| How to Buy an Iguana Posted: 20 Apr 2019 01:00 AM PDT The common green iguana (Iguana iguana) is a naturally herbivorous lizard that may be kept as a pet. Typically, it is the only type of iguana you can keep as a pet in the United States and other countries, so check your local laws before deciding to buy an iguana.[1] Keeping an iguana is a long-term project with a great deal of responsibility. As small as the juvenile iguana may appear, it will grow into a large lizard, meaning that it isn't a small task to feed, care for, and move this creature. Provided you understand fully what you're in for in terms of care, it can make a great pet that stays your companion for many years. EditFinding Iguanas - Check with local rescues to provide a home to a rescued iguana. Many rescues will take in unwanted iguanas from owners who can't care for them anymore. You may find rescues that specialize just in reptiles or even just in iguanas. Alternatively, some rescues take all animals, including cats, dogs, and iguanas, so look around in your local community.[2]
- Try doing an internet search for iguana rescues in your area or ask your vet if they know of any.
- Look for an exotic pet amnesty program to see if they re-home iguanas. Because some owners release iguanas into the wild when they don't want to care for them anymore, some states have amnesty programs. Basically, anyone can surrender a pet, even if it's exotic or illegal, and it will be re-homed. If your state has such a program, you may be able to get an iguana by applying to be a designated home through the amnesty program.[3]
- Florida, for instance, has one of these programs where iguanas can be surrendered. Search your local government's website to see if you have an amnesty program nearby.
- Consider a breeder for a healthy, socialized iguana. Responsible breeders focus on providing the healthiest animals they can, and they tend to socialize them as much as possible before passing them onto you. If you absolutely can't re-home another iguana, a breeder is a good option.[4]
- Search online to see if you can find a local breeder that has good reviews. Talk to your friends who own reptiles to see if they know of a good breeder.
- Try a pet store as a last resort. Many iguanas are relinquished each year to rescues and zoos, so if you can, try to rescue one of those. But if that simply isn't an option, you can get one at your local pet store. Choose a reputable store in your community.[5]
- Make sure to do your research first and pick a store that has good reviews and a reputation for having healthy animals. Check reptile forums to see if you can find reviews for pet stores.
EditChoosing a Healthy Lizard - Ask to hold the lizard so you can examine it. If you're at a pet store, pick out several you like and ask to hold them one at a time. Hold one in both your hands to examine the lizard more closely. You can gently lift the limbs and dewlap to make sure everything looks healthy.[6]
- As you move the limbs, notice if the iguana seems strong. It should offer some resistance as you try to move the limbs. If it isn't, that could indicate a calcium deficiency or some other problem.
- Look for bright eyes that aren't sunken. If the iguana's eyes appear to be sunken in its head, that could be a sign of sickness.[7] Also, check for drainage and crustiness, which could indicate a respiratory infection.[8]
- A healthy iguana will look around and follow your finger with its eyes or head if you move it around nearby.
- Check for tight, green skin. Loose skin could indicate the iguana has lost weight and is sick or unhealthy. The skin should look taut against the iguana's body, and it should be bright green, not dull-looking. The back end of the lizard at the near the legs and tail should look round not bony.[9] However, if the back legs look swollen with hard knots, that could indicate a calcium deficiency.[10]
- The "green" iguana is something of a misnomer. They typically are green, but they can also be brown, red, or blue. However, you want the skin to look bright and healthy either way.[11]
- While looking at the skin, check for mites, which are little red, black, or orange dots that move around.
- Examine the body for burns and feces. If there is dried feces on the belly, that means the iguana has been kept in an unhygienic environment and could have underlying infections. If the iguana has burns, it's sat on heat that comes from below, something you should never do for an iguana.[12]
- If it's been burned, it's belly may always be sensitive.
- Look in its mouth for a bright pink mouth and tongue. Tap your finger gently on the iguana's nose, and it will usually open its mouth. You should see clear saliva, along with the pink tongue. A grayish or dull mouth could indicate sickness, as does stringy mucus.[13]
- You may also see "cottage cheese" fungus or tiny fungus spots that may be green, yellow, or white. Avoid any iguana that displays these signs.
- If it doesn't open its mouth, you can gently try to pull it open.
- Notice if the lizard is relaxed around you. If the iguana has been socialized properly, it won't be startled by you. In fact, it may even try to climb up your arm or hand. Ones that haven't been socialized will try to run away from being caught.[14]
- It's fine if the iguana is young and unsocialized, as you still have time to socialize it.
- If it's completely unresponsive, it's too weak or sick to respond.
