Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently adopted a 4 ft very large female ig (about 7 yrs old). She was taken to an animal shelter b/c she was too big, then sent to reptile company who then shipped her to me all in a 2 week period. I have only had her for about 6 days. She is in a room by herself with another ig in the ajoining room. She was fine the first couple of days, but since then, she has been total hell. She holds her ground and tries to bite if I come to close, she also wips and hisses. She won't eat either. I am almost afraid to go near her. Any suggestions???
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Deborah

0.0.1 blue tail monitor
3.2 bearded dragons
2.0.2 adopted green iguanas
1.1 furry 4-legged
barking kids
0.1 furry 4-legged
meowing kid (claimed me)
0.1 of the 2-legged
scaleless/furless variety

7 rs old, that's a big gal, and from what u've said, has not had the easiest life. So much in 2 weeks can be pretty stressful for any animal.

New enclosure, new sounds, smells, and you! So yeah, unless they're already well tamed ans socialized, adopted iguanas, particularly adults, can be hell.

Is her eonclosure big enough? Does she have enough hiding places to keep her calm and secure?

Let her be for a week or two. Only see her to change the food, water, and cleaning. No interactions. Let her get adjusted.

After that, hangout in the room, without interacting. Read a book, listen to music, watch TV, whatever. Let her be. She'll understand you'r no threat to her, you're just the being that brings the food and hangs out.

Gradually increase your vicinity and frequency to her enclosure as days go by. It will take quite a while for her to become manageable, but at least get her first to realize you're not an enemy.

If she doesn't eat, fine, let her get hungry, she'll eat eventually. Just keep it there, and keep it fresh.

By the end of the month there should be slight improvements (do not expect miracles). By end of August, it will be much better.

Be patient, be careful (she is a big gal after all) and be aware of her health.

Let us know soon how her status is.

-IJ

>>7 rs old, that's a big gal, and from what u've said, has not had the easiest life. So much in 2 weeks can be pretty stressful for any animal.
>>
>>New enclosure, new sounds, smells, and you! So yeah, unless they're already well tamed ans socialized, adopted iguanas, particularly adults, can be hell.
>>
>>Is her eonclosure big enough? Does she have enough hiding places to keep her calm and secure?
>>
>>Let her be for a week or two. Only see her to change the food, water, and cleaning. No interactions. Let her get adjusted.
>>
>>After that, hangout in the room, without interacting. Read a book, listen to music, watch TV, whatever. Let her be. She'll understand you'r no threat to her, you're just the being that brings the food and hangs out.
>>
>>Gradually increase your vicinity and frequency to her enclosure as days go by. It will take quite a while for her to become manageable, but at least get her first to realize you're not an enemy.
>>
>>If she doesn't eat, fine, let her get hungry, she'll eat eventually. Just keep it there, and keep it fresh.
>>
>>By the end of the month there should be slight improvements (do not expect miracles). By end of August, it will be much better.
>>
>>Be patient, be careful (she is a big gal after all) and be aware of her health.
>>
>>Let us know soon how her status is.
>>
>>-IJ

Oh Deborah.....you don't need that site I mentioned Joe's advice is just perfect.
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Sheryl

Touch passion when it comes your way, it's hard enough to find as it is. Don't walk away when it calls you by name.
B 5

Happily enslaved to Green Iguana Master G'Kar
~~24 7~~

>>I recently adopted a 4 ft very large female ig (about 7 yrs old). She was taken to an animal shelter b/c she was too big, then sent to reptile company who then shipped her to me all in a 2 week period. I have only had her for about 6 days. She is in a room by herself with another ig in the ajoining room. She was fine the first couple of days, but since then, she has been total hell. She holds her ground and tries to bite if I come to close, she also wips and hisses. She won't eat either. I am almost afraid to go near her. Any suggestions???

You should give her a couple of weeks to settle in. Just have minimal contact with her, only for feeding and area cleaning. Any new surroundings (and lots of other things come to think of it) cause Iguanas to stress out. They also know when there other Igs around, whether the see them or not, and can influence her behavior.
Do you have this Melissa Kaplan site for reference?

There is an area on the left on this page, to search the site. Just type in "Stress". She has some great info on the subject. It sure helped me. Good luck with you new baby and keep us posted.

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Sheryl

Touch passion when it comes your way, it's hard enough to find as it is. Don't walk away when it calls you by name.
B 5

Happily enslaved to Green Iguana Master G'Kar
~~24 7~~