Re: taking a poll...

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Posted by TL on August 09, 1999 at 10:42:22:

In Reply to: taking a poll... posted by Lorry on August 09, 1999 at 09:59:12:

: I was just wondering...ever since Skinny said something about if our scars are all healed up, and we haven't gotten any new ones in a while, we're
: not handling your ig enough...
: Do all of you with larger igs handle them everyday? By Handling, I mean, carry them around, take them outside, ect.
: I "handle" Cleo by hanging out with her, and giving her lots of scratching time, and talking to her...but I must say, now that she is getting bigger...I don't carry
: her around the house much, and since she escaped, I have been very hesitant to take her outside. (Last time I did, she pitched a really big fit, tail whipped me, and I almost thought she was going to get away from me again.
: Should I be letting her get back on my head for a trip around the nieghborhood?
: Sigh....I guess it's just me worrying about if I'm doing a good job again!
: I'd really like to know some of the sizes of your igs, and how you handle them on a regular basis. (Please!!)
: (BTW: Cleo is now about 14'' svl, and 40''total)
: Thanks so much!!
: Lorry
: ("Remember, The Force will be with you....Always"-Obi Wan Kenobi)

I have pair of adult iguanas.The female is around 4 feet and the male closer to 5 and heavier bodied.The female is kept in a very large cage that I built many years ago.The male has the run of a room but spends most of the time either on the perch I have provided for him or resting in his hide box which is a large plastic tub lined with butchers paper.I do allow the female out to roam around but I have to contain the male or he will start trouble.He seems more interested in fighting then breeding but hopefully that will change..*shrug*.

Your question is an intersting one.Just how much handling is needed?I for one dont handle them every single day.I do try and have some kind of contact with them everyday though.It is beneficial for iguanas to be subjected to some form of human interaction.An iguana that has never been handled tends to stay terrified of humans and stresses out every time a human approaches his cage.This makes cage cleaning.nail trimming and other tasks a very unpleasant experience for both the lizard and the human.But how much actual holding do they need is debateable.

When you sit by your iguanas cage,touch it and talk to it softly,you are conditioning the animal to not be frightened by human hands coming near it.However I do think that you should pick the animal up and allow it out of its cage at least occaisionally.Especially when it grows larger and even the biggest cage is most likely not going to be big enough.As a parrot breeder I once knew used to say.."A cage should be a home,not a prison".

I dont take the iguanas outside very often.The situation you described is very common.Reptiles that havent been exposed to sunlight for a while get very fiesty,sometimes even aggressive,when those rays hit them.Thats not to say that the animal should be deprived of sunlight.Mine has a perch by a window and weather permitting he has access to sunlight.And of course he has a branch that allows him to climb away from the window if he gets too warm.They both also have UVB lights.Every now and again I will bring them outside and let them check out their surroundings.You really have to be careful.An iguana allowed to roam in a backyard can get into all kinds of mischief.He might eat something that will prove harmful or even fatal.Or he could get ambitious and quickly scamper up a tree and will be difficult to retrieve.Use caution.Some folks have constructed outdoor pens for their animals.This is s safer solution.

I wouldnt allow the animal to perch on your head when hes outside.It would be safer to hold him gently to prevent any unwanted leaps to freedom.

As far as scarring goes,I havent been scarred up in a long time.I keep their nails trimmed and they are so docile at this point that they dont struggle when picked up.Of course I still get little scratches from them grasping my arm like a tree limb but nothing to be concerned about.

One thing I will say though,as an animal grows and gets stronger and potentially more able to inflict bodily harm with his claws,tails and jaws,a lot of folks fall into the trap of handling the little beast less and less.This should be avoided as a somewhat tame small iguana who hasnt been handled in a long time will slowly turn back into a rather wild big iguana!Dont let his size throw you.Your still a lot bigger then he is!Dont let him become the boss.Be gentle,but continue to interact with him.You will both be better off in the long run.

