Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question for all you guys...I was reading the posts about the mean iguana & male breeding season & I was wondering if all your iguana's tail whip? Or would they if they got mad?

I ask because Forest is going through something right now & I'm not sure if it's breeding related or if it's because he's shedding but the boy is CRANKY!

I used to go up to him every morning & he'd give me "dulop loving" ie...he'd allow me to put my face next to his & he'd nuzzle me & stick out that big pretty dulop for me. Lately he has been so cranky he will repossition himself to get away from me, if I pet or pat him he will either do his "flea flick" thing & swat at me or gap his mouth like he's gonna bite & is just overall CRANKY!!! I even bought the brat an orange the other day to try & win him over & after he ate a few bites, he was over me AND the orange, looked right at me & snorted all over me.

He will do almost anything to get me to go away EXCEPT tail whip. I don't think Forest knows he can use that thing as a weapon if he wanted. Never, ever, ever has he even raised it. NOT that I want him to but I've never heard of an ig that had never used it. I wondered how Forest missed that...(the knowledge that it COULD be used as a weapon)

I bought some fresh Escarole today & once again offered him a "peace offering" & after about 6 bites, he smacked my fingers away, turned, put his back to me & got into that "hatchet stance"??? WHAT is up with that crazy lizard? Any ideas?

I have soaked him to try & help get the shed off but he's still grouchy. Any ideas guys & gals???

Terri

my two older iguanas have never tried to tail whip me. but they do get mad at me for it seems to be no reason at all. shaking their head when i pet them, giving me the evil eye. sometimes when my oldest(ellanor)is outside she leans back on her side as if going to whip but never has. she only does this when she is outside getting some sun. i think its cuz she is afraid of getting eatin by something.

I always take Forest outside, either on his couch out front or more lately (to catch more sun) out back on his lawn chair & wicker dome to bask.

He used to stay out there for HOURS every day but here lately he sits on his wicker dome until he potties (which falls through onto the deck so it's not like he's laying in it) & then he gets down & hauls butt for the glass doors to be let in.

10-15 minutes to a half hour tops. He used to love being outside. Now it seems to aggravate him to be taken outside at all.

He'd much rather be inside, on his bed with the fake (UVB) light than out in the sunshine.

He's so moody, I'm wondering if they make Midol for lizards. (Sorry ladies, I'm a lady so I meant no offence).

Just EVERYTHING seems to get on his nerves lately.

Was just wondering.......and searching for any ideas.

Thanks,
Terri

i think they get scared sometimes if they see or hear another animal like a large bird. not too long ago i brought my iguana draco out and i heard all these birds goin nuts. 5 minutes later there are 4 huge birds flying around my lizzard. i guess they wanted to eat him. i grabed him quickly and ran in the house. because of this i would not recomend leaving iguanas outside by themselves. im so glad i was right there if i wasnt who knows what would have happened to my baby.

my iggy is actually kept in his own room seperate from all my other critters. i do, however, have large birds that do all their normal bird noises blah blah blah, but my iggy is only frightened when my birds (which r in another room) r quiet. other than that, he's actually getting used to me quite well. i found him along with 15 other young iggy's in a field that a farmer called in (i volunteer for the local humane society). and since no one has had reptile experience other than i, i decided to take all of them home for the mean time, and when they were ready for adoption we gave them to respectable homes for a small fee (i kept one). all r doing well at the moment (just checked on them 2 days ago since we do follow up on rare animals).

Ha! ROFLMAO

I really do think that Grass & Forest went to the same finishing school

He's doing the same thing lately. I always put his food out with him ("I'll be dining on the verahnda, Madahm", and normally he eats and then wanders around the yard for a half hour or so. But lately it's gulp gulp gulp and then a mad dash for the patio door.

Who knows what they're thinking! If there were any animal I'd love to get inside the head of, it's gotta be an ig.

Perfectly normal for a fully tame ig to use their tail as a warning or to scare you. My igs lift their tails like a cat does if they like where we are scratching them lol.
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

I'm new to igs (adopted Forest on Valentine's Day) other than my two cousin's stories but see, that boogles me...

Forest has never lifted or even attempted to use that tail of his. And I was looking at it the other day & DANG....his tail at the base is bigger than my wrist & I'm sure he could HURT someone (ME!) if he ever wanted to.

He never has....even as cranky as he's been lately.

LUCKY me....I'm not complaining......

That sounds like breading season to me, but like I said in the post earlier I don't know when that is. I haven'y noticed anything like that with Boris yet, but I guess I get to look forward to it soon enough. Good luck with him. I know you know this , but he is still that same old Forrest behind all that crankyness.

My Andy whips at anything and everything. lol. the December after I adopted him he had to have 5 inches removed from his tail where he has whipped the cage and damaged his tail (we even padded the cage and he still broke the tail) *sigh* but he is still my andy even tho is is cranky at the moment... Im wary on takin him out of the cage he is so agressive. lol
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

I agree, that sounds like a male breeding response. They get more defensive during breeding season, which from my experience (about 4 years) seems to be twice a year - once in late spring/early summer (i.e., around now) and again in late fall or early winter. They will not hesitate to use their tails as whips, and usually before doing so will assume a defensive position that includes extended dewlap, body raised on straight legs (both meant to make him look bigger), and yes, having that tail out there ready to flick. Don't be fooled because he's never done it before; I assure you he can and will use it in perceived self defence. And it's no picnic if he lands it on you!
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MichaelB

I know it's still my same lovable Forest but it bumms me out that something has made him so cranky & I wish I could fix it.

If it's breeding season, it'll pass.......

I just know he's a happy fella 99% of the time & I feel SO bad for him.

Like I said before, he's lucky he's cute. That cuts him a lot of slack!

Thanks,
Terri

Breeding season. Ayup. I'd bet anything. Grass is just coming out of it, thank god, and I can actually pet his head while he's on his perch without him doing his little tough guy dance.

It's odd, too -- he only ever gets snippy with me when he's in his favorite spot. Otherwise he's just as mellow as can be.