BOOK REVIEW: "Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual" by James W. Hatfield, III
Assoc Reptilian Amphibian Vet 9[3]:55 Fall'99 Book Review 0 Refs

"When I initially saw this book, I thought, 'Here we go again, another iguana book by someone who thinks he's an iguana expert.' However, Mr. Hatfield does not claim to be an expert, and portrays himself as someone searching for the truth about iguanas. He is a self-proclaimed iguana enthusiast that has gone farther than just writing a book for other iguana enthusiasts. .... He has used a questionnaire about iguanas to poll over 800 iguana owners, veterinarians, pet stores, wholesalers, and zoos, and used that information in the book. ... The focus audience for this book is people that are thinking of buying an iguana but have not yet done so. It is intended to be very comprehensive so those people will learn and understand the complexity of owning an iguana. We all know, however, that most people tend to buy the iguana first and the book second and probably only read the first few pages of the book. I believe that because Hatfield uses owner's actual experiences throughout the book, the new iguana owner will be captivated and read this book cover to cover. One of the benefits of this book from a veterinary point of view is that it encourages the iguana owner to take the responsibility for learning how to raise a healthy iguana. The book contains current accurate information ... Topics covered include .... a detailed look at external and internal body parts .... Iguanas as pets, are they right for you? Choosing an iguana. ... an extensive chapter on housing including habitat development and design, lights, heat, cooling, sensors and cagemates. ... Feeding ... their intestinal tract anatomy, what they should eat, do eat, will eat, right and wrong things to feed, supplements, and feeding frequency .... claw trimming, shedding, bathing, defecation etc.... Medical Troubleshooting, encourages iguana owners to find a knowledgeable reptile veterinarian .... Domestication: contains invaluable information on taming an iguana ... The appendices are thorough and include bibliography, pet names, enclosure and nest box design ... I would recommend this book to anyone that is thinking of buying an iguana, anyone that owns an iguana and any veterinarian treating iguanas, no matter what level your expertise... ... I have always found that it is beneficial to know what our clients are reading and I don't think that we as a profession should ever take animal natural history and behavior for granted. Without thorough knowledge of male iguana breeding behavior, female egg laying requirements, innovations in enclosure design and habitat development, we will have difficulty treating iguana diseases that have developed due to their captive environment..."