Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work in the cruelty investigation department at our local Humane Society and yesterday I was talking to a woman who was making a complaint about the care of some birds in a pet store..Anyway, the discussion somehow got onto reptiles and she said she kept Leopard Geckos and Crested Geckos and had once had a huge female iguana that "hated" her. She said one day she had just finished cleaning it or feeding it or something and had turned away to leave when the iguana suddenly hauled off and slapped her with its tail very hard, hitting her just at the base of the skull, and actually knocking her out for several minutes...When she came to she immediately gave the iguana away to a male friend, who still has it and says it's the best pet lizard he's ever had and has never had any trouble at all with it...

Could this story possibly be true? What do you guys think?

SR

I would say that it is very possible that this could happen. You always here of dogs turning on their owners all of the time. Iguanas especially have their moods like during breeding season. If they don't want to be messed with they will definately let you know. I heard a story on the news about a year and a half ago. A small child was attacked by their pet Iguana and had to go to the hospital for serious injuries. They had the Iguana for years and never had any problems then one day it just attacked. I would bet that the child scared it or provoked it, but they didn't say. After that I wasn't sure if I wanted to get Iguanas anymore. So I researched and learned all I could about them before I decided to get them. It took my about a year before I got Igs.
Brian

Yeah, I know iguanas can be dangerous and unpredictable (0ne of our volunteers nearly had her upper lip ripped off by an iguana she was fostering), but I guess what I really wondered is if it's possible for an iguana to actually knock out an adult human being with its tail? That seems highly unlikely to me, but what do I know? I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of anything like that happening before?

SR

I could absolutely believe this. Having rescued a large'ish ig, I know what a big ig can do with its tail, and he's doubled in size since then. He's given me 8 inch gashes from the spines on his tail, and it HURTS, if he caught me just right on the head I have no doubt I could be knocked out or lose an eye. And to make it even more fun, my vet figures he'll hit 10 lbs easy by the time he's done growing, bad spell of abuse n all. James Hatfield's book has anecdotals about igs taking out cats and small dogs, including breaking legs. They are very strong, especially if they are healthy and fit. The base of Tempest's tail is thicker than a child's wrist, and even the tip is as thick as my little finger.

As far as actually hearing of this happening...I haven't, but I would not doubt it. My 2 year old Ig accidently whipped me in the arm with his tail when he got spooked and turned to run. It hurt and it was a pretty solid hit for an accident. I could imagine how it would have hurt if he meant it.

Reptiles have more muscular potential for their body size than any human ever thought of having. An iguana's tail can hit as hard as a baseball bat wielded by a grown man and leave just as bad injuries behind.
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
5 Gerbils
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

i would believe this the iguana at my local pet shop has a nasty temper and he has given me a few good whips and it hurt like you could not belive. i have a good welt for a week. so i bet if they hit you just right they could knock you out.
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1.0.0 adopted iguana
0.0.1 rescued petco iguana
1.0.0 water dragon
0.0.1 mali uromastyx
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.0.1 common snapping turtle

then the ussual
2 dogs
6 cats
misc fish
hermit crabs
rat
misc. fish

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Oh, very possible. Iguanas are rather intelligent and they sometimes perfer one person over another.

Cindy

Having worked closely with Iguanas for many years (especially mistreated and abused), I have no doubt that this story may be true. Even if the ig did not knock her out, they definitely have the power to surprise you enough to knock you down. However, I am sure that if the tail would hit just right at the base of the skull it could knock someone out. I personally have been whacked many times by igs. Most of the adult igs that have meant business have no problem breaking skin with their tails.

I have also had igs that have become overly aggressive during breeding season. I have had male igs that have never changed their actions towards me, but have tried to kill my husband during breeding season. I have had female igs that have never gotten along with me, but loved my husband. I have had male igs that I could do anything with and were teddy bears, but never warmed up to my husband. One such ig (affectionately named Big Poppa Pump)that when his cage was opened would come running out for affection from me, but when he saw my husband...whew! He would fully exted his dulap and bob his head, hiss, and open his mouth. If he was free roaming it, he would actually chase him.

I think that igs definitely can tell man from woman. Pheromones are pheromones, no matter what species you are. I have also definitely seen enough examples of igs choosing people to like and not to like, so I do believe this story. I have heard some whoppers about reptiles in general, but this story sounds pretty legit.

Sorry for the babble.

The only two times I've been bitten by my iguana were when my attention had been diverted... The first time, I was bitten on the back of the neck while watching TV. He ran across the couch, bit me and took off... The second time, he bit the back of my head quite viciously when I wasn't paying enough attention...

I know iguanas can become very territorial over their enclosures. My iguana gets quite offended when I put his food dish into his cage. He doesn't tail whip much (hardly at all actually), but the base of his tail is almost the size of my wrist, so I have no doubt a whack to the base of the skull by a properly motivated iguana could knock someone out.

I was whacked good by an 8 foot Croc Monitor last year...got me on the side and around the back right on the ribcage. That tail whip put me to my knees and took my breath away...and I was in the enclosure with it! That could have been a disaster. I had a terrific welt and bruise on both sides of my spine. I would imagine that if a good sized iguana nailed you in just the right spot it could knock you out.

I got whacked a good shot about 6 years ago by a sub adult Nile Monitor. He was approximately 3&1/2 to 4 feet at the time. He caught me on the check and right next to my eye. The result, a terrific welt that was actually open and bleeding, plus a nice black eye.