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Tips for Green Iguana Taming and Socialization:
Most baby iguanas will typically act flighy, often tail-whipping, hissing, puffing out their little dewlaps and standing
in a defensive stance to inflate themselves up (rather than out) in order to look bigger so they might scare off this new
foe.
Mostly this is bluff. Sure, you may have one that tries to lean forward and nip you but this does NOT make him a nasty
or vicious iguana. Just imagine what we look like to them. Here is this tiny iguana, by all means they are udderly defenseless
around huge predators and their only means of protection includes speed, camouflage in the trees and bluffing so they CAN
escape.
To them, we appear to be a huge potential predator. It doesn't take long for them to realize however, that we are in
fact, the opposite. Remember, iguanas are VERY intelligent and given the time and effort, they will be easily socialized
in no time. You do have to realize though, even with a baby that has been handled and socialized, you might experience some
aggressive times (mainly this occurs when they become sexually active). Often people mistake this for the iguana just becoming
a jerk or that it is just plain mean. Breeding behaviors can change the attitude of your iguana but not all iguanas experience
a mood change. It's vital during this time that you remain patient, persistent and understanding as your little iggy goes
through this stressful time. It's all too easy to just throw in the towel and say, that's it, I've had it, he goes now.
So, on to some basic tips for handling your new iggy. First off, if this is a baby, subadult or adult, one trick I've
found that immediately calms down any iguana is the hold and lift above your head manuever. Granted, this should NOT be attempted
on very large or angry iguanas. If you just got the animal, you must give them time to adapt and get a clue about what is
going on around them. To just expect that anything we force them into will work is silly. Never attempt this without gloves
on any iguanas bigger than a small juvenile. By that, I mean no bigger than one who is roughly in the body (tail not included
of course) max. After this point, those claws and tail can be unruly on anything larger and your arms and show it with loads
of trailed, bloody wounds.
You can get some great gloves that run arm length (some are made without enclosing your fingers which I like best as I
can be more nimble that way and avoid a big clunky glove) for handling or sharp-toed friends.
In general, the move is very simple. You lift the iguana with one hand over the pelvis (don't grip it tight, you don't
want to upset your ig into thinking you are fixing to restrain him which will make him fight more..this is a safety precaution
in case he flips out and you want control over those hips and tails). Your other hand will be placed gently under his belly
(just scoop him up) and lift him in this position high above your head. Be sure when he's on your hand, not to tilt him backwards,
sideways or anything but slightly vertical. You don't want him to feel like he's doing anything else but sitting on a nice
45 degree angled tree limb. That's the whole point. You are giving him the security he's looking for.
Once you have him up in the air, his squirming should cease within a few seconds. If it doesn't, you probably have him
tilted or are not supporting him correctly.
Now, at this point, you have him up in the air, he's chillin' and looking around comfortably while you have the appearance
of a wave gone wrong.
After letting him calm down for maybe a minute, slowly start to lower your arms together towards the floor, keeping him
in the exact position you have him while he's up in the air. As you bring him down closer to you, talk to him softly, reassuring
him. If he starts to wiggle or freak out, lift him right back up and try again.
Once you have him about eye level, you can hold him there and continue to talk to him. At this point, assess his body
language. Are his eyes WIDE open, dewlap and throat flared out, muscles tensing up and movements are twitchy? He's not calm
obviously. But, doing this with him each day will quickly let your iguana know that you mean him no harm. You are offering
him the security he needs in your hands, then you are turning around and showing him the assoiation between the safety and
you.
If you look at him and see relaxed, curious eyes, head movements are very curiously looking around at his leisure and
he doesn't seem to be bothered by anything, congratulations! You are on the way! It is not hard to deceifer a stressed iguana
from a relaxed one.
Along with this, establish a routine for our iguana concerning his playtime with you. Make sure you include activities
he thoroughly enjoys during his out time. A lot of iguanas enjoy a good scratching. Right over the shoulders (on the side),
neck massages and gently rubbing the tops of their heads are usually favored areas. Be careful putting your fingers near
a new iguana's face. Don't just assume he'll enjoy watching your finger coming at him 90 to nothing. He may reprimand you
for it. This is a gradual process and one should never forget that. Take the time and effort to keep it that way and don't
be in such a hurry to rush his social hour.
