Re: Max the leapin',tail whippin',bitin',MEAN ig lizard

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

Posted by Gordon on August 03, 2001 at 13:45:10:

In Reply to: Max the leapin',tail whippin',bitin',MEAN ig lizard posted by Zachary on August 02, 2001 at 16:34:36:

Patience.
When I first got my Ig, I adopted him from my girlfriend's little sister who horribly mistreated him and relished chasing him around the house and 'putting him to sleep.' (aka- scaring the crap out of him till he closed his eyes) He was also malnutritioned and heat was all but non-existent. Before that he had 3 other owners. Nice eh?
He absolutely hated humans and still does to an extent. I have had him for about 6 months now and have been sloooooowly working with him. I've had alot more time this summer, so I am putting it to good use.
Anyways! I first started by feeding him by hand. This is the most beneficial form of training in my experience because he won't associate you with harm, he will associate you with good things, like food. :D But get big pieces of food at first if he doesn't like you coming near him. Try just handing him a whole collard leaf of something and let him sniff it and lick it and then eat it. Once, my ig was so terrified of me when I tried this he lashed at the leaf and bit it maliciously. Of course, then he figured out it was food and it was all good. But after he eats his leaf, keep you hand near him at a comfortable distance and move it slowly around letting him inspect all sides. Eventually when he is comfortable enough, and you can get close enough, he will cock his head to the side in that curious little way and inspect you, then he might taste your hand and may even bite you. But in my experience, this taste & bite is not bad, they are just testing the thing they are inspecting, trying to see what it is, whether it is food or not. I've never been bitten hard this way, because they clamp down tight and don't let go when they really want to bite.
So, this way he will get really used to you and trust you to take smaller and smaller bits of food out of his hand and not hiss at you when you enter his territory (although some days they get cranky, just like people).
Oh yeah, If he whips, DON'T FLINCH! I know its extremely difficult because they move so fast, but you have to condition yourself to know that the whips don't hurt a bit. Seriously, let yourself get whipped a few times, it doesnt hurt at all and it will show the iguana you are not afraid of it and he cannot hurt you. They are only threats afterall.
As far as handling goes, I haven't done much of that because he is still pretty petrified of being touched and tends to spaz out. But when I absolutely HAVE to grab him for whatever reason (usually he escapes somewhere) then I try to get him by the midsection because this is easiest. I cannot get him in the position they tell you in those taming guides, when you're supposed to rest them on your arm. It's impossible. Instead, I grab him firmly but gently and let him dig his claws of all his legs into the gloves for support. Your ig might try to push forward out of your hands, just keep grabbing him again and again like you are pulling a rope. He will get frustrated. If he trashes and wiggles, just keep a firm grip and hold him close to the side of your body to prevent him from moving TOO much.
Well, i guess thats about it... hope you made it through this whole diatribe :) If you have any questions please respond/email me.
Gordon

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Patience. : When I first got my Ig, I adopted him from my girlfriend's little sister who horribly mistreated him and relished chasing him around the house and 'putting him to sleep.' (aka- scaring the crap out of him till he closed his eyes) He was also malnutritioned and heat was all but non-existent. Before that he had 3 other owners. Nice eh? : He absolutely hated humans and still does to an extent. I have had him for about 6 months now and have been sloooooowly working with him. I've had alot more time this summer, so I am putting it to good use. : Anyways! I first started by feeding him by hand. This is the most beneficial form of training in my experience because he won't associate you with harm, he will associate you with good things, like food. :D But get big pieces of food at first if he doesn't like you coming near him. Try just handing him a whole collard leaf of something and let him sniff it and lick it and then eat it. Once, my ig was so terrified of me when I tried this he lashed at the leaf and bit it maliciously. Of course, then he figured out it was food and it was all good. But after he eats his leaf, keep you hand near him at a comfortable distance and move it slowly around letting him inspect all sides. Eventually when he is comfortable enough, and you can get close enough, he will cock his head to the side in that curious little way and inspect you, then he might taste your hand and may even bite you. But in my experience, this taste & bite is not bad, they are just testing the thing they are inspecting, trying to see what it is, whether it is food or not. I've never been bitten hard this way, because they clamp down tight and don't let go when they really want to bite. : So, this way he will get really used to you and trust you to take smaller and smaller bits of food out of his hand and not hiss at you when you enter his territory (although some days they get cranky, just like people). : Oh yeah, If he whips, DON'T FLINCH! I know its extremely difficult because they move so fast, but you have to condition yourself to know that the whips don't hurt a bit. Seriously, let yourself get whipped a few times, it doesnt hurt at all and it will show the iguana you are not afraid of it and he cannot hurt you. They are only threats afterall. : As far as handling goes, I haven't done much of that because he is still pretty petrified of being touched and tends to spaz out. But when I absolutely HAVE to grab him for whatever reason (usually he escapes somewhere) then I try to get him by the midsection because this is easiest. I cannot get him in the position they tell you in those taming guides, when you're supposed to rest them on your arm. It's impossible. Instead, I grab him firmly but gently and let him dig his claws of all his legs into the gloves for support. Your ig might try to push forward out of your hands, just keep grabbing him again and again like you are pulling a rope. He will get frustrated. If he trashes and wiggles, just keep a firm grip and hold him close to the side of your body to prevent him from moving TOO much. : Well, i guess thats about it... hope you made it through this whole diatribe :) If you have any questions please respond/email me. : Gordon

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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