Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got an iguana a couple days ago.I picked out an older one because i felt bad seeing it in it's little cage.I don't know how old it was because a new owner just took over the store.I was told it wasn't old enough to tell the sex but it was showing sings of a girl. she was really nice when i fed her and even let me pet her the 1st day.now she hisses and whips me when i try to put food in the bottom of the cage.I have two mini dachshunds who haven't even noticed her. are they the reason for her tail whipping?My boyfriends got me nervous because he said i should have gotten a baby instead and now i'm stuck with an untouchable ig.I just want her to be my nice ig like she was the 1st day what happened?

She is very nice and healthy looking. She might just be defending "her territory", now that she feels more at home. I wouldn't worry about her tail whipping or hissing. She will eventually get over it if you just keep reaching in her cage and feeding her and cleaning and changing water on a daily basis. If you approach her from above, she may get nervous, since birds prey on baby igs. If you extend your hand slowly in her direction, does she shut her eyes and turn her head away from you? If so, she is nervous. Just talk to her every time you open her cage, and if she shuts her eyes, just rub her head and eventually massage her arms and legs and pat her back, then run your hand down her back to her tail--all this gradually, and not all at once. She'll eventually start to accept it and even look forward to it, as part of her daily routine which she associates with feeding time. It took me a long time with my adult ig, but it is worth it!

thanks a lot that makes me feel so much better.She seems to behave more when i add a couple of grapes in her salads.But i try to just put one in and not every day.I don't want to start a bad habit.she spits too i dont know why?If anyone could answer that it would help.

It's likely just "snalting", or sneezing as a way to get rid of excess salt. Kind of cute and gross and necessary all at the same time.

OH MY! I thought you had her longer! You just got her a few days ago, so give her a while to settle in. I usually expect a minimum of 2 weeks for proper feeding and a few months for proper behavior.

Actually the iguana is VERY young. She may be a more dominant animal in the bunch which is why she is larger, she may be a few weeks to a month or two older, but she is still a baby. They are extremely flighty as babies, as are most baby reptiles. They are still basically wild animals and as such, they have natural instincts to how to behave when a predator is around, She is basically nervous and defensive. She is seeing you as the big hand in the sky coming to eat her. And yep WAY to young to sex properly!

Pick up Melissa Kaplans "Iguanas for Dummies"or James Hatfield's "Green Iguana; The Ultimate Owners Manual" Both will give you great tips on taming and socializing them!
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Cindy
PHFaust

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