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I went out of town for 2 days earlier this week & left my free-roaming ig in the care of my boyfriend, who is gone during the day. I came home in the middle of the day to find the trash knocked over (thankfully it was empty), the towels in my kitchen on the ground, my plant knocked over with some leaves eaten away, my tall CD rack was a mess, and thats just a short list!!! Since I am usually home during the day (I work nites), is my ig used to my presence & my taking care of him, feeding him, talking to him, etc, and thus he had a fit when I wasn't there? It sort of proved to me that igs are sort of like puppies!

Danielle

Sounds to me like that may not have been a "fit." I think he may have just gotten bored and gone exploring. Things knocked over and towels pulled down sounds like results of attempts to climb things. Or maybe he was just looking for you around the house. If he had a fit, I would expect to see poopy paints around the house and that sort of thing.

Kate

>>I went out of town for 2 days earlier this week & left my free-roaming ig in the care of my boyfriend, who is gone during the day. I came home in the middle of the day to find the trash knocked over (thankfully it was empty), the towels in my kitchen on the ground, my plant knocked over with some leaves eaten away, my tall CD rack was a mess, and thats just a short list!!! Since I am usually home during the day (I work nites), is my ig used to my presence & my taking care of him, feeding him, talking to him, etc, and thus he had a fit when I wasn't there? It sort of proved to me that igs are sort of like puppies!
>>
>>Danielle

Are you sure it was not your boyfriend having a party. I don't think I would let my Iguana run around free roam, when your gone thats how fires get started. I would partition him off.

Yes, he is trying to help you simplify your life, by telling you that you have way too many breakable belongings on which you have spent money that he would prefer go towards his care.
You see? When you spend all your money and time with him, he will probably not be quite happy, but he might consider it.

That is quite a tantrum. Sometimes Bud pulls my towels down, but sadly, I really don't have much of value for him to ruin. SO if he's unhappy, he just poops everywhere, then hides.

I am a college student, I don't have much in my place that my ig can break, ruin, or hurt himself on. Heck, I don't even have a kitchen table! He is restricted to the living room, kitchen & dining room only & the only things he can climb on himself are my couch, coffeetable & end chair. I did a great job of ig-proofing my place before I got him & the most damage he's even done before this was a nasty poop on the couch. He spends most of the day lounging in the sun under the windows or lying on his heat pad under the UV striplight. Only when he gets too hot or too bored, I'm assuming, does he start walking around, exploring, etc. I just figured he missed me that day or knew I was gone so he wanted to be destructive... I thought it was funny yet intelligent!

you are right, iguanas do know when there is a change in the enviroment, i know from experience. my 5 ft fella when i switched shifts acted up the whole 2 weeks i was on days, because he was used to me being there...... he would chase my roommate out of the room he lived in......then when i bought this place and i moved him, he painted the room a few times. plus when anyone other than me goes into his room he will hunch up and display for them, but me he doesnt..... so i know they know a change.