at home and is constantly on the lookout for the toes of any other male iguanas that might stray into his sphere of influence.
Digger
Digger is one of the most storied residents of the Iguana Sanctuary, originating from the infamous Long Island Reptile Museum, where he spent many years enduring substandard care along with hundreds of other resident reptiles. The scars on his flanks attest to his battles with infection; the tip of his tail was lost under the foot of Sam, the 250-pound Aldabra Tortoise, another long-suffering resident at the LIRM. When the Museum was finally shut down, Digger was one of 20 ragged and mite-ridden iguanas rescued by the Iguana Sanctuary. In his new permanent home in the office of the Sanctuary director, he lounges on comfortable pillows and blankets, basking under his MegaRay Ultraviolet lamp.
Tatiana
Tatiana was originally abandoned at a pet shop in New Jersey, from where she was purchased by an animal rescuer who shared her home with many animals. She was mauled quite badly in an accidental encounter with a rescued ferret. The cost of her extensive treatment overwhelmed her original rescuer and she was eventually surrendered to the Iguana Sanctuary, where she was nursed back to health. Despite her twisted spinal column and tail, Tatiana is able to climb fairly well in a controlled environment and has successfully laid eggs on a number of occasions.
Please check this site for updates on the Sanctuary and Thank yous to our donors!
The iguanas here at The Connecticut Iguana Sanctuary use and recommend Mega-Ray Mercury Vapor Bulbs!
"Our health depends on them!"
Interested in Adopting? Please read our document on "how adoption works" so you know what to expect when contacting us. AJ@IRCF.org