- Pick a male over a female if you're not interested in breeding. While males can be more aggressive during breeding season, ovulation in females can be difficult to deal with if you don't know what you're doing. For instance, females often don't eat in the 4 weeks leading up to ovulation; if your iguana is in poor health at all or is malnourished at all, it can collapse during this period from weakness.[15]
- Often, this is due to the female not getting enough calcium in its diet.
EditPurchasing Your Lizard and Supplies - Expect to pay at least $10-$20 USD for an iguana. In a pet store or from a rescue, an iguana can cost as little as $10 USD. From a responsible breeder, you may pay a little bit more, as they put more work into the animal.[16]
- These pets are remarkably long-lived, and if you expect to only want this pet for a few years, you should think about getting another pet. While some iguanas only live 10-15 years, some live as long as 20, so they are quite a time commitment.[17]
- Buy a small cage in the beginning but be prepared to upgrade. While the iguana may look little and cute in the pet store cage at , keep in mind these lizards can get quite large. Even if you get a baby, prepare for it to grow to in length. You need to start with an aquarium that's as large as .[18] By the time it gets full-size, you may need one that's as big as .[19]
- However, you shouldn't start small iguanas in a huge cage. They may not be able to find their food and water, and the smaller cage helps train the lizard not to see you as a predator.
- Purchase the appropriate heating equipment for the tank. All iguanas need heat lamps to help keep them warm. For a small iguana, 1 lamp is sufficient. However, for a full-grown adult, you'll need as many as 6 bulbs to make sure the iguana can maintain its body heat. You'll need to place these above the cage so the iguana can regulate its heat.[20]
- Maintain a temperature of for your iguana.[21] Keep one area at at least so your iguana can get warm.
- Avoid hot rocks and heating pads that provide heat from below. Heat from above the iguana engages a sensory organ called the parietal eye that tells it to start basking and regulate its heat. When the heat comes from below, this organ is not used, and the iguana may not realize it is getting hot or even burned.
- Keep in mind that if you're housing the iguana inside, this heat output could increase your electricity bills in the summer when you're trying to cool the house down with the air conditioner.
- Buy the ultraviolet lighting your iguana will need. This type of lighting is also referred to as UVA and UVB lighting. This lighting gives your iguana the light it needs to make vitamin D, an essential nutrient. Speak to an associate at a store that sells reptile accessories to find the best lights for your iguana.[22]
- Be ready to feed it fresh leafy greens and produce. Iguanas are vegetarians, and they need fresh produce in their diet. You'll need to feed them leafy greens as at least 80% of their diet, including romaine, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, kale, parsley, broccoli, Swiss chard, and cilantro. About 10% or a little less should be reptile canned food or pellets, while the rest should be other fresh fruits and vegetables.[23]
- Keeping fresh greens on hand can get expensive.
- Iguanas can eat veggies like squashes, sweet potatoes (cooked), carrots, cucumbers, and mushrooms.
- For fruit, try ones like apples, peaches, melons, mangoes, pears, strawberries, apricots, figs, and bananas (with the skin on).
- Buy an iguana book to learn more about iguana care.
- Iguanas only eat vegetables so do not feed them crickets or other insects.[24]
- Iguanas can carry salmonella. While rare, it is important to clean any wounds you receive from an iguana very well. Also, wash your hands after handling the iguana or dealing with the cage. Do not allow very young children or the elderly handle the iguana, especially if it's known to be aggressive.[25]
EditReferences
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| How to Mountain Bike Downhill Posted: 19 Apr 2019 05:00 PM PDT Mountain biking is an exhilarating and physically challenging activity. When biking downhill, it's important to properly distribute your weight in order to control your bike. It's also essential that you purchase biking equipment that is made specifically to withstand the stress of biking down a hill with uneven terrain. Once you have the proper equipment and understand the basics, going downhill on your mountain bike is a blast! EditControlling Your Bike Downhill - Look as far down the trail as you can. Looking far in front of you will enable you to anticipate changes in the trail. This will give you enough time to adjust to bends or changes in the trail. If you get distracted and concentrate too close in front of you, micro adjustments and hesitation could cause you to wipe out.[1]
- Commit to riding down the hill once you enter the decline. Instead of second-guessing yourself, go fully into the hill and keep your wheels turning. Occasionally feather the brakes to slow down when you come to slight bends in the road, but don't try to come to a complete stop until you're on level land.[2]
- Hesitation could cause you to fall off your bike when going down a steep hill.
- You might be scared at first, but committing to a hill is the safest way to ride down it.