Please also keep in mind that while some iguanas love a good bath, tossing your iguana in your bathtub can be very stressful.
So think twice before assuming that one good bonding method is to chuck him/her into the bathtub and while watching them flail
about in the tub explaiming, see? He likes it! Tubs are high-walled prisons for iguanas. Nothing could be scarier than
to be placed at floor level (where in the wild, they are most vulnerable to attacks from predators), in a walled in area they
cannot climb out of, with a huge predator (you) hovering above them. Factor in that your iguana may not even really see that
white tub and you've got an animal that is scared out of his wits, can't see what he's in but knows he can't escape and at
the most vulnerable level ever.
Those who say, I know my iguana loves his bath because he lays down in it after I put him in it and he knows it's bathtime.
Well, if you're referring to placing him in the tub, watching him flail at first and then he gets immediately calm and lays
down...that's not enjoyment, it's shock! Yes, that's right, you can put him into physical shock.
So how can you tell if your iguana truly enjoys his bathtime? If he does, he should not flail, should not go into shock
and in short, should just go in as easily as if he's entering any other part of the house on a normal day of exploring. What
helps is not putting them into OUR bathtubs. Try using a kiddie pool from Walmart or something that doesn't have high walls
where your iguana can CHOOSE to get into and out of the pool. Build little ramps and and out of the pool (please remember
the ramps OUT of the pool, you don't want your iguana becoming exhausted from swimming unattended and drowning.)
Let it be their choice when to and not to swim. There are numerous methods to clean these pools, so convenience of using
your bathtub should never take precedence over your iguana's pyschological benefit.
Those vacuums you can get (they were called python pumps) to suck out and clean the bottoms of fish tanks work wonders.
Granted, a large load of iggy poo may clog it but you can clean around that, suck all the water out and towel (paper towels
are my best friend) out the poo. Be sure to always scrub out the pool and rinse thoroughly before refilling. It really takes
less time than you imagine, and your iggy will thank you for it.
Other activities in getting your iguana socialized is basically anything he/she loves to do outside their cage. This
bonding time is crucial, fun and very rewarding. Sitting with your ig, watching tv with them, brushing or scratching them,
picking dead skin off (make sure it's ready to come off, you don't want to hurt them, especially with their spikes), hand
feeding treats (please refer to the diet info for proper foods), taking a nap with them (yes, our iguana loves to get on our
bed once we leave for work and she also loves to join either of us on the bed for a nap...she'll lay her head on our forehead
while laying above us on the pillow we are trying ot use. Haha!). Just find out what your iguana likes to do and do it with
them.
Remember, iguanas love attention. Don't expect your iguana to entertain you, it is your job to entertain them. I've
seen too many people drop their iguanas off saying how boring it has become since it got bigger or that it's just not entertaining
to see them sitting in their cage all the time (trust me, it's not entertaining to them either). These are tree-loving, tree-living
animals. They are not supposed to jump around and act like a terrier on crack, they are supposed to remain hidden, protected
by their colors and move when it's time to eat or seek out mates, etc. If you wanted an ultra bouncy, skitzoid lizard, there
are plenty of more active, smaller lizards out there. That's not meant to be tacky, just stating this for those of you considering,
but don't already own a green iguana. They are a lot of work but well worth the effort. :)
I will reitterate one thing here. I know it appears that often, as iguana rescuers and educators we may seem a little
one-sided as to saying no one should have an iguana.
This is not really the truth behind it. For people who are fascinated with these lovely creatures, hearing someone say
over and over again that they are making a mistake, that this is not the dream they thought it would be and only taking no
as the answer for getting an iguana to share their home with is discouraging to say the very least.
I do not believe an iguana is right for everyone (just like dogs and cats are not for everyone either) but, I will not
jump up and tell anyone they do not qualify who wants to give the best life for their ig and really and truly want to put
forth the effort into raising one. No, it's not impossible to do so. It's downright fascinating and a wonderful adveture
if you ask me. But, you do have to acknowledge all the risks that come with the love too.
Just as with any animal, they take work, love and guidance to fit in as a member of your family.
I do have to honestly stand by what I've always felt that they are not suitable pets for children. Again, if you read
my first page, you'll see why. ;)
Hugs to all!
More always on the way. Check back often!
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