Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering how i could get my Iguana to become more tame every time I try to touch or hold him it is a bloody war (me being the one who starts bleading) i cut his nails every other week and his care is fine. He just won't calm down. Thanks in advance.

Derek

Hey,
well, there are a few things. Before you just jump right in and pick him or her up you need to first gain trust in him ( im going to call it a him for now.. just to make things easier ) anyhow.. try walking up to his cage or whatever and look at him and move verry very slowly to ensure that you do not frighten him. Then, talk to him nicely and after a week or two put your hand in the FAR END of the cage so that he cant try to get you but to let him know you are his friend and BE CAREFUL when you do this one because we want to end the bloody wars.. lol. anyhow and just start to like look at him and walk by his cage and move slow so you dont startle him but eventually you can pat him and rub his side or whatever. give this time though. this worked with my iguana very very well. good luck... hope this helps.. good luck!

You're going to have to endure a lot of scratching during the taming process. First of all, when you pick him up and he starts to claw you, make sure you don't put him down until he's calm. I know that sounds painful, but it's the quickest way to a tame iguana. My guy was a frantic mess when I first got him, but constant handling made him as calm as a cow within a few months. And it helps to have him in contact with lots of other people besides yourself. It's pretty much the same with all animals, the more love and attention you give them, the friendlier they'll be.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

( I refer to my iggy as HE, but it is unclear)
Mine is finally starting to get "fiesty" again. He really mellowed out for a little while and semi-quit eating. He mellowed out so much that to my suprise I could just reach in and get him. I am still worried about him not eating, but I am actually happy to see him getting fiesty again.

Anyway, I can not just reach in anymore. So I have gone back to my old trick. I open the door, then I start "playing" with stuff in his cage. I may pick up his rock (not a heat rock) and move it a little. Maybe go wash it off. Then I pick up the fake plant leaves that have fallen off. Basically just mess around in there for a minute or two and by then, he is alot more calm when I go to get him. But holding him can still be a tricky. He usually does not fight me long. Then when he calms down, I "pet" him for a while longer, then let him run around.
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Mike
0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Pac Man Frog
0.2.0 Albino African Clawed Frog
1.0.0 BIG Golden Retriever 105 lbs

i have a young iguana named meanie. i have tried everything to tame him. he has gottin alot better from when i first got him a year ago but he still whips and tries to bite. im still trying but i think he just hates me for some reason. lol. i hold him everyday untill he stops thrashing and then he will let me pet him. after awhile if he behaves while im holding him i let him run around outside of his cage. he love to clime the curtins. but when its time to go back in his cage he wants none of it! i have to chase him all over. lol another thing i do is hand feed him. (very long leaves of collard greens) he reluctently takes the food. i do this before i give him his meal. so that he knows that i am the bringer of the food. hope i helped a bit. good luck.
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brandy