You know...

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ]

Posted by Sharon on July 22, 2001 at 22:26:45:

In Reply to: Breeding Season Males are not Nasty!! posted by Amanda on July 22, 2001 at 20:25:06:

I totally agree that you can't label an animal 'evil' or 'nasty' based on instinct - I have been 'reminiscing fondly' about all the seasons I went through with Malachai...he got pretty feisty...but I never had a problem with him being mean to ME...he would not tolerate ANYONE ELSE or the cats - but he was never mean to me.

You know what helped us was extra playtime and roughhousing in Spring and Summer time...we spent more time 'playing' and less time 'cuddling'... I let him play rough but also set limits for what I would permit - and he was fine with me... it wasn't until I got Azurai for him that he started to be a little 'short tempered' with me - but he still never bit...he would warn me with a tail swipe stance but never swiped...I respected his space when he needed it and still got along great with him year round. I guess we just had to develop an understanding...

Maybe that will help some of you who have been having trouble with your males during breeding time. try encouraging rough PLAYTIME - but also continuing with the gentler interactions. Your boys have LOTS of energy...gotta give them something to do with it all!

~shar

: A breeding season male is not nasty or evil. It just seems that way to us because we can't read their body languange well. First of all if he is biting because he is trying to mate with you then it is not a nasty thing at all...he is just trying to breed. Second if he is seeing you as a rival then its just instinct driving him to chase you away. The best thing to do for these guys is to not put your hand in a place it will get bitten and live with it. Sometimes if you reduce their light period to a 10 hr light and 14 hr dark period it can end their season apparantly but I have never found it works and iguanas are not from an area that the light cycle varies much anyway.

: So breeding season males are not evil or aggressive--they are just misunderstood.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I totally agree that you can't label an animal 'evil' or 'nasty' based on instinct - I have been 'reminiscing fondly' about all the seasons I went through with Malachai...he got pretty feisty...but I never had a problem with him being mean to ME...he would not tolerate ANYONE ELSE or the cats - but he was never mean to me. : You know what helped us was extra playtime and roughhousing in Spring and Summer time...we spent more time 'playing' and less time 'cuddling'... I let him play rough but also set limits for what I would permit - and he was fine with me... it wasn't until I got Azurai for him that he started to be a little 'short tempered' with me - but he still never bit...he would warn me with a tail swipe stance but never swiped...I respected his space when he needed it and still got along great with him year round. I guess we just had to develop an understanding... : Maybe that will help some of you who have been having trouble with your males during breeding time. try encouraging rough PLAYTIME - but also continuing with the gentler interactions. Your boys have LOTS of energy...gotta give them something to do with it all! : ~shar : : A breeding season male is not nasty or evil. It just seems that way to us because we can't read their body languange well. First of all if he is biting because he is trying to mate with you then it is not a nasty thing at all...he is just trying to breed. Second if he is seeing you as a rival then its just instinct driving him to chase you away. The best thing to do for these guys is to not put your hand in a place it will get bitten and live with it. Sometimes if you reduce their light period to a 10 hr light and 14 hr dark period it can end their season apparantly but I have never found it works and iguanas are not from an area that the light cycle varies much anyway. : : So breeding season males are not evil or aggressive--they are just misunderstood.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana Forum ]