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ever time I rub Izzy between the eyes (top of head) I think it falls right to sleep, eyes closed not moving.

Everyone ever notice their's doing this?

We have two larger iguanas right now. When I rub Iggy like that he closes his eyes but his body stays tensed up. From what I've read and heard this is more like kids if I don't see you maybe you'll go away! When I rub Juji like that her whole body relaxes and she closes her eyes, I believe hers is more of a comfort thing. She's so comfortable she relaxes and closes her eyes. Our beardie does both. Part of the time she closes her eyes and stays tense hoping we'll have disappeared when she opens them and the rest of the time she relaxes like she's sleeping!

Stephanie

What she is most likely doing is making you "go away"! That is one of the ways that Igs deal with stress. They close their eyes and make the big scary monster disappear. Sort of like a scared child pulling the bed covers over their head.
Merlin
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Merlin

>>What she is most likely doing is making you "go away"! That is one of the ways that Igs deal with stress. They close their eyes and make the big scary monster disappear. Sort of like a scared child pulling the bed covers over their head.
>>Merlin
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>>Merlin

Thank you, I guess I need to see if she is relxed, or is just hoping I go away.I didnt even think that she could be stress
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Owned by a bearded dragon, 2 Leapord geckos,iguana, 2 cats, dog , 2 wonderful kids and a wonderful husband

My Ig does the same thing and I can tell when she just wants
me to go away and when she is truly enjoying the rub. The
difference is when she is enjoying it (as she often does) her
lower eyelid closes over the top making her eyes puffy. This
is the way they sleep. When she just wants me to go away she
closes them with her eyelids meeting in the middle so her
eyes are not puffy. What are your Igs eyelids doing?

Sounds funny I know!

Linda

I have noticed that about my ig when he sleeps. Maybe a good way to tell if he's happy with headrubs or not!

>>My Ig does the same thing and I can tell when she just wants
>>me to go away and when she is truly enjoying the rub. The
>>difference is when she is enjoying it (as she often does) her
>>lower eyelid closes over the top making her eyes puffy. This
>>is the way they sleep. When she just wants me to go away she
>>closes them with her eyelids meeting in the middle so her
>>eyes are not puffy. What are your Igs eyelids doing?
>>
>>Sounds funny I know!
>>
>>Linda

When he does this , his legs are limp.I will look next time to see who his eyes are closed.
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Owned by a bearded dragon, 2 Leapord geckos,iguana, 2 cats, dog , 2 wonderful kids and a wonderful husband

Actually... There is a 'third eye' on top of their head between their eyes that is used solely for the detection of light. So that in the wild, they can tell if they are in shade or in light, and can determine if they're cold to move out of the shade, or move to a higher sunnier place, and vise versa. When we touch that area, it is very sensitive. With most igs I've known, all I've had to do is put my finger over it, and they'll close their eyes. Some relax, some stay tense, but most will calm down at least. I use the trick with igs who are trying to bite me. I think it plays into... 'Whoa! It got totally dark in here all of a sudden' and because they don't have great night vision, close their eyes and stop moving, as they do at night. Obviously if you hold your finger there long enough, they should eventually fall asleep. But just a short perioud of time should confused more than anything. As far as rubbing goes... I've found most igs love to be rubbed in 3 places: under their jaws, mostly their chin; along either side of their spines; and on top of their head. But, yeah... that's why they close their eyes while you rub ontop of their head. Some igs don't, but most will. Sorry so long...

AlliMarie

Since on most iguanas you can tell where the third eye is by just looking I have always been careful to avoid direct rubbing of that spot. I assumed it would annoy them by blocking out part of their light! I will have to try doing this on our semi-aggressive Iggy to see if it calms or annoys him! On the relaxing part or closing of the eyes I usually rub the back of the neck behind the third eye or along the neck/jaw where they have the raised bumps at. This is the spot where Juji relaxes and closes her eyes calming down if she has been being wilder and Iggy tenses up and closes his eyes like he is ready to pounce once left alone!

Stephanie

>>Actually... There is a 'third eye' on top of their head between their eyes that is used solely for the detection of light. So that in the wild, they can tell if they are in shade or in light, and can determine if they're cold to move out of the shade, or move to a higher sunnier place, and vise versa. When we touch that area, it is very sensitive. With most igs I've known, all I've had to do is put my finger over it, and they'll close their eyes. Some relax, some stay tense, but most will calm down at least. I use the trick with igs who are trying to bite me. I think it plays into... 'Whoa! It got totally dark in here all of a sudden' and because they don't have great night vision, close their eyes and stop moving, as they do at night. Obviously if you hold your finger there long enough, they should eventually fall asleep. But just a short perioud of time should confused more than anything. As far as rubbing goes... I've found most igs love to be rubbed in 3 places: under their jaws, mostly their chin; along either side of their spines; and on top of their head. But, yeah... that's why they close their eyes while you rub ontop of their head. Some igs don't, but most will. Sorry so long...
>>
>>AlliMarie

AlliMarie~~~

Thanks, very intresting...can you email me stuff on them? CoastieWife_97@msn.com
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Owned by a bearded dragon, 2 Leapord geckos,iguana, 2 cats, dog , 2 wonderful kids and a wonderful husband