Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have an iggy that was dope on me becuse she had been beat and torment and i have been handling her every day for about an hour and she is not claming down and i know that some iguana never clam down but just wanted to know if anyone know what else i can try.

thank you

I get the mean ones all the time. I've never gotten an ig that was handleable. It will take a long time. you said it was beat and tormented, was it fed? if it has a voracous appetite, you might wait a little while and let it get used to having a full tummy which calms them down a bit then try again. I often use a banana. I just hold it in the cage near them and it is long enough to not worry about loosing a finger but it gets them closer to you, after a while you can just hold a piece of banana and they'll take it from you. then you can try holding them and giving them banana. you dont have to use banana thats just what i use, i know some igs like parsley quite a bit but it kinda makes em chunky i've noticed so i wouldnt spoil him too much. I also have never had an ig that wouldnt calm down no matter what. there are some that dont like being held but they tolerate brief interactions of 15-20 min. usually around cage cleaning or feeding. then there are some that once they get used to me and used to having a nice full belly, want nothign more than to chill on the back of the sofa and steal salad off my plate when im not looking. (im a vegetarian so we often share meals) (and no im not worried about salmonella- i've had it 3 times in 5 years and i think they were food related)...
hope that helped
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

thank you for you help
she has a full belly so that is not helping but i will try to use a banana.

A traumatized iguana should never be handled immediately upon rescuing or acquisition. It needs a few days or a couple of weeks of recovery and quarantine. Start off by just getting it used to ur presence, and work it up from there.

My 2 cents,

-IJ

i dont know i said it but i have had her for about 5 months. should i still give her more time?

Were u handling it right away during all 5-months?

Anyways, after 5 months, no prob, just keep it moderate and don't over-do it. Iguanas need their space. Being out-doors in the warm sun is excellent therapy for them, however keep in mind that reptiles that have been kept under UV lights tend to go bezerk the first time out in the sun.

-IJ

i was handling her when i got but this is the thing she was nice and friendly for about two month and then one day she just fliped