Yesterday when Iggy was out for his romp, I went to grab him and he immediately turned his head at me, opened his mouth and showed me teeth..
I then put my finger out and said NO and withdraw my hand from grabbing him.
Was this a 'warning'? Is he starting to get monstrous on me? lol. He's never showed me teeth before...I don't want this to become a daily measure either. He's 7 months old now..is he starting to get his feet wet in the boundaries issue? Sorta like a rebellious child?
I must admit, I've never seen his teeth before and when I saw those "stubs" yesterday, it was interesting. Can only imagine what he'd be like with REAL teeth in there..
Holly

Don't let the appearance fool you, those ARE real teeth! An iguana's teeth are almost identical in formation to a mako shark's teeth and they can do some significant damage!
However don't let him back you down. Have a towel handy and use it to distract him and if he does go to bite you can use the wadded up towel to block him. If he figures out that doing this will make you go away and leave him alone it will become a habit and the aggression will escalate.

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

I've used the giving them something else to bite method. I used to stick a collard leaf in Huff's mouth. Sometimes he'd decide to eat the whole leaf.

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Jan. 25, 1963 - Sept. 10, 2006 (R.I.P)

Well I know they are REAL teeth...just never seen the stubs before (never seen any since we got him).
Getting him out of the cage is a feat in itself but once out, he's usually pretty mellow. This was the first time out of cage he's done this so I was slightly taken aback. Usually he does this when I put my hand in his cage to feed him...which I took as more as a territorial issue but he's never attacked me while feeding him (he must know that line: Don't bite the hand that feeds you).
He is still hostile ONLY to me. Son can come and do whatever he pleases and Iggy just sits there on his shoulder viewing the world. Has never showed him teeth..just to me. I tell ya, this thing must not like ME!! But I followed your all's advice and began spending more time with him and showing him attention besides the feeding part. Let's just say this: We tolerate each other. No getting friendly here on either parties side..lol
Son can reach in and Iggy will walk right up his arm and perch. Me? Runs in fear, trashes the cage, hides under plants, hangs upside down from branches. I get in and get back out. Heck he does that if I just walk into the room. Now I have animal magnetism..just must not be Iguana Magnestism..lol

I would not suggest using food to deter an attack.
Look at it this way, "If I try to bite her she gives me a goodie!" Not a good idea!

Iguanas frequently prefer one member of the household over another. I can do anything I want with Zok, my female, but if my wife approaches her she will often puff up and hatchet at her. Thats usually when I have to step in and make her knock it off!
Errrrr,... the iguana that is.
Not my wife!

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

ok..I shall give Iggy points..He wins!! He can have my son and I will continue being "polite" to him/her. lol
Heck, my son came thru the kitchen last night and I said "where's Iggy?"..answer? "on the curtain rod in my room where's he's been since I let him out"...WRONG!!
Iggy was right behind him waltzing along like he had nothing else to do. I go to pick up Iggy, and he went BEZERK!! Under the puter desk, on top of the printer, around the kitchen...I gave up and walked out.
3 mins later, son and Iggy walk out...Iggy on top of son's shoulder eyeing me like "Hmmmph!!...got you to go away"...lol and yes he did.
Oh well...I'll stick to my bunnies...they at least come to me when I call them and don't show teeth..LOL.
I'll continue to show *choke choke choke* love to iggy and maybe someday he'll show me some back..
Holly

True. I guess with Huff a collard green was more of a distraction. A way to get his mind off of resisting being held and handled. Now I wouldn't use bannana or soaked wheat bread that would definitely encourage him to bite. LOL Also Huff hates hand feeding. The only thing he will take by hand is bannana and soaked wheat bread and sometimes it takes him awhile to realize he's not going to get it unless he comes over to get it.

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Jan. 25, 1963 - Sept. 10, 2006 (R.I.P)

I can understand your frustration. When we first got Gandhi my boyfriend was the favorite.....Gandhi would run from me, bite, etc....then my boyfriend left for a month long work trip and I became the favorite (after a hellish two weeks). Now my boyfriend is trying to redeem himself with the lizard, and I think we're pretty evenly favored by him now. Its hard to care for an animal when the animal isnt able to share his personality with you...I worked with Gandhi so he would associate me with fun activities-yummy food, tours of the house, car rides (he loves these).

Holly, if you really want to make friends with Iggy here's a trick for you: wait until he's asleep then take him out of his cage and hold him for a little while (sit and watch TV with the lights off or someplace dark). He'll be aware enough to know it's you that has him, but asleep enough not to care. Doing this a couple times a week should help him to begin to trust you more.

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~~Steph

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

i have decided I am blessed with animals reading all of the above.... since we have had our iggy she has NEVER tried to bite, whip, or snarl, gnash, etc at either of us. she was a bit "IF I GET BIGGER I LOOK BADDER" at first to the missus but never ever to me we get on like house on fire. shes so adorable. even with the kids she is as docile as a fish in water .
Our corn snake was the same never a bite or run away from me .