Sorry I usually don't post on this forum but this question struck my interest LOL! I work with rescued and surrendered iguanas so I see a lot of their behavior and tempermental issues along with the MANY that get surrendered due to seasonal aggression.

I don't think many of us expect our iguanas to be a cat or dog and it is not wrong to "hope" that they will be well-behaved you don't have to think they are a cuddly furry friend to want a relationship with them without being bitten or whipped.

Male iguanas can vary greatly on their breeding season. Through experience I have seen iguanas that will one year have a month long season with aggression, one year have a three month long season and the next year seemingly not have any "out of season" time before then settling back into a shorter season the following year. I have questioned our exotic animal vet who works with our iguanas and consulted veterinary manuals on this subject. Basically all we have been able to come up with is that some male iguanas not all will have an overabundance of hormones at one point (or possibly more) in their lifetime. We are guessing that this may be at a time when if in the wild they would make a bid for territory against other male iguanas. Since in the wild they tend to steer clear of areas that clearly "belong" to another male unless they are ready to fight for the territory against the other male. This is much like many wild species of animals that fight for territory. They will still go in to season in other years and still mate with females if given the chance but will usually stay in hiding away from larger males. When they come into full season (with some this could be the six month long or year long season) it seems to be at a time that they feel healthy enough and old enough to try for a larger territory.

Now that I have rambled on it basically amounts to the fact that you have a very healthy well-cared for iguana that is at his all time hormonal prime and will once he calms down this year (I know could be a long wait) more than likely go back to having normal breeding seasons. Some will go through the longer season for a few years (not all year long but longer than usual) before going back to the normal shorter season.

It does not mean anything is wrong with your iguana and there is no real way to correct it. You just basically have to wait it out and be patient until it passes making sure that you are still around your iguana whenever possible so that when the season is finally over he will still be acclimated to your presence.

Good Luck!

[ Show Entire Thread ]