Just a quick tip to have handy when you go for cleaning and feeding...especially since breeding season is coming up. Bring a towel with you and if he begins to charge...just toss it over his head. He won't keep going if he can't see what he's going after.

You'll heal fine. I have confidence in that.... You were, however, very lucky it wasn't worse...

As for not wanting to stitch it...this is common practice with cat and dog bites. Personal experience there with a bad dog bite to the hand trying to move a large yellow lab out of the middle of the road who was hit by a car. His pelvis ended up destroyed and he was euthanized, but the pain he was in made him lash out to one person who yanked back and had her hand degloved....and I didn't pull back, but I had some pretty deep puncture wounds. Infection can set into deep tissue and if left open to drain the chances of infection is reduced quite a bit.

I've actually got an iguana bite collection of people who have been seriously injured by igs. The more graphic and detailed I can get the the better others understand what they can be facing. Gruesome, but it is a reality. Being told iguana teeth are sharp isn't always enough. Most people are "show me" types and these make for great visuals.

__________________
Veronica
,,
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...\\\_#_#_#_//_#_#_#_#_#_£_£_&_&_
..._//......_\\
Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

Oh yeah, I've got all kinds of fail safes in mind to keep myself from getting bit again. I've even started a redesign on his cage which will allow me to section off portions of it so that I can trap him in one part and clean the other if he's feeling aggressive that day.

I'm going to try to take some pictures of my hand tonight. It's healing nicely, but I think it might be just enough to scare a new ig owner into being cautious.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

We welcome such pictures!
It makes a good visual warning to go with the "iguanas aren't for everyone" speech!

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

Alright. You asked for these!

Here are three shots of my right hand. He mostly got my pinkie and ring finger.







Interestingly, though, if I hold my hand out with my fingers together, you actually can see the shape of his mouth.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

Owie! I have some pretty good pictures, too. If the administration team doesn't mind me posting what I have...I'll start a whole new thread of some pretty graphic stuff. They are pictures I've collected over time...thank goodness none of them are mine! Although one is of my daughter.

__________________
Veronica
,,
/_^.)///////////,,,,,
...\\\_#_#_#_//_#_#_#_#_#_£_£_&_&_
..._//......_\\
Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

Go right ahead Veronica! If even just one person sees them and realizes what that cute little green lizard is capable of we have headed off an injury.
And another dumped iguana!

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

WOW! hope you feel better. I know I can never have an ig...even though they are so cute 9especially the babies) =) but I do realize their power..and I am not able to handle it. I had a hard enough time with my Tokay

I would love to see the pics of bites. I never imagined their teeth were that sharp! I always heard to wath the tail though. SO it is really good to spread the word...especially if it will save people from dumping their pets. That is so sad.

Ask and ye shall receive! And watch the tail, too..

http://www.herpcenter.com/ic-general...-new-post.html

__________________
Veronica
,,
/_^.)///////////,,,,,
...\\\_#_#_#_//_#_#_#_#_#_£_£_&_&_
..._//......_\\
Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry Co.
~~Rescue - Rehab - Rehome~~

I forgot to mention that those pictures were taken two weeks after he bit me. They've healed an awful lot - which I'm definitely thankful for. I really do wish we could take these types of pictures to pet stores and let people see what they are getting.

The thing is that I knew before I took in this iguana what I was getting into. I knew how much work they were and that he would likely never be really tame. All I did was let my guard down for one moment when I shouldn't have. And I don't think he was trying to hurt me. He was over excited, and he bit me, but when I (stupidly) jerked my hand away, he let go instantly. Sometimes they hang on for dear life. It makes me shudder to think what a young child could go through, handling the iguana as if it were a dog or cat, and getting bitten. Every parent and every person should take that into account before they buy one.

__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

Thats part of the problem. Even experienced keepers can get nailed if they get complacent or careless.
That makes the odds on a novice keeper getting injured even greater!

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