Friendly Iguana??? Not!!

[Fostermom]

About a month ago I seemed to have adopted an Iguana. Not by choice, a family member heard of an iguana that the previous owners decide that they just didn’t want it anymore. It was their child’s and basically he wasn’t taking care of it and they were going to get rid of it but not in a good way… so my family member decide he was going to take it and right this wrong. Well he never did any research at all, long story short it has ended up with me in my office.
I have done a lot of researched on the web from food (when he arrived he was only given iceberg lettuce and Iguana fake food from the pet store). Since he has been with me I have changed his diet to only fresh veggies/fruits which he is consuming in huge amounts (very surprised on how much he eats) to tank etc. My family member has built a huge really awesome tank big change from the little cube tank he came in. He has logs to climb and basking ledge, swimming pool rock, proper heating and light he came with a heat rock and a regular light bulb only. I found a guy who works at a pet store who was a great help with proper heating lights etc without spending a zillion dollars. We got the extra’s log, pool etc online. He even helped me with my issue of being scare to death of the Iguana on how to feed him without freaking etc. I actually took the Iguana to him to check him out to see if he thought he was sick or whatever before investing the bucks in the new tank and all the fun stuff. He said he is actually in good health, too young to tell if a boy or girl yet. Maybe almost 2 years old…
He has much more room now so when I feed him change the water etc all is good. I am still afraid of him but nothing like I was before. The problem is when I try to pick him up he freaks the first time he bit the glove I was wearing and would NOT let go I had to slip it off and put it in the tank with him. That pretty much did it for me, made me not want to go near him. I have someone else come in and take him out of the tank for me so I can clean it. Yesterday was the first time I actually went in and handled him myself. It went ok, held him for a while he was wiggling in the beginning than calmed down, petted him on the neck seemed to like that, actually put him in the sink under the water which he seemed to really like. Everyday in fact he waits right next to the empty food bowl until I come in and unlock the cage etc and then he moves up the log let’s me change the bowl out with the new food bowl comes back down the log to the bowl and chows.
Today I tried again to pick him up he is back to same as before attack mode. I realize it is because he pretty much knows I am afraid of him or that is the response he sees from me (jerking my hand back and away) he knows it works. So he whips his tail jerks his head and it works I am afraid. Will he ever stop doing that? How do I get him first not to want to attack me and second more socialized. I have no clue how he was treated in the past, if it was bad will he always be like this? Anything I can do to change this?
He poops once a day and pees twice a day the pee is what is stinky. When it is just the poop no problem I just stick my hand/arm in clean it up no problem but with the pee is seeps threw the carpet I have to remove it clean the bottom of the tank etc. The cage has the indoor outdoor carpet on the floor I remove it and change it out with a new one. (I wash and clean the carpets and reuse them.) I feel his cage has to be cleaned once a day; he has to be removed when I do this I don’t want to have to have someone come to get him out for me. Is he ever going to get it that I am not going hurt him. What can I do?? Can anyone help????

[AMOS]

Don't be afraid of him first off and handle him more often if he scratches or bites i would use welding gloves good job with the rescue im glad to here he is well but if you handle him more often for short periods it wil help


also do you have any pics of the enclosure and the iggy

[NicoleRussell]

how large is the animal?
Are you sure it's male?
What lighting and heating are you using (do you know the brand and wattage)?

[Fostermom]

I'm trying not to be afraid of him...
Only pets I have ever had have been cats and dogs...
I have a pic of him but haven't figure out how to attach it yet???

[NicoleRussell]

how large is the animal?
Are you sure it's male?
What lighting and heating are you using (do you know the brand and wattage)?
__________________

[Fostermom]

Not sure if it is a male or not???
Honestly have no clue.
The man I took it to for him to look at it said too young to tell yet????
I don't have the package on the lighting but the man at the pet store help.
The heating is the red bulb day & night (not the infrared heat lamp), a zoo med reptitherm reptile heater (goes on the side of that tank), also another heat bulb not red, again don't have the box or package so not sure of the name or brand.

[Roofeo]

im no expert and i understand it can be scary sometimes. But i think its important that you handle him every day. even if its just for a few minutes. this will let him no your not going to hurt him. also before you pick him up, try gently stroking him, as then he'll know your there so you dont shock him, as if you just go straight in and grab him, it will startle him so he would be more likly to attack. if he wasnt treated brilliantly before then he may not be used to being handled or even scared of being handled so you just need to keep trying. Also make sure he has enough food as if he's not fed enough it could be a reson for aggression. its sounds like your doing a real good job though.
And i do understand about being scared, but animals can sense your fear and react to it. relax and the lizard should relax. if your tense the lizard will be tense and a bit frightened and will know that he is in charge. you need to relax and let him know that your in charge.
Im sure once youve handled him for a while he'll calm down.

[Fostermom]

Thanks for the info. I hope he chills. As for the stroking him before grabing that isn't working he is trying to whip me with his tale. I can get into the tank and he isn't freaking like when I first got him. He would breath so deep, kind of hiss?? or make some kind of noise, whip his tail move his head around and dart at me (like the pit bull glove attach I describe in the first post). Now only if I try to grab him he whips the tail only but if I don't get him on the first try I kind of bug and he knows it. I'll keep trying. Someone told me to wrap him in something and hold him until he stops wiggling??? I haven't done that it seems to me that it would make it worse and scare him more??

[Fostermom]

He is about 7-8 inches from his nose to his back legs. His tail is maybe double his body...

[VoodooChile]

First of all, check out this site:
www.greenigsociety.org There is a plethora of information regarding taming, handling, and dietary needs.
Here is the page for first time Iguana owners. http://www.greenigsociety.org/firsttimers.htm
I suggest you start there, but the whole site is wonderful.

One thing I am concerned about is the possible lack of appropriate UV lighting. Please make sure you have UVA/UVB lighting. You need at least an 8% fixture, I would go with a 10 though for maximum exposure. Igs need UV to produce D3 and metabolize calcium. Without it they will become crippled, and die.

T-Rex & Zoo Med both make a UV/Heat bulb combo, so you can provide your heat and your UV at once. A bit pricey, but definitely a necessity. http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...y-vapor-bulbs/
You can find them at your pet stores as well, but its really cheaper on line if you know what you are looking for and can shop around.