We've had our ig for a few months now and the 'taming' process seemed to be going well until recently.

He dislikes us getting him out of his house and will try and get away but with a firm grip he usually calms down. He doesnt like being touched when he's in his viv but when ever I clean feed etc I try to stroke him so he know im not gonna hurt him.

He usually calms down once he's out but over the last 3 or 4 weeks he just doesnt want to know. if he can get away he runs straight back to his viv to get in . My hands now look like i've been dragged though brambles!!

Gloves work to a certain extent but I dont feel like I hand control him properly with gloves if he really wants to get away. I've tried to keep hold of him so he doesnt win but as u can understand this can be easier said than done.
He will sit on my shoulder as long as I dont touch him if I do he's off again.
He doesnt mind going in the bath and at the beginning we found this calmed him and also he had to come to us to get him out so helped in that way.

Any one got any new ideas for us to try. We wont give up and need to work on it quick as I dont just want an ig to sit in his viv and look pretty and if he continues to grow at his rate he'll be huge!!

He loves his food and has a varied diet and eats loads he has a basking temp of between 95-100F and different variations of temp through out his huge viv. exo-terra uvb light and he has a good light pattern.

Although through out this handling prob he has been toilet trained and now goes only in 1 area! so we have acheived something.

So please give us your ideas!!
Thanks

time time and more time. more of the same.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Don't forget consistency... handle it daily.

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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

Also remember that your iguana will never truly be tame. He's probably never going to like you invading his space, or handling him much. What will happen is that he will get less aggressive and tolerate you handling him with an exasperated patience. Seen it first hand.

I can't add much more except that he's going to be fighting for dominance pretty much all the time. You have to go in to him with confidence and assurance. Move slowly and be gentle, but be firm. Once he knows he can intimidate you or get away with something, he's going to fight for that right tooth and nail. Just be really, really patient and he'll respond eventually.

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

Punctuation. It saves lives.

His viv is HIS territory and its where he feels safe. He thinks of you as an invader. Its also the time of year for male's breeding season and this can make them a bit flakey if not out right dangerous.

Do you not trim the claws?

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hi
Yes we do trim his claws regularly also my hands have always marked easily. I'm not too worried about this tho.
We will keep on trying with george and will get there eventually!
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

A good method to use which will not result in the trimmers leaving sharp edges is to take a dremel tool or a small file and grind the nail tips down. This will leave the nail edges smoother and the tip more rounded. I have a 5 ft long female. I will still get he occassional scratch but nothing like it is without the smoothing.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hi
Thought we would update you all. Well we found out why he was being the way he was around me!
We decided to go back to basics and start again. We spent more time with him in his viv and he will now tolerate us touching him while he's in there. He still isn't too keen on being picked up and brought out but he is beginning to spend more time out with us instead of running back home asap.
He's enjoying his baths and that really chills him out. We think that has helped alot with the 'taming' process, as he has to come to us to get out.
George still wont come out of the viv himself but he has learnt a new trick that helps us. He has recently started knocking on his glass, when Colin went to speak to him he went to his food dish which was empty and waited looking up as if to say 'dad i'm hungry' We placed his food just outside of his door and he came out to it. So we will continue to do this when he knocks and see if this will encourage him.
Thank you all again for your replies. We know where to come in future!