Ok everyday I'm coming up with these things so you guys must think I'm delusional and imagining things by now LOL!

Today, TWICE, my iguana is trying to eat the FLOOR! That's right, the floor.
Both times were right after pooping, immediately after handling. I would put him on one of the middle shelves and he would go down to the floor level, poop, leave that spot, then he would try to eat the FLOOR. He would aim his head down, and open his mouth wide, press his snout onto the floor and try to bite it. Of course, he can't because the floor is hard wood with newspapers on top. He ends up just rubbing his lips on the floor when he closes his mouth trying to bite. He continues doing this for about one or two minutes before he darts back up to the basking platform. I don't know what this is about. He hasn't ever eaten newspapers or anything. I think he is aiming at the floor for some reason. At first, when she did it this morning, I thought because the floor newspapers were wet. But then, this evening, the newspapers were bone dry and she did the same thing.

What's the deal with that?

Quite frankly, I don't see any progress in the taming process. He is still whipping and clawing (My hand is bleeding now as we speak despite I was wearing gauntlets) and occasionally gapping. This is especially true when I first pick him up. He used to try to dart off so at least he doesn't do that now. And I know you're supposed to lift him up gently, and I do, but she is always grabbing onto somethng when I approach slowly, she is preparing as soon as I enter the cage. So I do at least have to use a little force (not much) to get her grip to loosen. Once loosened she whips and claws.

She takes a while to settle down, and once settled down she is a darling in my hand, but occasionally would start again. When she does, and she is getting stronger, the only way I can stop her from escaping (and I know I shouldn't just let it escape so it doesn't think that whipping and clawing works) is to hold down her arms and legs against her body till she calms. This doesn't seem like something she would "like" very much, although perhaps she does once she is calmed down I don't know. Once calmed, she would rest on my forearm usually (usually) without problems, and occasionally even take a bite of food I put on my arm.

I know it takes time, I am willing to give time. But judging from her behaviour when I approach, enter the cage, or pick her up, I just feel like I am doing something wrong. I can keep trying for years if need be, but don't want to find out years later that I've wasted all my time because I ain't doing it right. I read and read and I don't really know what I could possibly be doing wrong.
The fact that she poops almost immediately after I handle perhaps shows I am not handling right and she is stressed? Or is it just because I put her near to her usual pooping place? She doesn't just poop for the sake of it it seems she has a LOT of poop every single time, so perhaps she just needs to go.

It takes constant handling Anthony.

Your iguana is acting exactly as it should. Remember, these are non-domesticated creatures who, by instinct, would rather be out in their natural habitat, not caged with a giant human who comes to visit often.

Rest assured that everything you do in your attempt to socialize it is having a positive impact on the iguana.

When Rex was a baby, my then 4 year old son would take him out of the cage every morning and force him to sit and watch TV with him. He often went to school with scratches on his hands and arms and whip marks on his face. This went on for a solid year before Rex gave up fighting him and just submitted to the handling.

We credit Rex's great socialization with this treatment. Even now, though he gave up gaping and whipping many years ago, my son is the only one that Rex is completely comfotable around. He actually looks for him everyday after school and if my son stays over someones house overnight, Rex roams the house and keeps checking his room until he returns.

They are prey creatures, so it is instinctual for them to fight to get away from you constantly.

I have found that as they mature and feel more comfortable about themselves, they begin to calm down and not mind the handling as much.

You are developing a good. close relationship with your iguana. Keep at it and try to look for the positive steps and not dwell on the negative ones.

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_____________________________________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

LOL Not at all Anthony! You are forgetting that we all went through it!

The trying to eat the floor may be the result of something that the ig is seeing on the paper that looks like it might be edible. They react to color.
Here is something that you might try. Take the iguana, wrap it up in a towel with just the head sticking out. Hold it to your chest like you would a human baby and talk very softly and gently to it. When it struggles hold it pressed firmly against your chest till it stops struggling and then release the pressure again. Now remember what you have in your hand and just exert enough pressure to immobilize it, not squeeze it till its eyes bug out!. Try doing this a couple of times a day for 20-30 minutes at a time.

