Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my green iguana for 6 1/2 years. I have never heard her grunt or make any other noise. When I was taking her out to her outdoor enclosure this morning she did not want to wait to get inside the enclosure.. she tried escaping from the moment we walked out the back door.. I had to wrap her up in a t-shirt and pretty much restrain her so she would not take off so I could walk quickly the whole 25 feet from the back door to her enclosure.. She got quite upset at me holding her against me (she usually just perches half on my shoulder and the other half resting down my arm...)and started making grunting/hissing noises. Her mouth was shut. Could it be a resp. infection or am I just panicking? Doesn't seem to be any wheezing, but I will of course be checking when I go take her out her dinner. It is just wierd since she has never made any vocalization before.. and I am worried because the other night got pretty chilly and she was out in it for an hour before I was able to bring her in(I usually bring her inside right before sunset so she does not get chilled.. but I am going through first trimester complete exhaustion right now... so everything is getting done later that it should)Should I just relax and keep an eye on her.. or set up an appointment to go see a vet?
Thanx all
Roxanne

Tempest will hiss, esp if pissed off. He'll also click, usually when he's curious or really happy.

Our Iggi communicates with us with both body language, and vocalizations. She will sneeze to get salt out, but when she gives a short sneeze, with no salt, we call that a snort. Snorts usually mean NO, and can be emphasized with a flick of the hand. Snorts are also used to get our attention, like "Hey Dad, can't a girl get some sleep? You're up on the computer, in MY bedroom." Another vocalization, is when she smacks. She has learned to simulate the sound that we make when we give her a kiss. She will stick out her toungue to lick us with a "kiss", and simultaneously pull her tongue away from the roof of her mouth. This makes a noise like eating with your mouth open.
Iggi also makes a slight "UK-UK" sound in her throat. I have to have her throat up against my ear to hear it. She usually seems to be happy when she does this.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Iggi did this only _ONCE_. It was the first time she got up in the floor-to-ceiling cat tree we got her when we let her free roam. She was only about 1 year old, and she got up on her front legs, like she does now to head bob, and CHIRPED! It was just one chirp, and it so amazed my son and I, that we just sat there, looking at her. Unfortunately, she never did it again.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

Thanx to both of you. I listened to her breath several times yesterday and no wheezing sounds and no more grunting.. so I think she was just being impatient and letting me know!

Could she have been burping? Sometimes after Myka eats extra fast and swollows too much air, she will make little burping noises when I pick her up. It could be mistaken for "grunting". Either way, I wouldn't worry about it!

Wendy

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"It's not a matter of IF...but WHEN" ~Bill Haast~

"Joy unspeakable...to be holding death in your hands..."

>>Could she have been burping? Sometimes after Myka eats extra fast and swollows too much air, she will make little burping noises when I pick her up. It could be mistaken for "grunting". Either way, I wouldn't worry about it!
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>>Wendy
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>>"It's not a matter of IF...but WHEN" ~Bill Haast~
>>
>>"Joy unspeakable...to be holding death in your hands..."
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"It's not a matter of IF...but WHEN" ~Bill Haast~

"Joy unspeakable...to be holding death in your hands..."