Re: Iguana info please.

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Posted by iZ's mom on May 15, 2001 at 19:13:10:

In Reply to: Iguana info please. posted by Billy on May 15, 2001 at 15:04:01:

oh yes, definitely clip her nails! not only for the continuity of *your* skin but her's as well ~ in iZ's too eventful life, he once gave himself a bad scratch (+ scar!) cuz his claws got too long + when he went to itch his face with his foot ... *ouch* ... he also got a claw ripped out one time cuz it got snagged on *something* and he yanked ... *bigger ouch*! .....

when they have trees to climb all day, every day, their claws get worn down smooth by nature ...

be careful to just trim the very edge, that sharp little needle-point ... there's a vein further up in the claw + if you clip too short it will bleed + be sore ... what helped me when i 1st started trimming nails (bunny, puppy, dragon), is to get a little flashlite + shine it thru the nail before i snipped ~ you can *see* how short is too short then cuz you can see the vein ... (pretty *kewl* actually!)

as far as getting bit ... remember that igs *are* wild animals and it takes ALOT of effort on our part to show them we're on their side! when they're startled, their 1st reaction is to defend themselves against someone who wants to snack on them ... take careful notice of what exactly you're doing when she startles + snaps and adjust *your* behavior ... (*grin*) ... i've scared the heck outta iZ *i* thought he was watching me approach him ~ he was totally "zoned out" and didn't notice me til i was RIGHT THERE in front of him ... (he zones out more completely than I do! ... things like start talking to her when you're still 1/2 a room away so she *knows* you're there ... don't stand OVER her ~ that's what predators do! try to be at or below her eye level ... pick her up with your hand underneath her, not over her ...

and yes, a big part of it is her getting used to you, learning she *can* trust you ... takes ALOT of time + patience ... it helps to have a set schedule so she knows what to expect + when, that takes alot of fear away ...

oops ... rambled ...
Bon. + iZ

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: oh yes, definitely clip her nails! not only for the continuity of *your* skin but her's as well ~ in iZ's too eventful life, he once gave himself a bad scratch (+ scar!) cuz his claws got too long + when he went to itch his face with his foot ... *ouch* ... he also got a claw ripped out one time cuz it got snagged on *something* and he yanked ... *bigger ouch*! ..... : when they have trees to climb all day, every day, their claws get worn down smooth by nature ... : be careful to just trim the very edge, that sharp little needle-point ... there's a vein further up in the claw + if you clip too short it will bleed + be sore ... what helped me when i 1st started trimming nails (bunny, puppy, dragon), is to get a little flashlite + shine it thru the nail before i snipped ~ you can *see* how short is too short then cuz you can see the vein ... (pretty *kewl* actually!) : as far as getting bit ... remember that igs *are* wild animals and it takes ALOT of effort on our part to show them we're on their side! when they're startled, their 1st reaction is to defend themselves against someone who wants to snack on them ... take careful notice of what exactly you're doing when she startles + snaps and adjust *your* behavior ... (*grin*) ... i've scared the heck outta iZ *i* thought he was watching me approach him ~ he was totally "zoned out" and didn't notice me til i was RIGHT THERE in front of him ... <small><i>(he zones out more completely than I do!</small></i> ... things like start talking to her when you're still 1/2 a room away so she *knows* you're there ... don't stand OVER her ~ that's what predators do! try to be at or below her eye level ... pick her up with your hand underneath her, not over her ... : and yes, a big part of it is her getting used to you, learning she *can* trust you ... takes ALOT of time + patience ... it helps to have a set schedule so she knows what to expect + when, that takes alot of fear away ... : oops ... rambled ... : Bon. + iZ :

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