Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, it looks like I might be getting my new Iggy as early as this Sunday. I originally thought I'd have a few weeks to get ready but her owner wants to come soon now that she's made the decision to part with him. I have never held a full grown Iguana before, only babies and juvenilles. I know I will have several weeks once he arrives before I can handle him, but he will need to be lifted from the traveling container and placed into his enclosure. I would like to do that myself and hopefully hold him just long enough to get a couple of picutres (less than a minute). I would like to know the proper way to lift and hold a 6 foot male Iggy. He had not been handled in quite some time and is likely to be cranky from a 2 hour car ride. His current owners don't know how to handle him, have not handled him since he's gotten big. We are trying to find someone in their area to come help them get him from his enclosure into the carrying container. Speaking of which, what is the best way for them to contain him in the car for the drive? They have a large plastic container that they said they will drill air holes in. Is that ok or would there be a better way? If any of you have pictures showing how you hold your Iggys I sure would love to see them! I'm not sure I want to carry him too close to my face since he hasn't been handled, will be stressed, and doesn't know me. Do they do better facing you so they can hang onto you with their claws? or better to hold them in your arms?

This is the picture that they sent me, it's posted in my thread below so you might have seen it already. What is the best way to wash their face if they get juice on it? Misting, or a washcloth, or some other way? He looks so intelligent to me. Kinda like he's plotting something...

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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
0.0.2 Anery Corn Snakes (Suezo & Mocchi)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (Chompy & Gimli)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.6 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Nala, Mystique, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Twister)

If he is a rowdy boy in his cage have them throw a sheet or something over him until they cna get a good hold on him. The tub should be fine as long as he isnt too cramped with holes drilled in it. I suggest a pair of leather work gloves incase he decides to bite. You may or may not need them. Hold him like you would hold a smaller ig with his tail against your body and your arms supporting his body. (anyone dissagree with this?) Congrats on your new baby. Cant wait to see more pics of him. Such a pretty boy.
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

Hi there,

What a gorgeous boy! Love that expression on his face

Here's what I've learned with Grass, an almost 4-foot rescue who absolutely hates being held:

Get a pair of old over-the-knee socks, cut off the toes & cut a hole near the heel for your thumb (think fingerless gloves). You can slip these over your arms, and they'll protect you while letting you feel how hard you're gripping the ig. I don't like gloves at all because not only do they freak her out, they don't give me any sense of how hard my grip is. But this'll keep your arms & wrists safe. I can't recommend this enough; it keeps you from worrying about the claws & lets you focus on his other two "weapons," the tail & the teeth. Also has the side benefit of giving him something to grip, which can help calm him down.

If at all possible, let him come out of the carrier on his own. Makes things a lot easier! When picking him up, scoop from underneath, with one hand under his front legs and one under his back. Face him forward with his tail running under your armpit so you don't get whacked.

I've also found that when Grass struggles, she calms down significantly if I lift her way up high for a second. No idea why this works, but others have mentioned it as well. I think it's kind of a hit & miss thing, some like it & some don't, but it's worth a try.

Big dog carriers work really well for transporting, if you have access to one.

As for cleaning his face, depends on if he'll let you touch him or not. When Grass gets messy I just hose her down with the squirt bottle, and if she's feeling friendly I gently rub her face until it's clean. But if she's in a cranky mood I just get her face wet & let it rub off on its own.

Good luck & yay to you for adopting this guy!

Dang but I hate getting to the forum after Atomic!

Ditto everything that he said....LOL.

One thing with Forest that I do differently is I do use gloves, only because he'd shred me if I didn't.

When my boyfriend Mike picks Forest up, he'd lay in Mike's arms for HOURS & never move (exasperates me...I'm jealous). If I pick him up, my arms must feel like twigs to Mike's tree limbs & Forest squirms & gets me.

Mike bought me a pair of these soft cotton (hands part) gloves that go from the wrist to the elbow with a tougher leather(?) that save my wrists & arms.

I do know that Forest doesn't like them, however. I left them on his wicker dome one day & when I went to check on him, he'd tossed one on the patio & had the other in his mouth.
LOL.

I love that pic of your new guy. It DOES look like he's plotting something.

Congrats!

Terri

> Dang but I hate getting to the forum after Atomic!
> Ditto everything that he said....LOL.

*Giggle* sorry Terri... Oh and it's "she," btw. Not that it's a big deal but I feel I've been the source of enough gender-confusion on this board

>I do know that Forest doesn't like them, however. I left them on
> his wicker dome one day & when I went to check on him, he'd
> tossed one on the patio & had the other in his mouth.

This bit gets a "coffee-snorted-out-the-nose-onto-the-keyboard" funniness rating. Oh Forest... He really did get an extra helping of personality, didn't he?

He really did get an extra helping of personality, didn't he?

He sure did! Ya just never know with that boy.

Thank you all for your help. I will wear a long sleeve shirt when getting him from the carrier into his enclosure. I went out last night and picked up Iguanas for Dummies. I read a lot last night before bed, then at 3am could not sleep so got up and read for another hour.

I was unable to reach my friends that live in PA who I was hoping would help load "Bird" (that's his name right now, I'm leaning towards changing it to Norbert, his original name was Bert, then she kept singing Pretty Bert which became Pretty Bird so his name got changed to Bird. I'm a HP fan, so Norbert came to mind, and still has the similar sounds he's been used to for the last 5 years) where was I? Oh, I was hoping my friends would help load Bird into the carrier. I live near Buffalo NY and Bird is in Erie PA. I'm curious if any of you live near Erie and would be able to help this Sunday? I am guessing not, but figured couldn't hurt any to ask.
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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
0.0.2 Anery Corn Snakes (Suezo & Mocchi)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (Chompy & Gimli)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.6 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Nala, Mystique, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Twister)

I can't wait. I'm really getting excited. I'm enjoying the Iguanas for Dummies book. I found one of the Annual Reptiles Magazine editions that had a big Iggy article. I've looked through the photo gallery here, I went shopping today and got lots of greens and fruit. I cleared a spot for his enclosure (easier said than done, I had to rearrange my whole reptile room and had to take the day off of work to do it!). I'm ready. I'm going to be bouncing off the walls tomorrow, and likely won't get much sleep tonight or tomorrow night. He'll get here about 2pm on Sunday. Coming with 4 people and two vehicles. Going to be quite a day! I'll take lots of pics to share!
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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
0.0.2 Anery Corn Snakes (Suezo & Mocchi)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (Chompy & Gimli)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.6 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Nala, Mystique, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Twister)