Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I will describe something that happens with my large adult male green iguana that some large iguana keepers may recognise as a known trend so I might end up getting some help.
This iggy has grown inside my room(in his cage)until he was 3 years old.He was pretty tame.I moved him to a room sized enclosure as he outgrew his old cage.His present enclosure is in a sort of remote place in the house so after some time he became non tame and now incredibely aggresive.I can handle him a bit and always with caution.I am now trying to recover him spending some more time with him.The problem is that inside his enclosure he is so aggressive,even dangerous.Head bobbing starts when I'm 15m away from him. I cannot take him out my self.Once he steps out of his cage by himself he shows another character being much less aggressive and I'm able to handle him.If you step inside the cage you will most likely get an airborne attack that is pretty frightening.I wished I knew what connects this highly territorial behaviour with the cage it self.If I could break the habit I would get a step closer to tame him again.So I would love to have your opinion to this.Also does anyone know if aggressive adults are almost impposible to tame?I hope and guess no...

It sounds like you don't spend any time in his cage with him. To him, that's his cage and you're on his grounds if you come into it. When you let him out, he's in your world.

Any iguana can be tamed. Adult iguanas are harder to tame because they have bigger everything to get away from you with and they can harm you. Just spend time with him. Involve him in your everday life. He'll either be your worst enemy or your best friend. The decision is up to you.

I agree. Being put in a remote part of the home sounds like he was pretty much set aside, and allowed to return to his naturally-wild instincts.

You can try throwing a towel over his head when you wish to pick him up. People do it with monitors and small crocodilians.
Welders gloves will help too.

He's a male, so he's naturally territorial, but you should be the dominant figure. Every success he has at repelling you, is a victory to him and further strengthes his authority in his enclosure... hence why he is so much more aggressive there than outside of it.

Also, to try to catch him everytime you walz in the enclosure only increases the negative association of you territory anger. Just "hang out" with him and let him be. Read a book or listen to music while being in his presence.

In the end, iguanas are wild animals, their disposition is not carved in stone, and males are what they are. Every iguana owner knows that, and should know it prior to purchase.

It will take time and some work, but if you keep it positive you'll be fine.

-IJ

Iguanas are too intelligent to keep in a remote part of the house, in an enclosure that keeps them away from you, and bored. This is what has your ig aggressive. You must slowly retame your ig, and keep him interactive, and mentally stimulated. We have our iguana as a whole house free roamer, for the last 5 years. She is part of the family. Here is our iguana, Iggi, with my wife and son, enjoying the weather outside with us.

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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~