any tips on taming an iggy evry time i get near the cage draco whips his tail?

Question

an every time i try to pick him uphe runs away sometimes he bites so i would really like to hear some tips thank you

Answer 1

How old is the iguana?

I had an iguana, sweetest thing in the world...until he reached sexual maturity that is! Then he turned on me! It seems that he thought I was another iguana, and he needed to protect his turf! It was awful, couldn't hold him at all anymore.

I like what someone else said, that if you're not the first owner he may have been abused. Without a doubt this behavior you're describing sounds like he's scared of you. But this is a reptile, so acting like the alpha male isn't quite as effective as it might be with a dog.

If you're afraid of him biting, try covering his head with a towel before you take him out. Ultimately this is disrespectful to the animal, so it's just a temporary fix, but at least you can get him out then interact with him nicely. After he gets used to the idea that you're nice, maybe he'll relax a bit and you can abandon the towel.

Be patient, and consistent. Don't let his aggression deter you from handling him, or else the little guy will get used to being left alone and then really go nuts when you decide to bother him.

Good luck!

Answer 2

hi there
here's what u do ...take a small towel throw it over the head gently grab the back legs and gently pull towards the tail hang on to back legs and base of tail swing tail under ur arm ... grab the front legs and gently pull towards the mid section .hang on ..(so u don't get scratched whipped or bitten) get someone to run about 2-3 inch of water into the tub warm not hot ... place the iguana in the tub for 10-20 mins a day.and let it swim they love it.. same time if possible ... it calms the Iggy down and will be easier to handle ...after a week s/he should be easier to handle iguana's whip as a defence they are just scared so be patient...we rescue iguana's all the time and this is what we do... and it works for us ... hope this helps .. good luck

Answer 3

If this is a hatchling, or young iguana that you got from a pet store, it could take up to a year of consistant, daily handling to tame it.

If it's an adult, and has already developed some bad habits, it will take about as long.

Start out slowly. Sit next to the enclosure where he can see you. Observe him without making direct eye contact. That's considered threatening.

If you have a cage that you can only reach in through the top, plan now to rebuild it. coming at an iguana, esp. a hatchling from the top is the same kind of move a predator would make. Iguanas are at the bottom of the food chain and are hunted by all carnivores. In the meantime, you have to move confidently. If you reach in, he whips, and you back your hand out, this is the same kind of move a snake would make before striking. Once you make your move to pick him up, don't stop until you complete the move, by picking him up. Wear long sleeve shirts. This will give him a better grip, and you won't get scratched.

Before you attempt to pick him up, try bribing him with a nice big dark leafy green, such as a collard green. Do this every day for about two weeks. Even if he whips his tail at you and doesn't eat it. Do it every day. While you are trying to train him, he will be trying to train you to not pick him up.

Then, after the two weeks of offering him the green food, advance to the next level. Avoid hovering over him and pick him up by scooping one hand under his shoulder, and the other gently, but firmly under his belly. Using your arm that doesn't have the ig on it, tuck his tail under your arm. This will help prevent him from whipping his tail around.

This is going to take a lot of practice. He will squirm, plan on it. Keep your fingers away from his mouth. Let him run from one hand to the other. Hold him up in the air to give him a sense of security, if he gets freaked out.

Be prepared for the "crocidile roll". this is where he will roll over and over. Might happen, maybe not. Do this every day for about 5-10 minutes, for another two weeks.

The next two weeks, give him a bath everyday. Put about 2-3 inches of warm water in the bath tub and place him in it. He might freak out, but leave him in there for a few minutes.

Talk to him! Say his name! Keep your training consistant and be patient.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Some iggies just have a bad tempermant.
Are you his first owner? Maybe he was abused before.
They whip their tail when protecting themselves, so approach him slowly. If you end up having to catch him because he got away, throw a towel over him and grab his upper body with one hand and his hips (or what would be his hips, anyway) with the other hand. Dont squeeze him, but have a firm grip on him.

Answer 5

Everyone else seems to have answered the question very well. But one thing I need to add. Scolding the reptile verbally is a total waste of time. They are not dogs/cats and do not understand the spoken word. The only case I have seen of any reptile understanding the spoken word is my savanna monitor. And that is only his name he understands. He doesn't come when you call him, just say his name and he looks/wakes up at you with this pissed off expression. Their ears are for picking up vibrations in the air to warn them of danger/prey. Not communication. They understand body movements though.

Answer 6

It can take along time to tame an iguana hold it everyday for aleast 30 minutes and don't freak out when it bites stay calm, and say no bad lizard.

Answer 7

I had a iggy once. Well you should first of all don't be scared and make sure that they know who is bose. pick it up and hold it and let him run around and stuff. This will bring you together. They don't like to be taunted you picked on. make sure they know that they are pretty and pet it everytime you come home.

Answer 8

i dont know