iguana problem

[brownsfan222]

i have a iguana that is 16inches long that i bought, recently. when i first got him he didnt bite and was very nice. after about 5 days he started trying to bite and whipping me with his tail. any ideas how to stop this

[Snakeboy 101]

OK i dont have any ways to stop it but, its problly just breedin season.......on allmost all care sheets they say that. just get in there and grab it and how big is it?

Oliver

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[NicoleRussell]

You have a problem that's fairly common with male iguanas.
Have some patience.....wait out the season. See how he is in the fall. Hopefully for you this is something that he will stop when the season ends.
This is why I always say if someone is interested in a green iguana to buy a full grown one---this way you know what your getting yourself into....
iguanas can give some nasty bites--be mindful of this...and try not to handle him right now.

	Iguana Iguana

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[Alika]

16" long? Is that including his tail?

If it is, I'd say you've got a standard baby They all seem to come home kicking and screaming. That's a good thing... it means they're healthy. Look at it from the iguana's point of view: he is still small enough to be a snack for just about anything, and he has no idea that you mean him no hard.

What are you keeping him in? Is it an aquarium that opens from the top, or a viv that opens from the side?

Give him a few days to adjust, then start handling him for about 5 minutes every day. A baby that small can't really hurt you, and if you don't start taming him now, you'll have to put up with more aggression as an adult. Hold him gently but firmly, and talk softly to him. Keep the sessions short or you'll stress him out too much. Over time, as he starts to calm down a bit, you can lengthen the sessions and even feed him some treats by hand. When you're not handling him, make sure you house him where he can see you and hear you, but where he has a hide to get away from everything.

If you're talking about an adult that's 16" not counting the tail (just the body) you definitely have a bigger problem on your hands. The bites from adults can be serious, so you'll want to protect yourself from them. If you don't handle him, he'll never become tame, though, as the others said, if it is an adult there's always the chance he's in breeding season and he'll calm down when he comes out of it.

But I think a 16" STL baby is more likley.

I don't know how much research you did about igs before you brought him home, but if you need any sources check out www.greenigsociety.org, www.anapsid.org, www.igden.com, the group baby_iguana at groups.yahoo.com, and buy the books "Iguanas for Dummies" by Melissa Kaplan and "Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Guide" by James Hatfield III. If you have further questions, I'd be glad to help you out.

When I started with my iguana, the hardest thing was getting everything set up correctly and getting the diet just right. The taming thing will come with time if you put a lot of effort into it. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[NicoleRussell]

when she said "when i first got him he didn't bite ..." I was assuming he was 16 s-v...I didn't think for a moment it was intact.
If he is that small the post oabove is accurate---how long have you had him??

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[Alika]

It could be either way, really, but it seems like usually people who buy instead of adopt get babies... and new lizard keepers tend to think in terms of STL and not SVL, which is more accurate.

I hope you don't mind my interjection.

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[NicoleRussell]

interjection is what it's all about

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[brownsfan222]

he is 16 inches including the tail hes a baby the problem is, is that when i first got him he didnt bite at all and a few days later he was mean and tryed to bite

[Jesustheherper]

Maybe he was just playing dead or not doing anything defensive thinking that you were a predator or its what Alika and Nicole said, but hay I'm not an expert I keep Niles, Boas, and one Python.

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[ball python chick]

how much have you handled him?he needs time to settle in.if he was nice and isnt now have you bothered him alot in the 5 days since you got him?sometimes the stress in a new enviorment can keep them mellow until they settle in.once they settle alittle they feel more comfortable to tell you there limits.

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[Alika]

Originally Posted by brownsfan222

he is 16 inches including the tail hes a baby the problem is, is that when i first got him he didnt bite at all and a few days later he was mean and tryed to bite

That's very common. It could either be that the immediate stress of being in a new place made him calm and quiet, or that he wasn't completely healthy when you first got him and now that he's warmer and his tummy is full he's full of spit and vinegar.

Most baby iguanas are feisty... it's abnormal for them to be immediately tame.

It doesn't sound like you left him alone for a few days to acclimate. This is an important step after acquiring any new animal. So, really, leave him alone... try not to stare at him too much for a few days, then start handling him as I suggested above.

[Dragon-Keeper]

My WD (close enough ok?) is very calm now and i didnt handle him regularly for more than 6 months after I got him. I think he jsut got used to my presence. I hope you do ok, and he settles down.

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[NicoleRussell]

my rhino took a long time to settle down---baby igs are flighty, defensive, and basically give the impression at times you have made a huge mistake
Hang in there--both my rock iguanas are wonderful now but it took alot of patience and time.

	Iguana Iguana

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[brownsfan222]

right now he is in a temporary 20 gallon long. I have asked a carpenter to build him a cage so i should get it soon

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[Alika]

My iguana took about 6 months to show signs of taming, but another year to become truly tame. Some will go faster, and some will go slower... they are all individuals. Just hang in there, and remember that it's better to have a 16" whipping biting baby than a 6' whipping biting adult Good luck!

	Iguana Iguana

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[NicoleRussell]

I would say --I have had these Igs for 2 years and the rhino took about a year to really tame down and the blue just started acting normal about a month or two ago---but what a DOLL.
Once they see your not going to eat them they basically calm down

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[Snakeboy 101]

Put some gloves on when handling him!!


Oliver

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[brownsfan222]

he's starting to calm down now, when i put my hand in its cage it doesnt run. It dont run when im near the cage either. Just holding him is the problem

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