Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello
i have a juvenile iguana. he is about 6-7 inches long not including the tail. when hes in his tank, it is very difficult to take him out to handle him, he lashes his tail(really hard) and tries to bite. however as soon as i take him out and place him on my chest or stomach and start stroking him he fallls tranquil. but if i move him or stop stroking him he tries to get away. ive seen other people's adult iguanas just sit still on as table or sumthin when the owner puts him there. i would like to train my iguana to be stil or calm when he is an adult. can someone help me?

First an iguana is a wild animal and cannot be trained the same as say a dog. In some small ways their training is more like a cat. Most cats will do what you have trained them when they feel like it not when you want them to. An iguana is a lot the same. You may never be able to train him/her to sit still when you want it to even if it is calm to handle and care for eventually and under some circumstances you may not even be able to get the iguana tamed as they are "wild". As far as the lashing and biting when you reach in to take it out, I am assuming you have an aquarium? When you reach from above an iguana to pick it up it sees you as a predator. It thinks it is about to become your next meal and will defend itself to the best of its ability. Having it in a cage that opens from the side instead of the top would help a lot. Also you need to handle it daily building up to at least one hour a day. This can be at fifteen minute intervals, half hour intervals etc. If you can handle it longer than an hour a day that is also great. I don't know how much you have read on iguana care or know about iguanas so I will add a few more things. An iguana should be in a cage that is at least 1 1/2 -- 2 times it's total length tail and all. It also needs the right temperatures and UVB lights unless you live in a place it can get natural sunlight (not through a window) over 5-10 hours a week. It might be a good idea to pick up James Hatfields The Green Iguana Ultimate Owners Guide or Melissa Kaplans Iguanas for Dummies. Both are really good books and also have a lot of training/taming tips in them besides other good information!!

I hope you really care for your iguana and take the time to make sure you have everything it needs. I run an iguana rescue and have gotten in many iguanas from people who did not check what they were getting into first.

Anyway good luck!!
Stephanie

che belle-
It takes time and persistence. You have to keep handeling and training him with treats. The other thing is that iguanas HATE to have their legs dangling. One method is by holding him lenghtwise across one arm, so that the length of his belly and under his tail is touching your arm. The only way I can pick Luke up without him getting fiesty is by grabbing him right in front of his rear legs and wrapping my ring and pinky fingers around his vent. Even then, he doesn't really appreciate it. Just try and put him where you want him as quickly as possible.
Hope this helps
-che bello