my iguana t-rex

Question
QUESTION: my 1 and 1/2 year old iguana usually roams around the house but I've never had a problem finding him.  He has been missing for 5 days now and I haven't beable to find him. I left out food and water but he has not come out to eat/drink, I really missing my iguana and I want to find him. Can you give me any advice or let me know what you think.  I keep telling myself he will be back tomorrow but theres no signs of him anywhere Do you think theres any hope. Please help me!!!!

ANSWER: Hi Jessica,
Was there an open window or door?  Could he have gotten outside?  Check your window screens, etc. Check trees, rooftops, etc..
Also, kitchen and bathroom cabinets generally have a kick plate at the very base of them.  Right above that board is an opening that many igs can squeeze into.
Check closets...inside pant legs, shirt sleeves...and also top of curtains..many times they hide in plain sight.
Sprinkle some flour or cornstarch on the floor in doorways..if he walks through it you will be able to see it.
Depending on the size of your ig, there are so many places they can fit into.
The important thing is to never give up...igs have been gone for lots longer than 5 days with no ill effects...


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank u soo much I was beginning to think that he was gone for good.  there were no doors or windows open and I live in az so we have nothin but dirt around my house.  I looked in all those places except for the cabinets cuz I cant get into the openings but with your reassurance that he could be missing for far longer then 5 days without food/water I feel much better and I will try the flour idea and wait for my iguana to come out.  I was just wondering if my iguana was maybe tryin to mate would this be a reason for him(I'm not sure if hes a boy)disappear for a long time??? I ask this b-cuz my iguana has never done this before and he has a loving home with everything an iguana could want; I mean I treat him like he is my son I talk to him and I give him lots of attention and I think he enjoys it cuz he either bobs hes head or closes hes eyes...I dont know I just tryin to understand why he would disappear.

Answer
Jessica,
Depending on the size of T-Rex, they can disappear to lay eggs.  You said age was about 1.5 years.....(pet stores are generally way off with their age)  Female iguanas generally lay eggs around 2 yrs  old...if their snout to vent length is 10 inches or more. Does T-Rex fit that category? If this is the case, igs lay their eggs and then go back to normal.  They don't sit on their eggs or protect them.  Looking for a mate, if male, yes, they can get a bit of the wandering in their system, but you should be able to hear him or her someplace.
As to your cabinets...that kick plate board on the bottom of them does come off.  They are generally only stapled on there.
Unfortunately iguanas don't understand love or things like that.  They do what instinct tells them to do..and being iguanas, sometimes that instinct isn't the best judgement.
Also, try placing a lamp (turned on) on the floor of a room with his food there.(Night time especially)  The light/heat may draw him out of hiding. Check windows where the sun is shinning in brightly.
Depending on his/her size, inside dresser drawers(many can access from the back of the dresser), inside recliners, check the bottom of your box springs..if there is a tear in the material, they can climb into there, inside recliners....small igs can really flatten out and fit in/under things we would not ever think they could fit under.
Don't give up hope or looking...many times they are hiding in plain sight.  How was he/she acting before the disappearing act?  Eating?  basking?  activity?  color?  fat?