Brooke Elder owns several reptiles, including a pair of rather large rhino iguanas (aka the tiny dinosaur). Most people keep reptiles in cages or other enclosures. Although Brooke has ecosystem enclosures for all her pets, she also allows them time to roam around in her house. There is nothing like lizard tippy taps on an uncarpeted floor.
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Dog tippy taps are cute, but they are infinitely more adorable when made by the scrambling feet of tiny dinosaurs. Rhinoceros iguanas get their name because the males have a tiny protrusion on their snout, much like the mammal rhinoceros. They are endangered, with only 10,000 to 17,000 remaining in the wild. While rhino iguanas are intelligent, they are not suitable pets for everyone.
Rocco is a rescue animal. Brooke adopted him after he was used in a food trial. It took her a year to acclimate him to her home before he felt “safe.” Brooke explains his early life during a feature video by GeoBeats and then discusses how he acts under her care. Rhino iguanas can grow up to around four feet and live up to 20 years in captivity. They also require a large enclosure.
As he skitters across the floor, you can hear his lizard feet tippy tap as his claws hit tile or other uncarpeted areas. Rocco weighs around 20 pounds, which is heavier than most house cats. They are quiet and shy, but males can get aggressive during mating season.
As a self-professed “reptile nerd,” Brooke is very knowledgeable about the animals in her care. If you want to learn about rhino iguanas or other lizards, follow her pages on TikTok and Instagram.
Please share if you enjoyed hearing lizard tippy taps.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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