Iguana Biting
Jen Waterman
I wondered if anyone has ever had a problem with an iguana biting them? We
have had our ig for three years, during which time he has always been the
most docile and affectionate iguana we have come across. The last few days,
however, he has had a complete personality change! We realise that he is in
breeding season now, but a few times he has just flown at us without
warning, and last night even gave me a nasty bite on the face - totally out
of the blue. We understand that he is more aggressive at the moment, but we
don't want to end up with more bites! We just want our 'nice' little ig
back!
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks
Jen
julian hales
while, goes back to normal tho'
It may be that something is worrying it, but if you can take the Ig out of
the house you should notice he is well behaved again.....my large male gets
like this sometimes, a git in the house but a puppy in public.
--
See my Iguanas at the following site..
http://invert.freeservers.com/index.html
"Jen Waterman" <j...@theinternet.org.uk> wrote in message
news:8vpie5$gq2$1...@plutonium.btinternet.com...
Natalie Rigertas
: warning, and last night even gave me a nasty bite on the face - totally out
: of the blue. We understand that he is more aggressive at the moment, but we
: don't want to end up with more bites! We just want our 'nice' little ig
: back!
THe first thing to do is recognize what your iguana considers his
territory, and stay out of it as much as possible. Second is to recognize
the signs that he is feeling aggressive. Observe your iguana as much as
possible to see what his signs are. Third, get him a toy or a luv sock.
Green toys usually work well. This allows them to masturbate on the toy,
and do all the mating stuff like biting on that object, and hopefully take
the attention away from you.
A luv sock is really just rice in a sock. Pt the rick in a thick heavy
sock (like a tube sock), sew it up. Put it in another thick sock and sew
that up as well. Detailed instructions are at
http://www.headbobs.homestead.com/files/luvsock.html
Dark green works well as a color. The rice is nice because you can nuke
it to make it warm, as that seems to attract the males more than a cold
toy does. You have to watch when they use it (this isn't something you
just leave in, unattended) so they don't rip it up and eat the rice. But
when you get home from work, for instance, warm it up (make sure it isn't
too warm) and give it to him, and let him take out his frustration on it.
You do have to either wash it afterwards or wait until the semen dries and
peel it off before you nuke it.
http://www.greenigsociety.org/breedingseason.htm Has pictures of an
iguana using a green toy during mating season.
Also: often an iguana will focus its aggression on one person (its
"choice", I guess) during mating season. If someone else can help with
basic care like feeding, it could lessen the chance of you getting bitten
again.
natalie
aerie
Welcome to the wonderful world of breeding aggression. Unfortunately, there
isn't much you can do except ride it out until it's over. And be careful of
him getting access to your face.
What I do is to use a towel when I handle my boyz. If they can't see you,
they become calmer. But by all means, use caution. And take comfort in
knowing that it only (usually) lasts a few months. You're not alone, by any
stretch of the imagination. I have two males and the youngest one was a
cuddler up until about a month ago. I really miss my baby!
Good luck!
Ann
Jen Waterman wrote in message <8vpie5$gq2$1...@plutonium.btinternet.com>...
>Hello All
>
>I wondered if anyone has ever had a problem with an iguana biting them? We
>have had our ig for three years, during which time he has always been the
>most docile and affectionate iguana we have come across. The last few
days,
>however, he has had a complete personality change! We realise that he is
in
>breeding season now, but a few times he has just flown at us without
>warning, and last night even gave me a nasty bite on the face - totally out
>of the blue. We understand that he is more aggressive at the moment, but
we
>don't want to end up with more bites! We just want our 'nice' little ig
>back!
>