- Distribute your weight to the outside of the bike as you turn. When you turn, your outside foot should be in the down position, your inside pedal should be up, and your weight should be distributed to the outside of your bike. This will prevent you from taking corners too sharply and falling off your bike.[3]
- Your weight should be evenly distributed between your front and back tire during turns.
- Drop your weight on the back of the bike when going down a steep hill. Hold the handlebars and lift your butt off the back of your seat. Plant your heels down onto your pedals, adjust your hips, and drop your weight onto the back of your bike. This will prevent you from tipping over the handlebars when going down a steep hill.[4]
- Keep your elbows and knees loose (slightly bent rather than locked) to avoid bumps and jostling that could affect your control of the bike.
- Learn how to drop on a mountain bike. When approaching a drop in terrain, you should be elevated over your seat, your chest should be lowered, and your arms and legs should be bent. As you go over the cliff, lower your hips, put your weight on the back of the bike and push off your handlebars.[5]
- The drop technique will safely guide you over small cliffs as you ride downhill.
- Try to land on your back wheel or both wheels when doing this maneuver.
- As you go over the drop, keep your knees and elbows dynamic to compensate for the impact.
EditPrioritizing Safety as a Beginner - Practice on easy biking trails first. Most mountain bike trails will have a grading system that signifies their difficulty. This grading system can usually be found at the start of a trail or at the park's information booth. If you're new to downhill biking, choose one of the lower difficulty trails before trying an intermediate or difficult trail.[6]
- Lower level tracks will be relatively straight with limited curves and bumps.
- Intermediate and advanced tracks may have steep drop-offs, narrow tracks, and obstacles blocking your way.
- Only go down an advanced track if you're an experienced mountain biker.
- Walk on the side of the trail if you need to stop. Don't stop in the middle of a trail. If you need to take a break or examine an obstacle, walk off to the side of the trail first. This will prevent other riders from colliding with you.[7]
- Stop and examine an obstacle if it's too difficult. It's okay to stop the bike and walk it over a portion of the trail that you find too scary to do, like a steep drop off or an obstacle. Make sure that you walk on the side of the trail, out of the way of potential bikers behind you.[8]
- Examining an obstacle on a trail can actually help you better understand it the next time that you ride down the trail.
- Call out which side you're passing on. If you are passing someone on the trail, say "To your left" or "To your right," depending on which side you want to pass on. This will give the biker in front of you enough time to get to the side of the track.[9]
- Alternatively, you can use a bicycle bell to communicate with other trail users.
- If someone coming up behind you says "To your Left" or "Left," get to the right of the track so that they can safely pass you.
- Stay tight against the bike if you're going to fall. Try to fall on the side while keeping your body close against the bike. This lets the pedal and handlebars absorb the bulk of the impact. The natural instinct to bail off the bike and land with your hands out can cause wrist and hand injuries.[10]
- Increase your speed gradually on tracks you're familiar with. Once you become more accustomed to the curves, bumps, and intricacies of a track or course, you can increase your speed on the track. After you master one trail, you can move onto more difficult ones.[11]
EditGetting the Proper Equipment - Purchase or rent a full suspension downhill bike for intermediate or advanced trails. Full suspension downhill bikes have sturdy suspensions that can withstand the bumps and drops from a downhill mountain bike course. They are heavier than hybrid and road bikes and are built specifically for rugged mountain bike trails.[12]
- You can purchase or rent a full suspension downhill mountain bike at a bike store.
- If you're a beginner and want to try blue or green trails, you can use any bicycle. However, as you become more advanced, a full-suspension bike is ideal.
- Buy a helmet. If you're planning on mountain biking downhill on advanced trails, you'll want to purchase a helmet that can protect the front of your face if you go over the handlebars. The helmet should feel light and secure and should not obstruct your view in any way.[13]
- Try the helmet on at a bike store to ensure that it fits.
- Wear goggles to protect your eyes from debris. Goggles will block dirt or dust that may blow into your face as you go downhill. Your helmet should fit comfortably over the goggles. [14]
- Purchase biking clothing. Purchase tighter fitting, non-cotton performance or cycling clothes that wick sweat. The material in bike clothes helps regulate temperature and are made to fit your body in the cycling position.[15]
- Performance or biking clothes can be found at bike stores or online.
- Popular brands of cycling clothes include POC, Mavic, and Benard.
- Baggy clothing can get caught in the chain or gears of your bike, but it's usually fine to wear comfortable clothes if you don't have anything designed specifically for biking.
