He is almost 1 yr old and i havent really handled him but if i started now do you think he would become tame. He lives in a 30 gallon tank has a log to go in and has a big limb he can crawl up on and bask on. Please help because i feel jealous i havent spent time with him.
2007-11-04 11:00:18 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
No Iguana can live happily in a 30 gallon tank! They need huge cages to climb in--rule of thumb is 1.5 times higher and longer than he is from tip of nose to tip of tail. Most people have to build cages for Igs. He needs UVB lighting, heat lamp, pool for soaking and drinking, and a fresh salad daily. A healthy Ig will be brightly colored, have an excellent appetite, be active, bright eyed and alert and very feisty. Check here for more care info:
http://anapsid.org/
http://www.greenigsociety.org/credits.htm
http://www.reptilecare.com/igfacts.htm
2007-11-04 11:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An iguana who is a year old shouldn't be living in a 55 gallon tank yet alone a 30 gallon tank. They need space and lots of it.
How I think my iguana is happy is w/ her eyes and sometimes I think she's smiling, and I get face rubbing on my sleeves sometimes after her snack after her bath.
Taming an iguana is a 50/50 chance. They are not like a pet dog or cat, they are wild and your ig may seem like it likes you until it turns 2/3 yrs old when they go into breeding season, be ready for possible bites/attacks. Tail whipping will happen until your ig feels more comfy per say around you, and sometimes they still will just because they can. Taming can take years, to never happen. Some iguanas are more submissive to there slave (owner), some think they are the boss and dominate. All I can say is time will only tell, but it requires daily handling, daily interaction.
Sites for you to read:
http://www.greenigsociety.org/
http://www.iguanaden.org/
http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html
Hopefully your ig has proper floor covering, UVB, heat, food, humidity.
If you'd like to join some Yahoo Iguana groups for help:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BabyIguana/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/IguanaDen/
2007-11-04 13:25:44 · answer #2 · answered by evanescence_fr3ak 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you realize how big iguanas get? You need a much bigger tank than 30 gallons. I had an iguana for a few years and he got so big so quick and he was in a 100+ gallon tank and he still had to curl his tail around. That in itsself would make yours unhappy. If they are not handled on a daily basis they can become very unfriendly. I was the only one to handle mine and I couldn't due to a very busy school schedule and sports and was mean! He would whip me and bite me and poop on me every time I got him out. Also you have to be very careful with their diet. They can become calcium deficient very easy. If you want him to become more docile then you need to start as of yesterday handling him many times a day and get him a bigger tank or some sort of elaborate enclosure!
2007-11-04 13:39:27 · answer #3 · answered by J.Mc. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he is still new to you you should leave him in his enclosure for the first few weeks so that he can adjust to the change. The cage I asume is large enough with the nececary climbing space. Take it one day at a time. what I did with my iguana is that for the firts while I didn't handle him unless I was cleaning his enclosure or when I gave him a bath. the first few weeks you should just sit close to the enclosure so that he can see you and you can see him, he will get use to you being around then for a few weeks sit in front of the enclosure with the door open so that you can earn it's trust. then slowly introduce your hands into his enclosure without touching him, he should see that your hands does not pose a threat. when he gets use to that you can try touching. not picking up and grabbing, just gentle touches then take your hand away. after a very long time doing these actions your iggy should get use to you. YOU just need to be patient and do not rush anything. believe me all this effort is worth it. my igg, when he was younger had the same behavior. Today, when I open his enclosure doors he hops onto my shoulder for a trip round the house. It really makes you proud and glad that you used this method of taming. I am constantly showing off my well behaved Iguana to my friends and family and specialy the attractive girls in the neighborhood who visits my iguana regularly ;-)
2016-04-02 05:00:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i say better late than never ...dispite what you may believe your ig will grow to big for that tank(and most likely already has) and die.get a bigger tank to start or build a decent habitat...like 3 foot by 5 foot floor to ceiling.
taming igs takes time and patients.mine goes out with me all summer(in a modified rabbit harness on my shoulder) GO SLOW let him get used to the idea of you putting your hand near him before you try to touch him .always try to approach him from the side or beneath....above will scare him
untamed at a year wil be tough but put in the time and you will probably be able to handle him in time.he's gonna get BIG now might be the time to make friends....good luck
2007-11-05 10:02:25 · answer #5 · answered by stvc1961 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can tell Because it has a calm face and it is eating fine and sleeping. if it is mad it will hide most of the time. do not think it is mad if it kicks or bites you for this is how they act. i know this because i own one
2007-11-04 11:06:20 · answer #6 · answered by Angelica E 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you can tell any reptile is happy by the color of their skin. if it has a nice healthy glow, then not only are they happy, but theyre healthy.
if theyre looking on the gray side, then they may be ill and not happy.
2007-11-04 11:03:57 · answer #7 · answered by xXUntouchableXx 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