Sorry this was so wordy but the topic you presented interested me a great deal =)

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: : I was just wondering...ever since Skinny said something about if our scars are all healed up, and we haven't gotten any new ones in a while, we're : : not handling your ig enough... : : Do all of you with larger igs handle them everyday? By Handling, I mean, carry them around, take them outside, ect. : : I "handle" Cleo by hanging out with her, and giving her lots of scratching time, and talking to her...but I must say, now that she is getting bigger...I don't carry : : her around the house much, and since she escaped, I have been very hesitant to take her outside. (Last time I did, she pitched a really big fit, tail whipped me, and I almost thought she was going to get away from me again. : : Should I be letting her get back on my head for a trip around the nieghborhood? : : Sigh....I guess it's just me worrying about if I'm doing a good job again! : : I'd really like to know some of the sizes of your igs, and how you handle them on a regular basis. (Please!!) : : (BTW: Cleo is now about 14'' svl, and 40''total) : : Thanks so much!! : : Lorry : : ("Remember, The Force will be with you....Always"-Obi Wan Kenobi) : I have pair of adult iguanas.The female is around 4 feet and the male closer to 5 and heavier bodied.The female is kept in a very large cage that I built many years ago.The male has the run of a room but spends most of the time either on the perch I have provided for him or resting in his hide box which is a large plastic tub lined with butchers paper.I do allow the female out to roam around but I have to contain the male or he will start trouble.He seems more interested in fighting then breeding but hopefully that will change..*shrug*. : Your question is an intersting one.Just how much handling is needed?I for one dont handle them every single day.I do try and have some kind of contact with them everyday though.It is beneficial for iguanas to be subjected to some form of human interaction.An iguana that has never been handled tends to stay terrified of humans and stresses out every time a human approaches his cage.This makes cage cleaning.nail trimming and other tasks a very unpleasant experience for both the lizard and the human.But how much actual holding do they need is debateable. : When you sit by your iguanas cage,touch it and talk to it softly,you are conditioning the animal to not be frightened by human hands coming near it.However I do think that you should pick the animal up and allow it out of its cage at least occaisionally.Especially when it grows larger and even the biggest cage is most likely not going to be big enough.As a parrot breeder I once knew used to say.."A cage should be a home,not a prison". : I dont take the iguanas outside very often.The situation you described is very common.Reptiles that havent been exposed to sunlight for a while get very fiesty,sometimes even aggressive,when those rays hit them.Thats not to say that the animal should be deprived of sunlight.Mine has a perch by a window and weather permitting he has access to sunlight.And of course he has a branch that allows him to climb away from the window if he gets too warm.They both also have UVB lights.Every now and again I will bring them outside and let them check out their surroundings.You really have to be careful.An iguana allowed to roam in a backyard can get into all kinds of mischief.He might eat something that will prove harmful or even fatal.Or he could get ambitious and quickly scamper up a tree and will be difficult to retrieve.Use caution.Some folks have constructed outdoor pens for their animals.This is s safer solution. : I wouldnt allow the animal to perch on your head when hes outside.It would be safer to hold him gently to prevent any unwanted leaps to freedom. : As far as scarring goes,I havent been scarred up in a long time.I keep their nails trimmed and they are so docile at this point that they dont struggle when picked up.Of course I still get little scratches from them grasping my arm like a tree limb but nothing to be concerned about. : One thing I will say though,as an animal grows and gets stronger and potentially more able to inflict bodily harm with his claws,tails and jaws,a lot of folks fall into the trap of handling the little beast less and less.This should be avoided as a somewhat tame small iguana who hasnt been handled in a long time will slowly turn back into a rather wild big iguana!Dont let his size throw you.Your still a lot bigger then he is!Dont let him become the boss.Be gentle,but continue to interact with him.You will both be better off in the long run. : Sorry this was so wordy but the topic you presented interested me a great deal =)

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