well, my thoughts are

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Posted by Sharon on May 15, 2001 at 13:34:34:

In Reply to: thanks everyone, guess i should have explained some more... posted by pyro on May 14, 2001 at 23:09:34:

I think there has to be some reason she is chewing..I have never had a "chewey" iguana..it is probably some indicator of an underlying stress or problem for the animal...
Is there anything that IS safe for her to chew on in there? (Though I don't know what would be safe for an iguana to chew on besides FOOD. **smiles**)

Chewing in other animals is usually due to boredom, lonliness, stress, or dietary deficiencies...Maybe the stress of a new cage is getting to her.

This might sound stupid, but what are you feeding the lizard how often and how much? Maybe this is an indicator of hunger or an imbalance in nutriton...animals have a sense of knowing what nutrients their bodies need and will often eat things to try to balance their systems out....make sure she is getting the right (and enough) foods..and try varying diet some to see if additional items might be taken.

Also, is the handling time witht he animal sufficient, or could he/she just be bored or lonely?

Last idea here, maybe the rope is processed with some chemical or substance that is just attractive to the lizard...like some coatings might smell sweet, etc....maybe a different type of roping could be found that your animal does not think is food?

just some ideas...for now to be safe, i would try to get the rope out of there - you don't want infection to start because of open mouth sores and cuts.

let us know how things are going...good luck!

: Yeah, i know, most common sense thing would be remove the rope :) Ill explain a lil further, she chewed on a long loose end during the morning or something, and my bf came back to blood. Her mouth looks ok, i couldnt see any damage, but then again, i am no vet/expert. Im hoping she will only do this with loose ends, which will be simple to fix, like you all said, remove the rope. Im worried abour her starting in other places.
: Her rope is used as cargo nets, to hold up her hanging ledges (2) and connect them from each other and too the floor, hang her huge log from the roof and secure it too the ledge and to hold together her wood ladderfrom her window ledge to the floor. I havent talked to my bf yet, I will ask if she has started chewing anywhere else.
: Thankyou for all your quick responses, sorry if i upset anyone, I read posts here occasionally, I know you all mean best, and I know it sounds really stupid not to remove the rope, especally how i didnt really supply any extra info. I appreciate it very much, and all the alternatives listed.
: Christina

: : Hello
: : While, my bf redid his room with an iggy in it into an iguana dream home (almost done) but, Draco, his ig has been chewing on her new rope (its very soft, but strong - not hemp nor plastic wire, i think maybe nylon???) until she starts to bleed. Is there any way we can use something as to make the rope taste bad so she wont do this??? (Maybe a bit of vinegar? Or bitter apple stuff (I think thats what it is called, used for dogs and cats) or some hot pepper sauce?) Iknow it sounds silly but...
: : If anyone has any suggestions, we are all ears, we do NOT want her to continue doing this! Thanks!
: : Christina

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: I think there has to be some reason she is chewing..I have never had a "chewey" iguana..it is probably some indicator of an underlying stress or problem for the animal... : Is there anything that IS safe for her to chew on in there? (Though I don't know what would be safe for an iguana to chew on besides FOOD. **smiles**) : Chewing in other animals is usually due to boredom, lonliness, stress, or dietary deficiencies...Maybe the stress of a new cage is getting to her. : This might sound stupid, but what are you feeding the lizard how often and how much? Maybe this is an indicator of hunger or an imbalance in nutriton...animals have a sense of knowing what nutrients their bodies need and will often eat things to try to balance their systems out....make sure she is getting the right (and enough) foods..and try varying diet some to see if additional items might be taken. : : Also, is the handling time witht he animal sufficient, or could he/she just be bored or lonely? : Last idea here, maybe the rope is processed with some chemical or substance that is just attractive to the lizard...like some coatings might smell sweet, etc....maybe a different type of roping could be found that your animal does not think is food? : just some ideas...for now to be safe, i would try to get the rope out of there - you don't want infection to start because of open mouth sores and cuts. : let us know how things are going...good luck! : : Yeah, i know, most common sense thing would be remove the rope :) Ill explain a lil further, she chewed on a long loose end during the morning or something, and my bf came back to blood. Her mouth looks ok, i couldnt see any damage, but then again, i am no vet/expert. Im hoping she will only do this with loose ends, which will be simple to fix, like you all said, remove the rope. Im worried abour her starting in other places. : : Her rope is used as cargo nets, to hold up her hanging ledges (2) and connect them from each other and too the floor, hang her huge log from the roof and secure it too the ledge and to hold together her wood ladderfrom her window ledge to the floor. I havent talked to my bf yet, I will ask if she has started chewing anywhere else. : : Thankyou for all your quick responses, sorry if i upset anyone, I read posts here occasionally, I know you all mean best, and I know it sounds really stupid not to remove the rope, especally how i didnt really supply any extra info. I appreciate it very much, and all the alternatives listed. : : Christina : : : : Hello : : : While, my bf redid his room with an iggy in it into an iguana dream home (almost done) but, Draco, his ig has been chewing on her new rope (its very soft, but strong - not hemp nor plastic wire, i think maybe nylon???) until she starts to bleed. Is there any way we can use something as to make the rope taste bad so she wont do this??? (Maybe a bit of vinegar? Or bitter apple stuff (I think thats what it is called, used for dogs and cats) or some hot pepper sauce?) Iknow it sounds silly but... : : : If anyone has any suggestions, we are all ears, we do NOT want her to continue doing this! Thanks! : : : Christina

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