Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You can't base your high protein opinions on the behavior of a couple of peoples pet iguanas. That is not scientific. Heredity is. Breed two dogs that have a predisposition to go after a certain type of game animal, and what do you have:
Dogs that instinctively seek birds, dogs that seek small mammals, dogs that seek large game. These traits are bred into these animals. No one is breeding iguanas to be aggressive with people, but this aggressivness towards other animals that are familiar and non threatening including other iguanas is a hereditary trait whether you agree or not. It may be passed on the some and not others just like albinism.

Not to be a jerk Mark, but as an impartial observer in this aggressiveness debate, I must say that cycluracornuta has provided more "scientific" evidence to support his/her case for protean related aggression than you have for heredity. Empirically tested evidence is what "science" is all about. Heredity is nice "scientific" word, but it isn't science unless you have some tested results to prove your case. As I haven’t seen you offer any, I'm inclined to believe cycluraconuta on this one.

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I'm going to have to support Mark here. My guys do get animal protein a few times a week and I have never seen any change in behavior (in any iguanid species) after ingestion of protein. If someone proved how protein caused an increase in testosterone that could be a possibility, but not immediately. My humble opinion.

I'm wondering if we're talking about 2 different things here. I do observe food aggression (aka excitement or, maybe a better word would be enthusiasm) in my cornuta. If a favorite food is within sight they become very intense and determined to get that food item and this is the only time I've ever been bitten by any of my cornuta. The food in question, more often than not, is not a protein food. Any fruit or odd vegetable can set them off. Bubs will mow down anything that gets between her and a bowl of pasta too.
I don't feed animal protein to my Cyclura but I used to give Doonie and Bubs zoophobas occasionally. I never witnessed any aggression on their part during or after being fed insects. I did see the aforementioned excitement while the food item was present.

Thank you Jeff.

Your humble opinion is highly regarded, thanks for participating. I have had more than my fair share of mess-ups, but this is not the first time that I have had successful cyclura results doing something contrary to what the experts believed or recommended.

I aggree with Mark. I have several Lewisi which I feed monkey chow from time to time. If they even think that I'm bringing them monkey chow they go bazerk, trying to get to me. This is not aggression, it is competition. Some of the Lewisi I have are not tame and some are "dog" tame. After I feed protien, there is no change in attitude except that they are still in a competetive mood for a short time after. This will also happen if they are not fed for a few days, they will become competetive come feeding time.

Marks right,
My rino Has a ratpups once and a while.
Nothing makes him more joyfull except a hand full of super worms.
He has never even bobbed his head at me.
just look at him he has no aggression.
later

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Bud

Were we debating not to feed protien to Zeus's aggressive rhino ? Dog heredity is an interesting comparison. Consider Chesapeake Retrievers which are known to have aggressive genes. Our puppy growled, but we gave it a good ENVIRONMENT and now she is gentle -- another unscientific example. I guess having documented 2 successful breeder loans which the "experts" doubted, and raising unrelated f2's f3's and an f4 rhino is all pretty unscientific.

Based on the concession of replies in your support, I will reconcider that maybe my rhinos and the varied clutches of hatchlings that I have briefly observed over the years are an exception. Maybe the lewisi cross breeder wrongly interpreted the activity associated with feeding of insects. Maybe raising 2 totally unrelated male rhinos on a low animal protien diet to 2-1/2 years of age before aggression forced me to separate them, while another who feeds alot of insects sells his hatchlings quickly, because they cannot be housed togather is a hereditary or environmental issue and unrelated to protien food aggression.

Call it what you want: excitement, enthusiasm, competition. In my unscientific opinion it is a form of aggression. Weather the aggression is actually caused by the ingestion of protien, or if it is the result of endorphins triggered by the euphoria of getting a desired food, might make a good Phd dissertation ?

Regardless of the exact scientific cause, If someone gives me an aggressive rhino iguana, I for one, am not going to offer it a high protien diet.

Cycluracornuta and/Or Rhino2