Reptile & Amphibian Forums

im sorry for long question but im unsure what to do...ok i rescued an iguana 10 days ago..he was being kept in a small tank and hes 3 years old and 4ft..her was in a small tank 3ft long..so i took him and hes in my big viv..5ft long 4ft high.this was my rat snake viv as there arboreal but he passed away after 6 years..i know if i keep him ill need bigger set up soon...my problem is..first day i got him he bit my hand with glove on it...he had just been moved to a small box and been in a car journey for 10 hours..so thats maybe why he bit..anyway sinse then he seems quite friendly..but when i enter he seems a little startled,,turns to the side etc..he never hisses though.but he always comes to me when i open cage.but im not sure if hes coming to bite or get patted.when i open cage to mist he jumps out all the time..then its very hard to get him back in as he runs away and climbs over furniture jumps about..he does anything to avoid me when hes out cage..even trys to climb walls,but he will take food and follow me for food....he lets me stroke him and lift him in his viv..soon as i take him out viv he squirms violently to get away...he follows my every move in the viv..and he does seem ok..except for this running away...when hes got away he seems terrified if i try to pick him up though..or maybe he just doesnt want back in viv..he is very wary though..as am i..i have been reading bad stuff about iggys..they can bite for no reason even a very tame one etc..now i have 12 year old daughter..so im very carefull of him...we think he might be too much work???someone else from here has offered to take him..so im thinking give him to someonwe more experienced and get a bearded dragon...is this a good choice???everything ive read about beardys seems good...they like being handled etc..my daughter doesnt want to give away iggy..but i think a bearded dragon would be better for us..i dont even let her touch the iguana...please please help if you can with some advice..i dont want to stress out the iguana if a bearded dragon is gonna be just as boisterious and aggressive..so im asking is a bearded dragon a good choice of lizard for us????..i have 4 snakes and some small lizards but dont handle them...and i kinda want a social lizard we can handle it..i have done research and think bearded dragon is better suited but wanted to ask you guys who own lizards..or even helpfull advice on where im going wrong with iggy would be helpfull.....info greatly appreaciated...or email me bigbaddad1uk2001@yahoo.co.uk

No doubt, that in answer to your question, (keeping your kids in mind) the bearded dragon would be a much more handable, and tame choice (if handled often) than the iggy.

The iguana would be better for you ,if he is hard to handle , and as he gets older and quite large.

But I don't understand why you rescued him, only to want to get a dragon instead. I only say this, because I'm wondering what will know happen to the iggy!

No matter what his personality is right now, he still needs a home. If you have a new home for him lined up, than thats great glad to hear it.

But if not, I would try and work with him, to help him to trust you, and see if he can tame down.

There are just so many horror stories, about these big beauties. They get so abused, its sad !

I wish you alot of luck what ever you decide, let us know how it turns out.

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Eve

we will keep the iguana till we find a suitable home...or if we dont we will keep him forever we just obviously wont handle him..he is a lovely looking animal and will get fed and respected like our other pets..i just dont want him biting us..lol..

Some can be very aggressive, especially males around breeding time!

I hope you do find him a great home with lots of room too !

And a Beardy will make a NICE pet for the kids, as long as you handle him, they are squirmy when young, at first when you get them, but they tame down nice !

I have had one for 6 years, hes a big meek, baby doll !

Good Luck !
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Eve