Re: I need some expert help with my unhappy male Ig.

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Posted by BabyHerp on March 02, 2001 at 11:40:30:

In Reply to: I need some expert help with my unhappy male Ig. posted by Dennis on March 02, 2001 at 03:09:42:

#1 get him to a vet and have him checked out medically....he may be in some type of pain, adenocarcinoma,old fractures, renal disease who knows.
#2 When he checks out ok....assess what changes have taken place up to 2 weeks PRIOR to the behavior change
#3 Don't give up on him, don't be afraid of him,
and most of all protect yourself against injury when working with him.

How long has he been behaving aggressively? Recent changes? More than likely a dominance thing that needs to get nipped in the bud.
Is this a new enclosure? If so what was his set up before?
Free roamers have been known to be calmer but then there comes with that a myriad of health risks(chronic dehydration;kidney disease,chronic fluctuations in temps causing intestinal disorders,injury, foreign object ingestion are big ones)
Don't handle him at all unless you HAVE TO. Food, water and clean up after him let him be...establish a routine of care no matter how basic.
No UVA (light) use a ceramic heating element (che),heating pad etc to keep him warm
Use a spray bottle on jet stream COLD water zap him on the face if he begins to display shudder bobs, lunging,charging, mouth open (even if all yer doing is feeding him). If begins to remotely act aggressive stand up make yourself look huge... arms flailing scream (long string of obscenities works well here!)He may back down..
Ive caught h*** for writing this before but it WORKED for ME and that's all you need to concern yerself with....what works for YOU!
But I have actually wrestled my igs to the ground when they are nasty (for instance my female) ...throwing a large beach towel over her and literally laying on top of her not baring much weight held her nose to the ground...
when she struggled I applied a bit of weight/pressure when she relaxed I relaxed my hold but not letting go....when she struggled again I reapplied pressure and on until she was too exhausted to fight anymore...and I'd carry her to her enclosure when she calmed. This went on for 1-2 times a day for 2 weeks only till she understood who was the boss! Followed MY routine 'come in (from outside) when I say its time to come in' for example. Once she got the routine down I haven't had a prob with HER to date what prompted this display....her new enclosure.
Now with my male ig...NOTHING worked...short of euthanasia, I had him neutered upon sexual maturity and he's been a sweetheart for going on 2 years now. Hissed at me once last year and deservedly so (moved him out of his cage so I could clean..and he didn't want to be moved and let me know it).
Orchidectomies are controversial especially at your igs age. Most vets THAT DO THEM recommend neutering at 1 year of age. BUT you hear of Jekyll/Hyde turnarounds so much at 4-5 yrs of age. There are no guarantees with ggis against aggression...no matter their history, their enviroment, their diet. At anytime they have the potential to inflict serious injury to their humans (neutered or not)....I think Neutering is NOT an option to pursue with your big boy, but please do not destroy him, do EVERYTHING, ANYTHING you can before considering this.. I think he needs a little reality check...who's dominant, the little changes that have occured are not worth the display and potential harm to you. It may take a few weeks of working just as aggressively with him as he has been with you...but it would be worth it, you may want to consider adopting him out to REPTILE RESCUE (not private party) and informing them of the probs you've experienced... as posted a change may do him good.....better than Iguana Disneyland right!

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: : #1 get him to a vet and have him checked out medically....he may be in some type of pain, adenocarcinoma,old fractures, renal disease who knows. : #2 When he checks out ok....assess what changes have taken place up to 2 weeks PRIOR to the behavior change : #3 Don't give up on him, don't be afraid of him, : and most of all protect yourself against injury when working with him. : How long has he been behaving aggressively? Recent changes? More than likely a dominance thing that needs to get nipped in the bud. : Is this a new enclosure? If so what was his set up before? : Free roamers have been known to be calmer but then there comes with that a myriad of health risks(chronic dehydration;kidney disease,chronic fluctuations in temps causing intestinal disorders,injury, foreign object ingestion are big ones) : Don't handle him at all unless you HAVE TO. Food, water and clean up after him let him be...establish a routine of care no matter how basic. : No UVA (light) use a ceramic heating element (che),heating pad etc to keep him warm : Use a spray bottle on jet stream COLD water zap him on the face if he begins to display shudder bobs, lunging,charging, mouth open (even if all yer doing is feeding him). If begins to remotely act aggressive stand up make yourself look huge... arms flailing scream (long string of obscenities works well here!)He may back down.. : Ive caught h*** for writing this before but it WORKED for ME and that's all you need to concern yerself with....what works for YOU! : But I have actually wrestled my igs to the ground when they are nasty (for instance my female) ...throwing a large beach towel over her and literally laying on top of her not baring much weight held her nose to the ground... : when she struggled I applied a bit of weight/pressure when she relaxed I relaxed my hold but not letting go....when she struggled again I reapplied pressure and on until she was too exhausted to fight anymore...and I'd carry her to her enclosure when she calmed. This went on for 1-2 times a day for 2 weeks only till she understood who was the boss! Followed MY routine 'come in (from outside) when I say its time to come in' for example. Once she got the routine down I haven't had a prob with HER to date what prompted this display....her new enclosure. : Now with my male ig...NOTHING worked...short of euthanasia, I had him neutered upon sexual maturity and he's been a sweetheart for going on 2 years now. Hissed at me once last year and deservedly so (moved him out of his cage so I could clean..and he didn't want to be moved and let me know it). : Orchidectomies are controversial especially at your igs age. Most vets THAT DO THEM recommend neutering at 1 year of age. BUT you hear of Jekyll/Hyde turnarounds so much at 4-5 yrs of age. There are no guarantees with ggis against aggression...no matter their history, their enviroment, their diet. At anytime they have the potential to inflict serious injury to their humans (neutered or not)....I think Neutering is NOT an option to pursue with your big boy, but please do not destroy him, do EVERYTHING, ANYTHING you can before considering this.. I think he needs a little reality check...who's dominant, the little changes that have occured are not worth the display and potential harm to you. It may take a few weeks of working just as aggressively with him as he has been with you...but it would be worth it, you may want to consider adopting him out to REPTILE RESCUE (not private party) and informing them of the probs you've experienced... as posted a change may do him good.....better than Iguana Disneyland right!

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