Customer Reviews

Iguanas For Dummies

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like most "Dummies" books, this resource guide offers pretty much everything you need to know about its subject. (Iguanas in this case.) It covers iguana history, habits (both in nature and captivity), common illnesses, requirements for housing and feeding, and even a section on tameing and training. Melissa Kaplan has definitely done her homework, and continues to do so with her online research web site, anapsid.org.

The only complaint I have in this book, is that aside from the "About the Author" section at the beginning, there really isn't any indication Kaplan actually raises iguanas. The book lists many options when it comes to enclosures and feeding, but it would be nice if the author specified what exactly she does for her own pets, or provide specific examples of what has happened (good or bad) in the raising of her reptiles.

Other than that minor complaint, I enjoyed reading this book and have already used it numerous times as a resource for determining the best course of action for raising my own lizard.

This book is an excellent resource for both novice and so-called expert Iguana owners. It would be especially useful for any prospective Iguana owner. Iguanas grow to be very big lizards in a relatively short period of time. They can be agressive, and territorial. There are many husbandry requirements thatthe local pet store will never tell you. In fact, if you follow most pet stores advice, you will end up with a dead Iguana. This book should help prevent this from happening.

The first chapter is regarding whether the Iguana is the right pet for you. It should be read before deciding on an Iguana as a pet. remember, these are not domesticated animals. There are also excellent chapters on housing, feeding, and socialization of Iguanas. Finally the book disproves much misinformation provided by older books, and disseminated by pet stores. For instance, many pet stores sugest feeding cat food to juvenile Iguanas. What they don't tell you is that while this results in a quick growing Iguana, it also results in an Iguana dying at about four years of age from kidney failure.

There is an excellent resource section in the appendix, with useful websites and references to manufacturers of various reptile products including cages, food, and heating systems.

This book should be required reading before the purchase of any Iguana.

Living in the Florida Keys we have dealt extensively with discarded Iguanas - perhaps 15 or more. People buy them, and get rid of them constantly - and down here, in the semi-tropics, they can survive (with difficulty)in the wild.
With all the iguana problems we have encountered good information is a necessity, & we have purchased many iguana books including Hatfield's "Green Iguana, the Ultimate Owners Guide" (a great book, but we still prefer Kaplan's "Iguanas for Dummies").
If you still want addtional technical data you can add "What's Wrong with My Iguana" by John Rossi M.A., D.V.M. and "Understanding Reptile Parasites" by Roger Klingenberg D.V.M.
Kaplan's book is based on research & a lot of personal experience. It is thorough, and her experience shows through - there are tidbits of information that have been useful to us that we have not found elsewhere. She has long maintained a caring website to help iguana owners and potential iguana buyers - not just to sell books. And the price of this book is reasonable.
By all means get a good book like Hatfield's or Kaplan's - preferably before you get an iguana. Even if the book talks you out of getting an ig for a pet it will be well worth the price. Proper care for an iguana involves a devoting a lot of time and spending a lot of money. The cost of the animal is nothing in comparison, and they are far more complex to care for than a dog, cat, or hamster. Judging from the number of abandoned iguanas in the Florida Keys a huge number of people do not bother to inform themselves and the animals suffer. It may not be entirely their fault. Many pet stores do not seem to offer the best books or accurate information - often they just want to sell a hapless reptile, and make a few bucks on inadequate (sometimes dangerous) supplies and food. They frequently give bad advice.
Whatever book you get you will still need to get a good experienced herp vet., and they are hard to find. Things go wrong with iguanas that are not covered with specificity in any of these books. We have been unfortunate enough to encounter some of them.

Green Iguanas everywhere are rejoicing at the release of the new book, "Iguanas for Dummies", by Melissa Kaplan. Ms. Kaplan, a longtime iguana caretaker and wildlife rehabilitator who is well-known and respected in iguana keeper circles and on the internet for her willingness to share the results of her years of experience with iguanas and other reptiles as well as the quality of her advice on their care, has written a thorough and easy to understand guide to iguana keeping that does not sugar coat the numerous responsibilities and demands (not to mention cost!) of housing and maintaining a healthy iguana. As an iguana owner myself, I have no one but Ms. Kaplan to thank for keeping me from killing my iguana through ignorance. Her excellent website, and now this book, will cause many iguana owners to owe her their thanks for a healthy iguana. This book should also be read by anyone who does not own an iguana yet, but is considering getting one. This book will let you know exactly what you're in for. There is a wealth of information in "Iguanas for Dummies" covering everything from diet to egg-laying. Information is easy to find, easy to read and understand. If you own an iguana or are considering becoming an iguana keeper, you need this book!

I found this book to be amazingly well-researched. If ever there was an author who knows her subject this is it. Writing simply without dumbing down she guides the reader through the stuff you really need to know. There's a fascinating interview with Melissa Kaplan in Loco for Lizards by Jim Cherry, a very funny book that's also very informative about lizard basics that incorporates a humorous appraach.

I was really impressed with this book! They really picked the right person to write it, too. It's probably the only iguana book (or reptile book, for that matter) that isn't dry as dust. This one is actually understandable! I'd been wanting to get an iguana, but after reading what it takes to take care of one, I had to reconsider. Any book that can do that without being negative or harsh sounding deserves ten stars, in my opinion. If everyone considering an iguana read this book, there'd be a lot less homeless iguanas around...

I am so glad that Melissa Kaplan has written this book. Both the life of my iguana and myself have improved thanks to her book and information. With pet stores ignorant of iguana care, whether by accident or the desire to sell one more heat rock, so often people never get the knowledge they so desperately need to take care of their new green friends. Before I found this book I did a lot of searching through pet stores for books and found erroneous information on iguanas and had given up. Internet searches led me to a fabulous website run by none other than Melissa Kaplan, and it was there that I was able to learn how to take care of my iguana. Now her book can help thousands or millions more as I have no doubt it will.

I first became acquainted with Melissa Kaplan through Loco for Lizards, a hilarious book about lizards' place in culture by Jim Cherry. She is interviewed in that book. Learning her personal story gave me a great deal of respect for her as a person and as a lizard expert. She knows her subject with absolutely through and through and writes in a way that easily and breezily conveys that knowledge. Highly recommended.

This book is just so wonderful.It has everything that you would ever need to know anything about green iguanas.It is also very organized,and up to date.

Ms. Kaplan does an outstanding job of explaining iguana care in a style that is easy to understand. The book is also comprehensive enough to provide a thorough explanation of iguana care that is more than sufficient for the iguana hobbyist. This is a "must-have" for any iquana owner.