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my mean little iguana

maxy555 Dec 06, 2008 09:09 AM

I have a small iguana , 3.5 inches nose to vent. I have had him for a while , handle him daily, but he is no tamer then when I first got him. He tail whips and bites, and is never cooperative when I go to take him out of his cage. Will he get tamer as he gets older? (I have a nice set up for him, and in the summer he has a huge outdoor cage.)

Replies (3)

PHFaust Dec 06, 2008 09:26 AM

>>I have a small iguana , 3.5 inches nose to vent. I have had him for a while , handle him daily, but he is no tamer then when I first got him. He tail whips and bites, and is never cooperative when I go to take him out of his cage. Will he get tamer as he gets older? (I have a nice set up for him, and in the summer he has a huge outdoor cage.)

They can become tame over time, however some never really tame down completely. Right now everything that comes at him (especially when it comes from above) is a predator. Give him time to settle in.
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Cindy
PHFaust

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kendalle Dec 29, 2008 12:41 AM

You are probably going far too fast on handling, if he's only 3.5 inches from snout to vent then he is fairly young. Think about the size of your hand compared to his little body.... you look like a giant!

Start slow, just putting your hand in his cage and messing around... don't go straight into grabbing the little guy, you will look like you want an iguana for lunch to him.

Its going to take a lot of time... months...

I've had my iguana for 2 years now, he was only 3 inch snout to vent when i got him as well... now he is 13.5 snout to vent and over 3 1/2 feet long!!

I can now go in his cage when ever and pet him.. he makes no moves to tail whip me any more and has never bitten

Slow down and think less scary thoughts... if you are going in with expectations of them freaking out and your nervous... it will go even slower.

mkhtk79 Mar 28, 2020 03:47 AM

We had our "Iggy," for 7 and a half years. He never got any tamer and always used to tail whip us. Obviously this isnt the case with all iguanas especially with frequent handling. We just took his surly behavior as part of his "unique personality." However since his passing we've decided not to purchase another iguana but stick with our canines and fish. However we did get an iguana statue to commemorate our Iggy and he now peacefully sits on the sidetable minus the attitude!

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