- Wear protective armor over your clothes when going down advanced trails. Knee pads, elbow pads, or even full body armor will help minimize injuries if you fall off your bike. If you are going down more advanced tracks, buy biking armor online or at a biking store.[16]
- Tailor your tire pressure and suspension to the track. If you are biking on wet ground, you can set your bike to a slightly lower suspension to get more grip on the trail. If you are going along dry ground, set your suspension higher to achieve higher speeds.[17]
- Play around with both of these settings on your bike and find a setting that feels comfortable for you and the trail you're riding on.
- Proper mountain bike suspension should sit about ⅓ of the way down when you sit on the bike on dry terrain.
- Bring water and snacks. Water is an absolute essential, so don't forget to fill up and bring a few bottles or a water bladder when you go riding. Snacks like granola bars or trail mix are great to have on hand as well.
EditReferences
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| How to Make a Thank You Card Posted: 19 Apr 2019 09:00 AM PDT Sending a handmade thank you card is a great way to thoughtfully recognize what someone else has done for you. You can make a lot of different types of cards, from ones with calligraphy greetings to painted cards or even collaged ones. After you've crafted your thank you card, write a meaningful, sincere note on the inside before delivering it to the recipient. It may only take 10 minutes to make a card, but your thoughtfulness will mean a lot to the person who receives it. EditChoosing a Design - Form a pretty border on your card using washi tape. Take your washi tape of choice and cut off pieces that are long enough to create a border across the length and width of the card. Carefully line them up so they're even with the edges of the card, press them down firmly, and trim off any excess tape.[1]
- There are tons of different colors and patterns of washi tape available. From solid colors to glittery ones to printed patterns—check out your local craft store to pick out a few options to use on your next homemade thank you card.
- Create a collage from magazine cut-outs to make a unique design. This is a great way to make a really personalized card for someone. Gear the card toward the person's personality and cut out images that remind you of them, or make the card "thank you" centric by cutting out words and images that remind you of gratitude.[2]
- You could cover an entire card with cut-outs of the words "thank you" from different magazine articles for a neat effect.
- Design a colorful balloon or rainbow card for a young child. Use colored cardstock to cut out shapes for balloons or arches for a rainbow, or use markers or colored pencils to draw them onto the card. Make the image large enough to cover the entire front of the card for the most stunning visual effect.[3]
- Write a special thank you message inside a ballon or across an arch of the rainbow to make the card even more personalized.
- Cut out shapes to adorn the front of the card for a pretty design. Hearts, stars, flowers, circles, or squares can make a nice visual effect on the front of a card. Use colored cardstock to cut out multiples of a single image and then glue them to the front of the card.[4]
- For example, you could cut out 2 dozen small stars and then paste them to the card, putting the bulk of them near the top so that it looks like it's raining down stars.
- Make an elegant card by using thick, creamy paper and a simple design. Sometimes you might want a classier card when you send out a thank you note, like if you're sending one to your boss or a relative you're not very close to, or maybe you just like the look better. Choose a thicker paper in a cream or beige color. Use stamps or calligraphy to write "thank you" on the front of the card. You can:[5]
- Use a simple design, like a paint chip with a flower stamped or drawn on it, to decorate the card;
- Use gold or silver markers to make your message a little more sparkly;
- Stamp the card with homemade stamps, like from cut pieces of fruits or vegetables, or store-bought ones.
- Use paints or watercolors to create a vibrant, unique card. You could paint the person's name on top of a stunning multi-colored background, or make a dreamy sky-scape with clouds, a sun, and birds. The options are endless.[6]
- This is a great way to use a skill of yours to show someone gratitude.
- If you're going to mail the card, make sure the paper is completely dry before you put it into an envelope.
- Craft a rustic card with twine and brown craft paper. This kind of card is simple to make. All you need is some brown craft paper, some twine, and a white or black marker. Fold the paper in half, and write "thank you" across the front with the white or black marker (white works well on dark-brown paper, whereas black will look better on light-brown paper). Make a small bow out of of twine, and use a glue gun to secure it to the top corner of the card.[7]
- You can, of course, get even more creative with rustic cards. For example, include the person's name on the front of the card, add a cut-out flower or some other design, or create lines across the top half of the card by gluing down strands of twine.
EditDecorating the Card - Cut paper with scalloped shears to make decorative edges. Cut all the edges of the actual card itself to make its edges into a different shape, or use them to make other parts of the card look more unique. For example, if you have a square of white paper to glue to the card to write your message in, cut it out with the scalloped shears—it'll look a little fancier than straight edges would.[8]
- There are lots of differently-patterned scissors you can use. Browse the options at your local craft store to find a pair to add to your crafting supplies.
