Iguana with a complex

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Posted by Dan on May 11, 2001 at 21:58:38:

Greetings, I came to this forum through a link from the website of SDHS - San Diego Herp. Soc., so I'm hoping maybe someone in the San Diego area can help me out. I have a male iguana, about five years old. I got him from a neighborhood family who's kid had him and never really took good care of him, they were leaving the state, so I offerd to take him. He was in relative good health, no missing toes, had all his spikes, he was just a bit small for his age. They said he was five years old, but he was only 38 inches and weighed less than 6 lbs. The worst thing is, he is the most terrified creature I have ever seen. He bolts when you just look at him. I have scratches all up my arms from when I had to handle him for bathing, clipping claws, or whatever. Because of this, I really only handle him when I absolutely have to. He's not mean or vicious in any way, he just has no problem with using your face for traction if he wants to get away. He's not strong, so I can pretty much control him physically, but I wish he could be a little more calm so I don't have to manhandle him everytime I need to pick him up. I have had other iguanas, I have tried all the ways to try to make him less freightened. From the beginning, I just took it really slow with him, didn't complain too much when he scratched the heck out of me, just tried to handle him calmly, but firmly, eles he would tear me up. But, he's just not getting any tamer. I've had him over 8 months, you would think he'd realize I'm not trying to harm him by now. He has his own enclosure, a diet of collard, turnip, mustard greens, yams, squash and fruit, and he's gained a pund and about two inches since I've had him. I work from home, so he can not only leave his house when he wants, but can go outside to bask on his own tree trunk. But, he only wants to be in the enclosure, he never wants to come out. I try to put him out in the day to get natural sunlight, but he just leaps from his branch and just bolt away. I have to run him down, bring him back in the house, put him down and he will run back into his enclosure and scramble up onto his perch. This is getting too long already, so basically, is there anything else I can do, or is it he just doesn't like me or his surroundings? Can I ever expect him to mellow out? If anyone has suggestions, or knows of any reptile orgs. in the San Diego area that could help, I would be grateful. I really don't want to get rid of him, I just don't think he is happy here. Maybe another family can get him to calm down. Thanks, iguanadan

Follow Ups:

Re: Iguana with a complex....sounds familiar Tracie 05/23/01 (0)
Dan, I hope you see this since I haven't been on here for a few days! more JNelson 05/14/01 (0)
Re: Iguana with a complex marisa 05/11/01 (1)
- Re: Iguana with a complex Dave 05/12/01 (0)

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: Greetings, I came to this forum through a link from the website of SDHS - San Diego Herp. Soc., so I'm hoping maybe someone in the San Diego area can help me out. I have a male iguana, about five years old. I got him from a neighborhood family who's kid had him and never really took good care of him, they were leaving the state, so I offerd to take him. He was in relative good health, no missing toes, had all his spikes, he was just a bit small for his age. They said he was five years old, but he was only 38 inches and weighed less than 6 lbs. The worst thing is, he is the most terrified creature I have ever seen. He bolts when you just look at him. I have scratches all up my arms from when I had to handle him for bathing, clipping claws, or whatever. Because of this, I really only handle him when I absolutely have to. He's not mean or vicious in any way, he just has no problem with using your face for traction if he wants to get away. He's not strong, so I can pretty much control him physically, but I wish he could be a little more calm so I don't have to manhandle him everytime I need to pick him up. I have had other iguanas, I have tried all the ways to try to make him less freightened. From the beginning, I just took it really slow with him, didn't complain too much when he scratched the heck out of me, just tried to handle him calmly, but firmly, eles he would tear me up. But, he's just not getting any tamer. I've had him over 8 months, you would think he'd realize I'm not trying to harm him by now. He has his own enclosure, a diet of collard, turnip, mustard greens, yams, squash and fruit, and he's gained a pund and about two inches since I've had him. I work from home, so he can not only leave his house when he wants, but can go outside to bask on his own tree trunk. But, he only wants to be in the enclosure, he never wants to come out. I try to put him out in the day to get natural sunlight, but he just leaps from his branch and just bolt away. I have to run him down, bring him back in the house, put him down and he will run back into his enclosure and scramble up onto his perch. This is getting too long already, so basically, is there anything else I can do, or is it he just doesn't like me or his surroundings? Can I ever expect him to mellow out? If anyone has suggestions, or knows of any reptile orgs. in the San Diego area that could help, I would be grateful. I really don't want to get rid of him, I just don't think he is happy here. Maybe another family can get him to calm down. Thanks, iguanadan

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