Re: having bad iggy days...

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Posted by amy on May 01, 2001 at 15:05:55:

In Reply to: having bad iggy days... posted by SHaron on May 01, 2001 at 01:34:16:

:
I've found with my feisty female that the warmer she gets, the more aggressive. At times she can be the sweetest little (big) thing, but once she's heated up for the day - watch out! Even with lotz o'UV and food she loves I still have a hard time petting her at times, just really moody and irritable, even has a cage that's 6 ft long, 4 ft tall, and 3 ft wide..so it's not lack of space by any means. Iguanas just have individual personalities like any pet..it's hard to get them to change...just gotta luv them for the little beasts tha they are :)

As sweet and tame as our critters can be, sometimes they have bad days too...My first question is, are you sure SHE is a SHE and not a HE? It is VERY common for males to become agressive when they reach breeding age due to testosterone levels increasing with maturity (Mine was a monster for MONTHS out of every year of his later life)...It would not surprise me a BIT if a male did a mood swing thing like that for no other reason than he was feeling Frisky...

: I Do think that getting a bigger cage for her is a great idea, and can only imagine that I would be pretty hostile if forced to live in a small enclosure...I will keep my fingers crossed for you that this new enclosure solves your problems...also, make sure she is getting enough UV light- it seems to make a difference in happiness factor (like in people)...more sunny environment = more sunny happy lizard...

: keep me posted on how the new cage works out...Of course do not be surprised if she freaks for a while over the changes...Iguanas tend to be pretty routine oriented and a change in cage could stress her for a while...

: Be patient...and good luck

: : My fiances iguana is now almost 3 feet long. She has doubled her size in the time my fiance and I met, do to the fact I knew how to properly care for an Iguana, from so much reading. Well needless to say, the iguana was never very friendly and very small when we met 10 months ago. Up until last week though, I had been able to settle her down. I handled her and got her to the point where I could reach in her cage without any sign of stress or aggression. About a week ago, she started hissing. And just today she tried to bite me by lunging at me!! She is hissing, tail whipping and plain out showing HORRIBLE aggression. We had a 4ft, by 2 1/2 foot, by 5 foot cage built this weekend. I think maybe her aggression is due to the fact she has no where to go in her cage!!! She is scratching at the sides alot lately, jumping out the top and rubbing against the glass. I feel horrible for her, but I know that I am doing everything I can and just spent 200 dollars on materials for a PRETTY large cage that will be done in the next couple days. My question is, could it be the confinement?? And if so will she calm better in a larger enclosure or get worse because of the space she has to manuever to hit me better???

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: : : I've found with my feisty female that the warmer she gets, the more aggressive. At times she can be the sweetest little (big) thing, but once she's heated up for the day - watch out! Even with lotz o'UV and food she loves I still have a hard time petting her at times, just really moody and irritable, even has a cage that's 6 ft long, 4 ft tall, and 3 ft wide..so it's not lack of space by any means. Iguanas just have individual personalities like any pet..it's hard to get them to change...just gotta luv them for the little beasts tha they are :) : As sweet and tame as our critters can be, sometimes they have bad days too...My first question is, are you sure SHE is a SHE and not a HE? It is VERY common for males to become agressive when they reach breeding age due to testosterone levels increasing with maturity (Mine was a monster for MONTHS out of every year of his later life)...It would not surprise me a BIT if a male did a mood swing thing like that for no other reason than he was feeling Frisky... : : I Do think that getting a bigger cage for her is a great idea, and can only imagine that I would be pretty hostile if forced to live in a small enclosure...I will keep my fingers crossed for you that this new enclosure solves your problems...also, make sure she is getting enough UV light- it seems to make a difference in happiness factor (like in people)...more sunny environment = more sunny happy lizard... : : keep me posted on how the new cage works out...Of course do not be surprised if she freaks for a while over the changes...Iguanas tend to be pretty routine oriented and a change in cage could stress her for a while... : : Be patient...and good luck : : : My fiances iguana is now almost 3 feet long. She has doubled her size in the time my fiance and I met, do to the fact I knew how to properly care for an Iguana, from so much reading. Well needless to say, the iguana was never very friendly and very small when we met 10 months ago. Up until last week though, I had been able to settle her down. I handled her and got her to the point where I could reach in her cage without any sign of stress or aggression. About a week ago, she started hissing. And just today she tried to bite me by lunging at me!! She is hissing, tail whipping and plain out showing HORRIBLE aggression. We had a 4ft, by 2 1/2 foot, by 5 foot cage built this weekend. I think maybe her aggression is due to the fact she has no where to go in her cage!!! She is scratching at the sides alot lately, jumping out the top and rubbing against the glass. I feel horrible for her, but I know that I am doing everything I can and just spent 200 dollars on materials for a PRETTY large cage that will be done in the next couple days. My question is, could it be the confinement?? And if so will she calm better in a larger enclosure or get worse because of the space she has to manuever to hit me better???

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