- Decorate with stamps to add an extra design element to your card. You can buy stamps from your local craft store or from an online store, and there are tons of different styles available. Look for ones that say "thank you," or pick your favorite designs, like leaves, flowers, or other objects you can use to decorate your card.[9]
- Experiment with different colors of ink. For example, white ink would really look great on black or dark blue paper, whereas dark green ink could look really classy on a cream-colored card.
- Add dimension to your card with paper cutouts. Layering paper is a great way to create visual depth. Cut out several different sizes of colored paper, like a large square, a medium-sized square, and a small circle, then paste them on top of each other on the front of the card so that they create multiple borders.[10]
- You can get really creative and use different colors, sizes, and types of paper.
- Glue on buttons or gems for a whimsical touch. You can create a pattern or border out of buttons or gems, or use them to accent a design already on the card. Use liquid-glue or non-liquid adhesive to secure the objects to your card. just make sure you give them enough time to dry so they stay securely in place.[11]
- For example, if your card has flowers on it, you could glue a button to the center of each flower.
- Use leftover scraps of ribbon to make a textured card. Use one color of ribbon, or use multiple colors and patterns depending on what you have available. Tie a bow and glue it to the top of the card, or use strips of ribbon to make a colorful background across the entire body of the card.[12]
- This is a nice way to repurpose ribbon leftover from other crafts or even from gifts you've received.
EditWriting a Thank You Note - Use your best handwriting or calligraphy. If you have a hard time writing legibly, try to slow down and take care when writing out your thank you message. Use a pen or marker that won't smudge or smear across the page. Permanent markers work well, and gel pens dry faster and are less likely to smudge than ballpoint pens.[13]
- If your card is made with dark paper, cut out a lighter-colored piece of paper to glue to the inside of the card. That way, you can write your message without worrying if it will be visible or not.
- Include a salutation and the person's name on the inside of the card. Regardless of what you designed or wrote on the front of the card, the inside message should still include some kind of greeting, as well as the recipient's name. Double-check that you're spelling the person's name correctly. For the greeting, you could write:[14]
- "Dear John,"
- "Kelly, thank you,"
- "Hello, Mrs. Smith,"
- "Greetings, Susan,"
- Or, just write the person's name if that feels more natural to you.
- Thank the person for what they did or gave specifically. You don't need to exaggerate, ramble, or overly thank someone. Just a simple line or two will do. And don't hesitate to thank people for small things, too, like a homemade meal or someone attending an event or performance you were in. Everyone likes being appreciated![15]
- For example, write something like, "Thank you so much for inviting me and Jason over for a meal. It was so nice to relax and connect with you and Kate."
- Or write something like, "Thank you so much for the new set of bath towels. They look great in our cupboard and we were excited to replace our mismatched and worn-out set."
- Thank someone who supported you by attending an event by saying something like, "Thank you so much for coming to my concert last Friday evening. It was so nice to look out and see a friendly face, and I really appreciate you taking the time to support me."
- Compliment the person or express good wishes for them. Whether you compliment their thoughtfulness or generosity or tell them you hope to see them soon, it's nice to end the note on an emotional upswing. This doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out sentiment. One line should be enough.[16]
- For example, write something like, "Your gift was so thoughtful. I look forward to seeing you at the next family reunion!"
- Or, "I hope this next season is good to you and your family."
- Sign your name to end the letter. If the gift was given to you and your family, have everyone sign their names to the bottom of the card. Whether you write "love," or some other kind of sign-off note is up to you. You can try out different endings, like:[17]
- "Warmly,"
- "All the best,"
- "Kind regards,"
- "With appreciation,"
- "Thanks again."
- Mail or deliver the card with 1 to 2 weeks of the occasion. If you're mailing the card, make sure to seal it in an envelope, put enough postage on it, and write the address legibly across the front. For a hand-delivered card, either drop it into the person's mailbox or give it to them the next time you see them.[18]
- If you can't get your thank you card out in the mail quickly, late is always better than never. You could even put in a note saying something like, "I know this is a few weeks late, but I just wanted to send my appreciation."
- You can also use online programs to design thank you cards. This can come in handy if you need a lot of cards at once, like for wedding gifts or a baby shower.
- Take a picture of yourself using the gift and include it with the thank you note.
EditThings You'll Need EditChoosing a Design - Washi tape
- Magazines
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Paper
- Pens
- Markers
- Paints
- Watercolors
- Paintbrushes
- Glue gun
EditDecorating the Card - Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Stamps
- Buttons
- Gems
- Ribbons
EditWriting a Thank You Note - Pen or marker
- Envelopes
- Stamps
EditRelated wikiHows EditReferences
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