natural behavior

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

Posted by Roger Van Couwenberghe on November 07, 2001 at 07:56:46:

In Reply to: Re: Iguana's Behavior.............. posted by CanadainHerp on November 06, 2001 at 09:45:47:

: Thanks what I was thinking

Personally, I don't think so. Baby igs are genetically programmed to run from scary things, and *everything that moves* is scary to their little minds.

They need lots of time, but the payoff is well worth it.

Every time you walk by and he finds that he's not been eaten is a reinforcement that he is actually safe. There's just not much you can do about baby ig reactions.

The one thing you *can* do is give him a hide box, like a Kleenex box with a cutout. They feel safe in a box and it reduces their general stress levels if they can hide.

Here is my method for handling skittish igs: pick them up as quickly as possible with as little chasing as possible, and immediately press them to your stomach with both hands. It takes about 10 to 20 seconds for babies to stop squirming. Hold them this way for about 30 seconds to a minute, then move them, but be sure they have all four feet on solid ground. Offer treats by hand. Repeat this 350 times over one year, and he'll start to be tame :-)

Roger

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : Thanks what I was thinking : Personally, I don't think so. Baby igs are genetically programmed to run from scary things, and *everything that moves* is scary to their little minds. : They need lots of time, but the payoff is well worth it. : Every time you walk by and he finds that he's not been eaten is a reinforcement that he is actually safe. There's just not much you can do about baby ig reactions. : The one thing you *can* do is give him a hide box, like a Kleenex box with a cutout. They feel safe in a box and it reduces their general stress levels if they can hide. : Here is my method for handling skittish igs: pick them up as quickly as possible with as little chasing as possible, and immediately press them to your stomach with both hands. It takes about 10 to 20 seconds for babies to stop squirming. Hold them this way for about 30 seconds to a minute, then move them, but be sure they have all four feet on solid ground. Offer treats by hand. Repeat this 350 times over one year, and he'll start to be tame :-) : Roger

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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