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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU To ask my partner to sell his iguana?

111 replies

ihatecbeebies · 17/04/2011 12:42

My 4yr old DS and I are about to move in with my partner (his place is much bigger than ours so we chose his place over ours) but about 6 months ago he bought a 1 yr old iguana. Am I being unreasonable to ask him to sell the iguana before we move in as they grow to 6 foot, are very dangerous and this one certainly isn't tame, I am worried about the risk to my very curious DS.

OP posts:

GypsyMoth · 17/04/2011 12:45

yabu

why didnt you speak up 6 months ago??

it doesnt roam free does it?

diabolo · 17/04/2011 12:46

I do think that's U. Sorry.

Love the man, love his iguana.

wannaBe · 17/04/2011 12:46

yanbu to be concerned, but yabu to ask him to sell it - animals are not disposable. You should set some ground rules in place wrt your ds i.e. put a lock on the vivarium etc to ensure your curious ds can't go in there when not supervised.

NinkyNonker · 17/04/2011 12:49

Yabu. Definitely.

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 12:50

NBU at all. I wouldnt set foot in the place with a small child. What type of iguana is it? Green iguana males sense when a woman is on her period and can attack her.

Pet lizard attacks are not at all unusual and I really wouldnt be happy about living with one, well I wouldnt live with one, end of discussion!

BingRugmole · 17/04/2011 12:51

You are being unreasonable. If you don't like the way he lives don't move in with him.

diabolo · 17/04/2011 12:53

Sorry bogeyface - "pet lizard attacks" has just made me giggle. It sounds like a bad made-for-TV-movie.

Susiewho · 17/04/2011 12:53

Eh? Iguana's don't grow to 6ft long!

Susiewho · 17/04/2011 12:53

Gawd, apologies for the ' !

Susiewho · 17/04/2011 12:55

Oh, hang on, according to Yahoo Answers, they do! That's incredible.

grovel · 17/04/2011 12:57

Iguanas (properly nourished etc) can grow to 72 inches. Big enough. Revolting creatures anyway.

Goblinchild · 17/04/2011 12:57

Susie, if it's well looked after and properly cared for an iguana can grow to 6' and live for over a decade.

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 12:57

It is a bit B-Movie isnt it! But YKIWM, you pita :o

AuraofDora · 17/04/2011 12:58

were you planning to move in pre-Iguana?

if this is a deal breaker, you need to speak to him, there could be compromise..
access days, when the iguana gets out?

Goblinchild · 17/04/2011 12:58

You can ask him, nothing to stop you communicating your fears.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 13:10

Tbh an iguana will need at least a box room of the house to itself with proper lighting and heating equipment for it to be looked after properly, they are rarely housed well in vivs! They can be very dangerous to take care of, a good friend who moved a little carelessly when filling food trays was whipped and then bitten. Look up iguana bits online for pics, they can rip a child to pieces like a dog attack My friend still has hers, and it still roams free around the conservatory and garden, i love it, but blimely its scary. Really need to move very slowly, and never turn your back, and no loud noises either.

Not something i would entertain owning with small children, because although you could keep the child safe from harm with keepin iguana under lock and key, its really not much of a life for the iguana.

southmum · 17/04/2011 13:10

YABVVVVVU

I guess you can ask, but be prepared for him to be pretty pissed off that you are already asking him to change things (that you knew about) and resent you a bit, not a great start to living together.

When my DP moved in with me he was allergic (only mild sneezing tho) to cats, but no way was I getting rid of them and he didnt even dare ask. Love the person, love their pet.

Besides its not godzilla, it will be in a tank wont it?

Original poster

ihatecbeebies · 17/04/2011 13:10

Yes it is a green iguana, it will need a bedroom of it's own as the viv he's got for it is too small. And it will need a lot of free roam as well, including the back garden in summer. We've talked about it and one of his friends has 16 years iguana experience and is looking to get one too so there is a good home for it, and we've talked about maybe him getting a smaller lizard, an australian water dragon, but I wanted a few more opinions from people too.

OP posts:

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 13:22

There is too much risk there for me with a small child in the house and a menstruating woman too. I am guessing that that hasnt come up yet and your DP has no idea how it will react to you both.

It would be a deal breaker for me, especially as you already have a good home lined up. Is your DP ok about rehoming?

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 13:23

Green Iguana info Put me off even more!

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 13:25

? Reptiles are NOT recommended if you're pregnant or have a young child or an immunocompromised
person in your home.

Original poster

ihatecbeebies · 17/04/2011 13:26

Babydubseverywhere - yes I had seen the pictures of people having their fingers bitten off etc, and a bite from one could easily result in stitches needed for an adult never mind a small child, and already (it has been 4 months he's had it sorry not 6 just realised I had added that incorrectly!) DP's hands have been torn to shreds just feeding it. He also thinks it is a male so that means there is a good chance it will be very aggressive towards me. I worry that DS could be scratched, bitten or tail whipped and could have serious harm done to him if the Ig gets spooked with DS running around playing, or when Ig is in the garden etc,

OP posts:

Bearinthebigwoohouse · 17/04/2011 13:28

My initial reaction was "well, you could ask if you're not happy about it but be prepared for a no", but having read what they're like, I wouldn't be considering moving in with him while it was still there.

Vallhala · 17/04/2011 13:30

YABU. I pick up the pieces as a result of people who dispose of their pets instead of addressing the issues or potential issues and one of the most common of these are those who dispense with a pet because of their PFB child instead of taking simple precautions like acquiring a lock for the vivarium and training the bloody thing. I have 2 German Shepherds and a large Lab cross but they're no risk to my DC as I made the effort to be a responsible owner and train them out of any undesirable behaviour. It's not rocket science FFS!

What's more, I get particularly pissed off when before even abandoning their old pet they're talking of buying another one. Why habe another pet if you and your partner are unwilling to care for... ie train and accommodate... the one he already has?

pixiestix · 17/04/2011 13:33

God, I would crap myself if I came face to face with a 6ft iguana. I thought they grew to about 60 cms. Doh!

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