Re: Potty Training?

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Posted by IGUANA JOE on September 12, 2000 at 15:23:42:

In Reply to: Potty Training? posted by Bill on September 12, 2000 at 14:15:59:

some lizard use defecation as a mean of escaping from a predator/attacker. This behavior is often found in monitors (mangroves especially). And so far, he seems to have the upper hand on you, since he now associates crapping on you = put me down.
Sue3 is right about the bathing, that should get his innerds moving before letting it all out on you (if you are quick enough, ah ah!).
4 months is still VERY young for an ig to tame and not be freaked out by you.

A good way to help taming is as follows.

As a general rule of thumb, lizards HATE/fear anything that approaches them from above. So seeing your hand coming from atop = bird of prey or predator.
if possible, you should get a cage that also opend sideways, not just on top.
if the cage though is big enough, put your whole arm (CAREFUL FOR ESCAPADES!) and pet him but do not grab him!
just touch him a bit, pet him, talk to him (he has to get used to hearing you). Do this for a couple of weeks, possibly leaving a shirt of yours to recognize your scent.

After a while, your hand should not pose a threat, and you can move up into holding him.

Do it first by gently sliding a finger or hand under him, as to "invite" him to climb up.
But again, DO NOT PICk HIM UP yet!
let him get used to being on your hand, exploring it, etc. Be always smooth and slow while interacting with it.

After another couple of weeks of this he should be ok into letting you hold him up still in the cage! Remeber, to him, the cage is his 'safe spot', and being out of there means trouble.

When you feel he's trusty enough, you can let him out and handle him. Make sure to make the room "Iguana-escape-proof".

He's still quiet small, so be patient. Some people take months, others years to get good results in a tame iguana. But i'd say in 4 months he should be very well tame.

Never let him understand that he can get rid of you by will.

Anything else, just post it up.
Good luck!
:)

: I have a 4-month old iguana, named Scott. Some may remember me from the first time I posted in here a while back. Anyway, I've read about the importance of handling these babies on a daily basis while their still young, so that they can eventually be tamed (before they're big enough to hurt you). With that in mind, I've gotten into the habit of taking my ig out for about a half-hour daily, and so far he's still pretty petrified by me. Up until recently, however, I noticed that he never, ever pooped outside of his cage. While in his cage, he doesn't necessarily have a favorite spot. He used to go in the water bowl fairly often, but he never does that anymore. He mostly just goes wherever he is at the time, I guess. Anyway, the last couple of nights, he began pooping on my arm/shoulder within seconds of being picked up. I have two basic questions: 1. Does his newfound hobby of pooping on me have any significant meaning (good or bad)? 2. Is there anyway to train him to poop in a certain spot? With this last question, I'm thinking about making it easier to let him roam around later in his life (he's way too small now).

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: some lizard use defecation as a mean of escaping from a predator/attacker. This behavior is often found in monitors (mangroves especially). And so far, he seems to have the upper hand on you, since he now associates crapping on you = put me down. : Sue3 is right about the bathing, that should get his innerds moving before letting it all out on you (if you are quick enough, ah ah!). : 4 months is still VERY young for an ig to tame and not be freaked out by you. : A good way to help taming is as follows. : As a general rule of thumb, lizards HATE/fear anything that approaches them from above. So seeing your hand coming from atop = bird of prey or predator. : if possible, you should get a cage that also opend sideways, not just on top. : if the cage though is big enough, put your whole arm (CAREFUL FOR ESCAPADES!) and pet him but do not grab him! : just touch him a bit, pet him, talk to him (he has to get used to hearing you). Do this for a couple of weeks, possibly leaving a shirt of yours to recognize your scent. : After a while, your hand should not pose a threat, and you can move up into holding him. : Do it first by gently sliding a finger or hand under him, as to "invite" him to climb up. : But again, DO NOT PICk HIM UP yet! : let him get used to being on your hand, exploring it, etc. Be always smooth and slow while interacting with it. : After another couple of weeks of this he should be ok into letting you hold him up still in the cage! Remeber, to him, the cage is his 'safe spot', and being out of there means trouble. : When you feel he's trusty enough, you can let him out and handle him. Make sure to make the room "Iguana-escape-proof". : He's still quiet small, so be patient. Some people take months, others years to get good results in a tame iguana. But i'd say in 4 months he should be very well tame. : Never let him understand that he can get rid of you by will. : Anything else, just post it up. : Good luck! : :) : : I have a 4-month old iguana, named Scott. Some may remember me from the first time I posted in here a while back. Anyway, I've read about the importance of handling these babies on a daily basis while their still young, so that they can eventually be tamed (before they're big enough to hurt you). With that in mind, I've gotten into the habit of taking my ig out for about a half-hour daily, and so far he's still pretty petrified by me. Up until recently, however, I noticed that he never, ever pooped outside of his cage. While in his cage, he doesn't necessarily have a favorite spot. He used to go in the water bowl fairly often, but he never does that anymore. He mostly just goes wherever he is at the time, I guess. Anyway, the last couple of nights, he began pooping on my arm/shoulder within seconds of being picked up. I have two basic questions: 1. Does his newfound hobby of pooping on me have any significant meaning (good or bad)? 2. Is there anyway to train him to poop in a certain spot? With this last question, I'm thinking about making it easier to let him roam around later in his life (he's way too small now).

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