I've been an ig owner for many, many years and have just run into a problem I cannot understand or solve and would appreciate some advice.

To start, nothing has changed in their habitat or routine or food, or otherwise.

I have an 8 year old male who has always been an extremely gentle-natured fella since we've had him. He has never opened his mouth or threatened with his tail, he's just easy going and laid-back. He is not afraid of noises, vacuums, other animals, not even dogs. I don't know if his recent behavior change has to do with breeding or not but it is scaring me because he is so different. He is bright orange but he has been bright orange the entire time we've owned him which is about 15 months.

I also have a 1.5 year old baby girl ig who is also gentle and sweet natured. The two of them have been buddies for a good while now.....4-5 months, since the young one became a free-roam. They both have their own basking areas set up in windows but they often share the same one and follow each other around. At bedtime they both go off together to a special spot we have set up for them to feel safe at night which happens to be in our bathroom. They sleep side by side with the little one often laying on top of the big one or under his front leg.

About a month ago he decided he was gonna do his pottying on the floor instead of in the tub which is where he has always gone before. Even if I wasn't home and he had to go, he would always go in the tub and go without water in it. Well, that hasn't set well with me of course because he manages to smear it all over my bathroom which is not small. Not only that but he has taken to going far more often than he ever did before and it never happens in the tub anymore, it's always on the floor unless I put him in the tub myself.

I don't know if that is a symptom of the real problem with his behavior or not but lately his little buddy has become a target for him to be very bossy and mean to. The last couple of days he has become so aggressive with her that he chased her and bit her on the back and on her tail.....she only weighs a pound and he weighs 7 or 8 lbs. She is not sexually mature by a long shot but I cannot figure out what his problem is if it isn't breeding.

I now have had to suddenly come up with a way to separate them so this doesn't happen again. She's far from big enough to withstand his big teeth/jaws. So today I kept him in the bathroom till I figure out what to do and when I went in there with her on my shoulder so she could use the potty he came running and I do mean running at me and climbed right up my leg to try and get to her on my shoulder. I had to fight with him to get him off me.

Why is my gentle giant suddenly so mean and vicious?????? My hands are full of cuts from trying to peel him off me to save the little one. He was not at all vicious to me, he only wanted to eat her up but I'm afraid of him as well because not only could he bite her but I could get caught in the crossfire and get bit by mistake too. I don't want either of us to get chewed up!

Any ideas? I've not encountered this before at all.

Thanks,
Debbie

It sounds like breeding season to me, it could also be the normal, territorial nature of iguanas, or a combination of both.

I would recommend placing her in an enclosure or room that is safe from him. As you know, breeding season can last quite a long time, and he may never return to the docile boy he once was.

Be sure to keep a close eye on her injuries and get her to the vet if they seem to be infected.

Best of luck!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

I agree. Sounds like breeding season behavior to me.
You MUST keep them away from each other!
And be advised that it may not just be a matter of you being in the crossfire betwen them. Your male may begin to view you as a rival and become aggressive toward you.
And just having the smell of the female on your person could put you in jeopardy.
As for size. Even similarly sized iguanas have had one kill the other.
This is a potentially dangerous situation that you have yourself involved in.
Be VERY careful.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thank-you for your replies. Since he is the first male I've ever had, I don't know a lot about breeding season but rather figured it wouldn't be a problem till he felt she was mature, guess I was wrong. When they first started getting close to each other I watched them very carefully, only allowing her near him when I was an arms length from her and he never once displayed this behavior till recently. They have been like buddies, doing everything together before this. He was always gentle and seemed to enjoy her company. Lately he has taken over not only his own basking spot but also chases her off from hers so that he has claimed both of them as his own, very obnoxious behavior compared to his previous personality. He chases her away from her food and then eats it while his remains untouched, bobs his head in what seems like a very aggressive manner but up until yesterday it had only been that bossy type thing. Now they will be separated. I have another room downstairs with two large windows that the male will be moved to but I dread dealing with his new potty habits and wonder if he will ever decide to use his plastic tubby again! I had a female who lived to be 17 and only at the very end did she have potty problems so this is unfamiliar territory for me for sure. Still learning after all these years! Thanks a bunch!

These are definitely territorial issues, whether spurred on by breeding season or not is irrelevent at this point. Wise choice to keep them apart, and like Merlin said, be very careful of how you smell. Having her scent on you may cause additional aggression.

Gil, my (nearly) six year old male has potty problems during breeding season every single year. It may take months, but he will likely "remember" his old habits.

Hang tough!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Interesting that a male would forget his potty habits during breeding season. I hope he remembers soon. It is fortunate that he takes change very well as the baby canNOT stand change.

I will definitely be careful around the male as I do hold the baby a lot, she's my buddy. If worse comes to worse, my daughter will have to take the male(it was hers in the first place but she left him with us so long that we wouldn't give him back).

Thanks for giving me hope he will return to his normal potty habits.