Patience, patience, patience...sometimes we just run out of it.

Iguana have different personalities and, accordingly, respond to our attempts to socalize them in different manners. The most important thing to remember is that you will not have a well socialized iguana until that animal trusts you. Iguanas under 7-8 inches SVL typically don't trust anyone or anything. All it knows is that you are a very large predator and that his life is in danger. Once they get a little more size on them they will be more willing to give you the trust that you desire.

I am not a fan of force handling or man-handling an iguana. Slow and steady, no pulling it from it's hiding spots, no restraining until it gives up. I'm a firm believer that some freedom helps build trust a bit faster. After the iguana gets a bath sit on the bathroom floor and let the iguana explore the room. Talk to it, make baby noises, read a book, just let it get used to your presence not being a threat. After several sessions like this start offering treats by hand. Slowly progress to touching, petting, and eventually holding the animal.

In 13 years of doing rescue we've had some (several dozen) pretty wild, terrified iguanas come through here. I've only had one that I was unable to properly socialize and I spent an entire 16 months on that animal with no progress. I was even successful with 2 adult male Rhino iguanas that had very little previous interaction with humans. It's possible, you just need an extra dose of patience sometimes.

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