I gave Bud/Gizmo a bath today and it's not like he struggled or anything, but he kept running his head under the water and it got me wondering this. I've noticed he does this every time he climbs into the tub and I turn the water on. Since they only breath through their nose, could he drown doing that? I think he just likes feeling the water run over his head, but it got me curious if he accidentally inhaled while the water was going on him, could he drown?

It's so funny to me that he lets me know when he needs to poo, 'cause he'll climb right down off the perch, walk through my room and go into the bathroom. He'll sit and stare at himself in a mirror for a few minutes, then crawl into the tub when I'll go turn on the water for him. Such a silly little iguanimal.

Hello,

In the wild, iguanas are aggressive swimmers and divers. It is a defense mechanism that helps them flee from birds and other predators. As such, they have the uncanny ability to hold their breath for extended periods of time.

Like many other creatures, they "would" drown if they accidentally inhaled. The odds of that happening without them being held down or injured, slim to none.

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And since they have been known to remain under water for upwards of 20 minutes the likely hood of him drowning by dipping his head underwater is negligible.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Ghengis does the same thing!!! As soon as I turn the water on he heads right for it and puts his head under it. I always move him away from it cuz I thought the same thing, he would "accidently" inhale water and drown himself. I guess I am just an over protective mommy

Oh good, at least I'm not alone, heh. Yeah, it's just a funny thing they do.

And if perchance he were to inhale some water, what's the signs of that happening? Is there a real "iguana CPR"?

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I've noticed that when I pour water over Dizzy's head he seems to drink whatever goes into his nose, he tilts his head back and swallows...to this date this is the only way i've ever seen him 'drink'. Taz would do the same thing too, but he'd also drink from a dish, and when he would do so the water would run back out of his nose and then when he's done he'd just sneeze the rest out. I've never really worried aboutt hem 'inhaling' water.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Unless the ig is literally held under water too long it is not going to inhale water. These creatures evolved with swimming as part of their habitat. They instinctively know how to handle it.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

If an iguana is healthy, I wouldn't be too concerned about them dipping their head or immersing themselves. The only one of mine I really worry about is Dragon but her back is all twisted. If she falls over, she would panic.

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

I give mine a deeper bath once a week so he gets a chance to swim and make sure that he has no retained sheds on his tail (I'm paranoid about that), and he swims end to end under water and seems to enjoy it. It looks kind of like the ducks, he shakes out in the shallow spot, and then dives in, comes up looks around and then dive under and swims back. He'll do it over and over agian until I reach in to take him out.

I don't know if he got this from taking a bath right after the ducks and watching them do it, or if thi is normal. The vet said that there is nothing to worry about as long as I am there to watch him and make sure he comes up at each end.

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“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) but ‘That’s funny…'"
- Isaac Asimov



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