Hostile Iguana

Bonavox

Hey folks,

So here's the deal: around January, I bought a 15 month old iguana. I held him in the shop and he seemed quite docile and calm so I decided to take him. I brought him home, gave him about a week to settle in and began handling him. That was all fine for about a month. With nothing out of the ordinary or no significant events, he starts to go to the toilet whenever I take him out. I decided to take him out less frequently to see if it would calm him and it did but about a month ago thing started getting worse.

Whenever I'd put my hand in to handle him, feed him or whatever, he'd start to attack my arm with his tail. This continued for a while and now it's escalated. This past week he's began biting me and hitting harder and more recklessly. It's getting to a point where I'm finding it difficult to get his water/food bowls in order to feed him.

I really like my pet iguana and I'd hate to have to get rid of him, but it's not looking good - he's still fairly small at the minute but if he doesn't calm down soon before he starts getting bigger, I may have to get rid of him.

Is there anything I can do to help improve his temperament and turn him back into the pet he was when I first got him? Thanks for any help.

DBB

Give Bev of www.petproblems.net a shout... Bev is a qualified behaviourist who has specialist knowledge of reptile (and other exotics) behaviour. Bev's also a vet nurse, indeed just 2 weeks ago won Vet Nurse of the Year 2012! She's a gem.
Good luck!

kylith

Are you male or female, OP? I've heard of male iguanas turning on female owners; something to do with the way women smell can lead to agression and/or mating behaviour.

Bonavox

DBB wrote: »

Give Bev of www.petproblems.net a shout... Bev is a qualified behaviourist who has specialist knowledge of reptile (and other exotics) behaviour. Bev's also a vet nurse, indeed just 2 weeks ago won Vet Nurse of the Year 2012! She's a gem.
Good luck!

Thanks for that, I'll give her a call tomorrow.

kylith wrote: »

Are you male or female, OP? I've heard of male iguanas turning on female owners; something to do with the way women smell can lead to agression and/or mating behaviour.

I'm male.

antocann

kylith wrote: »

Are you male or female, OP? I've heard of male iguanas turning on female owners; something to do with the way women smell can lead to agression and/or mating behaviour.

that made me laugh lol


op , get a glove if you cant handle , these things take time , is he coming into shed ? are his temps in his setup correct , feeding him correct food ect ..

Bonavox

antocann wrote: »

that made me laugh lol


op , get a glove if you cant handle , these things take time , is he coming into shed ? are his temps in his setup correct , feeding him correct food ect ..

Yep, double and triple checked everything today and his diet is a well balanced one. I'll try with a glove, thanks.

I have never had that problem. My guy is great. He is out loose in the attic room. He always see's me and i think thats the thing. Once he see's that i am in the room sitting down and watching TV he begins to calm down. I only pick him up when i have to. He is now cool with that.
I would say , keep trying to handle for short periods. Come into the room, pick him up pet him a little. Put him back down and stay in eye shot.

Oh if my girlfriend is on her "you know what" He gets hostile !