Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a six month old iguana that we got three months ago. I have owned iguanas in the past, but have never had one so aggressive so young. He/she wants nothing to do with anyone and will whip and open his mouth threatening to bite when we try to hold him/her. I bought it for my son who is nine with the complete knowledge that I would be the one caring for him (I always wanted to have one as an adult and really take care of one). The iguana I had when I was younger seems like an angel now comparatively. He has everything he could need, a 3' wide x 2' deep x 4' high cage, heat lamp, UV light and I hold him just about every evening for as long as he can stand it (30-45 min). He constantly fights and does not want to be held.

I know this is long but I don't know where else to ask.

When we bought him I knew he had a few problems like scars on his belly from the heat light being in his cage for him to climb on, and a good chunk of his tail missing. I thought we were doing a good thing by taking him from there (I did let the owner know this would be the last time I ever came to their pet shop, and that they were doing a great dis-service by treating their animals this way).

Am I over-reacting about his temperment at this age, or was he just to mistreated?

My iguana used to open his mouth at me, too, but with a lot handling he hasn't done that in quite sometime. Note: although he doesn't open his mouth at me, he is still afraid of me and would do a crocodile roll everytime I pick him up, and he still tail whip me. I think your will calm down quite bit with time; how long depends on each iguana. Some calm down faster; others may take more work; and some may never be fully tame.

This is completely normal for a young iguana. You have to
remember that in the wild everything eats them. They do not
understand the theory of this strange smelling large thing
trying to pick them up. It took me two years to be able to
reach in an pick my male up without this kind of behavior. Some
igs never allow it without a fight. I am not sure why you
would give a lizard with this kind of temperment and the size
they will attain to a small child. Chances are he will never
be able to interact with it. I don't mean to be harsh but
I think this happens all to often and then the child gets
scratched or worse, bitten and the poor iguana is disposed
of in some way.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted.
Linda

What they are trying to say is, HE IS AN IGUANA! Everything eats them, and they have a very complex social structure, which we will never fully understand. You have to know how they think. ALL lizards 'tame' (God, I hate that word...) better when you interact daily with them, WITHOUT handling! You leave them alone except for cleaning, feeding, etc, and they will slowly get used to you until you are able to take them out. Then comes the point where handling begins, but it normally takes one or two years to reach this point. Then you can begin the getting-used-to process, and with the right kind of effort, and a lot of it, he can be the magnificent, dominant male green iguana you always dreamed of. Do yourself a favor and buy The Ultimate Iguana Owner's Manuel by James Hatfeild. Its expensive, but PRICELESS! Also, husbandry conditions GREATLY affect 'tameness', and you should be ABSOLUTELY SURE that ALL conditions are right. Good luck!