Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm babysitting a friend who got this iguana as a baby thinking it would be cute.
Now this poor animal goes from house to house because her parents won't let her keep it...
Anyways..Here are my questions.
- I'm scared to touch it. What can I do to prevent Steve (the iguana) from hissing at me?
- Steve lives in a 2x2 cage. Seems a BIT small! I feel horrible for this animal. Can it seriously live in a cage that small? This guy is about 2 feet long (body)
- lighting. The owner just hangs a heat lamp inside the cage, which is a mesh holding cage. Steve climbs up the sides, and lays ON the light. Can't he seriously burn himself??

I'm a breeder of beardies, but they can't be compared to Steve. I know nothing about iggies. He's obviously not being cared for properly, and I need some guidance.
Help!

Thanks!! Lindsay//
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Lindsay//

You are right. The cage is WAY too small. He should be in a cage that is twice his size. The heat lamp is also a way for him to get SERIOUS expensive burns. And him Hissing is his way of telling you he dosent want to be messed with. Best thing to do is reach in (With a glove and long sleeves on) and catch him and cuddle him and talk to him. Or just reach in with glove and sleeves and talk to him. Best things to do My Andy dosent like to be messed with either and I have had stitches. But hes only around 10 months old so thats a pretty serious bite Good luck

i agree with everything mommyof2greenigs has said, definatly dont let the heat lamp hang inside the cage.. its sad that this guy has to bounce from house to house. Is he taking up permanent residence at your place? or are you just taking care of it till its shipped out again? either way we're all very happy to help you with him and any questions you have. Kinda like beardies, igs like to show they're angry buggers and do like to hiss, open mouths, flare the dewlap *dangling thing off the chin * kinda like a beardie flares the beard.. yes, iguana bites hurt if they score ya right in a tender point, so be careful. I dont know if they can SENSE your fear or anxiety about it, but try to be calm and collected if and when you do try to handle him. Mommyof2greenigs recommendation of gloves and a longsleeve shirt is the excellent choice, but the iguana could become aggrivated by the glove *mine definatly do* so you might want to try a few different things. I've heard of covering them with a towel and picking them up and craddling them like that, letting thier head out first and more and more of thier body if they remain calm. But that could also stress him out.. Gotta love animals and thier stress, makes ours seem pointless .

Also, make sure he's eating the right kind of stuff.. dark leafy greens, like collard, mustard and dandelion greens.. different types of squash, bell peppers. Definatley, if you want more research information on them, like most everyone here will tell you, check out IGUANAS FOR DUMMIES book, a excellent read on the subject. There are also many many websites with more information. This forum is a great place to scan through, and look in the subject titles for questions you might have, as the replies to them usually contain answers . I, and im sure everyone else welcome anything you might need answering for.

Good Luck with Steve!

-Charlie and his igs Geno & Martha-

The aggresive behavior could be a result of the small
enclosure as well as never being in a place long enough
to get comfortable. If he is bouncing from place to place
I would also bet that the owner is not spending adequate
time with him/her

I would try to persuade her that the Ig is not getting the
care and attention that he deserves and should be placed
with someone who can provide him with a loving, secure
home. Possibly You!

Linda

My igs freak at gloves too. I used to use a towel with them but now they are calm. Takes lots of time and patience. Also the towel gives them something to bite if they decide they want to bite and its decently safe for them to bite