Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean????

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Michelle on November 15, 1998 at 16:54:00:

First of all, I want to thank whomever is reponsible
for this forum. My initial questions about cages have
already been answered by reading the postings.

My husband and I have a four year old iguana named
Drake. We have survived several cycles of aggressive
behavior and are getting better at reading Drake's body
language. Drake lives in a cage that is raised above the
floor about 3 feet. He is very teritorial about his
cage, and will occasionally do his head bobbing thing
at people when they pass by, particularly the cat.
(Of course, being cat-like, she sits in front of his
cage, where he can see her and it drives him crazy..
lunging against the glass, etc.)

Once a day, we let Drake out on our screen porch to
do his business and sun himself by the pool. In the
past year, Drake has taken to claiming the porch as
HIS teritory also, and when the cat gets too close
(about 3 feet), he will chase her around the pool.
Two days ago, for the first time, Drake decided to try
to chase me around the pool. I was barefoot at the
time and saved myself by picking up the doormat and
shielding my bare feet. After 10 seconds, Drake
realized that I wasnt really the cat and calmed down.

But here's the thing. Sometimes (when I have shoes on)
and he's in an aggressive mood, he will poof himself up,
approach me and press his head against my shoe with his
mouth open. I would assume that if he wanted to bite
my shoe, he would, but he just presses his head against
it. Then he backs up and does his head bobbing thing
at me. The rest of the year, he's pretty easy to handle
and quite docile. What does this behavior mean, and
should I be doing something to discourage him?

Follow Ups:

Re: Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean???? iZ's mom 11/15/98 (0)
Re: Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean???? Brian 11/15/98 (0)
Re: Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean???? Iguana03 11/15/98 (3)
- Re: Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean???? Michelle 11/15/98 (2)
  - Re: Iguana Behavior: What does it all mean???? Debbie 11/17/98 (0)
  - re: how long? iZ's mom 11/16/98 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: First of all, I want to thank whomever is reponsible : for this forum. My initial questions about cages have : already been answered by reading the postings. : My husband and I have a four year old iguana named : Drake. We have survived several cycles of aggressive : behavior and are getting better at reading Drake's body : language. Drake lives in a cage that is raised above the : floor about 3 feet. He is very teritorial about his : cage, and will occasionally do his head bobbing thing : at people when they pass by, particularly the cat. : (Of course, being cat-like, she sits in front of his : cage, where he can see her and it drives him crazy.. : lunging against the glass, etc.) : Once a day, we let Drake out on our screen porch to : do his business and sun himself by the pool. In the : past year, Drake has taken to claiming the porch as : HIS teritory also, and when the cat gets too close : (about 3 feet), he will chase her around the pool. : Two days ago, for the first time, Drake decided to try : to chase me around the pool. I was barefoot at the : time and saved myself by picking up the doormat and : shielding my bare feet. After 10 seconds, Drake : realized that I wasnt really the cat and calmed down. : But here's the thing. Sometimes (when I have shoes on) : and he's in an aggressive mood, he will poof himself up, : approach me and press his head against my shoe with his : mouth open. I would assume that if he wanted to bite : my shoe, he would, but he just presses his head against : it. Then he backs up and does his head bobbing thing : at me. The rest of the year, he's pretty easy to handle : and quite docile. What does this behavior mean, and : should I be doing something to discourage him?

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]