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

Anthony, one of the things I did to help socialize Gil was to handle him after he'd already fallen asleep. Wait until he's been sleeping for about an hour, then bring him out of his enclosure to sit quietly with you while you watch TV. Keep the room dark (except for the light from the TV). Pet him and whisper to him. He'll be aware enough to know what's going on, but asleep enough not to care too much.

Don't do it every night, but maybe about 2 times a week. It will help him to understand that even at his most vulnerable you're not going to eat him.

__________________
~~Steph

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

Steph,

I do this with Iggie; however, (sheepishly hanging head) I do it 5-7 nites a week. Sometimes its only for about 5-15min but mostly we fall asleep together in bed. I hope Im not making a monster by doing this, we both seem to enjoy this quiet time together.

__________________
Natalie & Iggie LaLa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
0.1.0 Green Iguana ~ Iggie
0.1.0 Chow Dog ~ Kieko
1.0.0 Chow/Malamute Dog ~ Chubbers
0.1.0 Six toed Cat ~ Barbie,(decendent of Ernest Hemmingways cat)

Pic's of Iggie

Ok thanks for all the responses.

1) Taming aside, is the trying to eat the floor thing anything I should worry about? If so, what should I do?
2) If I do the nighttime handling thing, is it ok to just handle him in his enclosure when asleep? I can't really take him out to watch TV until closer to summer as it is just way to cold here now. I myself am freezing my butt off even with a jacket on. I can't really afford to get something to heat my whole house, so that's why the heating is in his enclosure room only. (I myself sometimes hop in there when I can't stand the cold...)
3) Dominik, yes it takes time. So it is OK to use some force to "Force" them to be handled like your son did, correct? How much force?

Yes, you need to be forceful at times.

Basically it's like Merlin described. Firm hold until they relax, then lighten the hold.

The behavior modification technique is 'if you struggle, I will restrain you, if you relax, so will I'.

Eventually they get the message and learn to relax.

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_____________________________________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

If the enclosure is large enough for you to sit down in, then do so, otherwise just go in and pet him where he's laying.

__________________
~~Steph

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

Trust me sometimes none has the answers to why our ig's do the seemingly crazy things they do! Lucky for me Louie was already tamed and asf or "our" time togather he and I sleep in the bed togather most nights! It can be a pain but trust me even though he trys not to let on that he misses me he really does lol!

__________________
Love Always,
Audrey

Owned By,

1.0.0 Iguana Iguana -Louie
0.0.1 Avicularia avicularia (pink toe Trantula)-Muffy
0.1.0 Ceratophrys ornata (Pac Man Frog)-Sparticus
1.0.0 Albino Rat -conspericy
0.1.0 Betta-Alphie
0.0.1 Apple snail- Mr. Bubbles
1.1.0 Mutt puppy's- Socks & Meeko
1.0.0 fieance-Brett

Replover, my iguana Gandhi got some hang out time in the backyard the other day (very very supervised) and as soon as he was allowed to crawl on the deck by himself he tried to eay the deck wood! He took one lick and decided it was good enough to eat so he pressed his face to it just like your iguana did and tried biting it a few times. hahahahaha! Whatever, wierdo iguanas. As for the handling, Gandhi is awfully fond of his leafy greens so I hand feed him a few leaves and when his mouth is good and stuffed I scoop him up.....he cant bite me and he is too destracted to do anything but submit (then again, he has never tailwhipped). I also give him treats at times without picking him up so he doesnt just automatically associate treats with being handled. I have discovered that Gandhi really likes watching people and hanging out with us. The part that feels threatening to him is when the focus is on him, as in handling. When he is allowed to wander (very very supervised) amidst our presence he really shows his personality and will often choose to crawl on me to get a better view/use me as a bridge to get to a window/etc....This past weekend my family visited us and Gandhi sat on my sister's shoulders happily. Just imagine being a shy person at a party-you want to watch the scene but you dont want to be the center of anyones focus. P.S. Have you tried trimming your igs nails?? It helps!