I know its hard, but if i were you i would wait about a week before handeling your new boy. Let him get used to your voice and surroundings. Stand (or sit) in front of his enclosure and talk to him, maybe even read a story to him (many iggy owners do this, it seems to calm them). Then, after a few days, try feeding him out of your hands. Do this for a few days, and then attmpt to pick him up only after you are sure that he is at least a bit more comforttable. This is a low stress way of getting to you your ig. And it will most likely be less pain for the both of you.

Now for my diet scolding. It wasnt that bad, except for the kale and the eggs. Kale has calcium oxilates in it that will hinder his calcium intake, and for an older iggy that can be bad. Eggs, even if offered only on a rare occasion, can damage your ig. The protien seems to damage the liver. And you dont want to get him in the habit of expecting them. My girl, when i got her, was yellow (and named Sunny) after a strict diet (for 2 yrs!) of eggs and romaine lettuce. When the rescue i got her from recieved her, she refused to eat anything but eggs. It took a while but she is now on a diet of collards, escarole, spring mix (the stuff that has very little spinach), beet greens, turnip greens, and the occasional edible flower, orange(she likes these so much that she tries to eat my creamsicle cornsnake through the enclosure), and blueberries. I also give her peas and carrots sprinkled liberally with SAndfire's iguana dust and 2.o calcium when i fun out of greens. All of the greens above have a very balanced calcium content and are usually a good staple diet for any ominvorous or herbivorous reptile.

good luck with your iggy. keep him healthy and happy and he will have many more years in him.

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