Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K. I bought an iguana leash from the pet store for my beardie. I put it on my Mo and at first he seemed ok. He sat in lap for a few minutes. But, once he decided to walk around he freaked out. He ran all over the room and then he stopped and began flattening out his body like a pancake. He blew up so much that the leash became really tight and I could not get it off. My boyfriend was finally able to cut the leash in order to get it off of him. I think that Mo was really trying to get the leash off (he kinda reminded me of the Incredible Hulk , "You don't wanna make Hulk angry"). Needless to say, I am afraid to try a leash with him again. Has anyone else had simillar problems with iguana leashes?

I won't use an iguana leash on my iguana, let alone my beardie. I use a home made hip leash, its a loop of thin, soft leather through a coat clip that slides up and down the two ends. It goes around their hips above the back legs, and I attach the leash to the loop between the coat clip and the knot tying the two ends of leather together. If they freak and I need to get it off, all I have to do is release the coat clip and the loop goes very large.

I'd be interested in seeing a visual. Sounds like a good idea!

No, but I can take some It'll have to be after I get home from work though. The great thing is that its both Ig sized, and adjustable down to beardie size. I can clip it to a dog leash, cat leash, whatever's appropriate for what we're doing. I've even clipped it to a puppy-flexi so my ig can go swimming in a kiddie pool.

For a better mental picture, take a leather bootlace/string about oh, 18 inches long. Now picture one of those coat bobble things you use to tighten the elastics up. One end of string through one bobble side, squeeze and put other end of string through other bobble side, so when its let go both are held firmly. Tie loose ends in a knot, insert lizard, tighten up around waist near back legs above tail. I can't remember where I got this idea from, it was someone's website but I think for iguanas, if I think of it I'll post it.

The leash I have is an iguana leash but it is a thin, long piece of nylon. It is sort of in a figure 8 formation with the clasp on the beardies back. I DO NOT use the leashes that have the leather "harness" that only fits around the front legs. None of my beardies care for that either. With the nylon leash you can leave it really loose until they get used to it. When I first used it on my female I left it loose enough that if she really freaked she could get out of it on her own (only used it in the house like that). Once she became very comfortable with the leash I started taking her outside. Now she knows if she sees the leash she gets to go outside and gets VERY excited. I bought mine online at petco.