Hi! For the past week, the iguana has been head bobbing me on a daily basis, and is finally willing to accept hand fed food again.
What will happen is, I will put about 90% of the washed vegetables I wash that day into his bowl, and then I will store the rest in a tupperware in the fridge. The next morning, I will dump a fresh batch of veggies into the sink to soak and wash, and as it is soaking, I feed the rest of the leftovers to him by hand, mostly the veggies as throughout the days he tends to eat more of the leaves than the veggies.

So he'll eat a bit from my hand and from what I put down, still seeming a little scared but less so, and then, it would stop, and it would always turn around. Whichever direction it faces, it would turn around (e.g., if it is facing my left, it will turn and face my right. If it is facing towards me it will point its tail at me) etc. Then, it would plop down on its stomach in the basking position, belly on the floor, and bob its head for a few times. I don't know how to respond so I just usually bob back, thinking that if it was a greeting, I'm greeting it back, if it is a threat, I'm showing him who's boss etc.

I think its a greeting because the bobbing is slow and he's always on his belly. So I think this is good progress, is it?

Also, he's head bobbing really really smoothly. Up and down in a grandoise motion. Seems like the behaviour of a male. But then, it's already 36inches snout to tail length and while I hadn't measured its snout to vent length for a couple weeks, its well over 10 inches. Yet doesn't seem like it's showing male characteristics...?

Finally, I have observed it climbing around. I had previously asked about it staying on its platform most of the time. I found the a few days ago that there seems to be one part of the path that it has slight difficulty climbing past, not seriously, but there is on spot that is slightly difficult for it. So I am tempted to put that tree in over that place so it has an easier path. (yes I know I have been putting it off for a while), but I am worried that the change would make it reverse the taming progress it seems to have shown in the past week.

Any suggestions?

I may also add, that recently it has shown some signs of digging. At first I thought maybe it was female and is gravid, but it only seems to do so in the two designated pooping spots (on the corner of the floor, and in its water bowl) yes, that's right, it digs in the water bowl splashing the water out.
I later don't think it is related to finding a nest, because it would dig, and ALWAYS it would poop immediately after in that spot or closeby. Then it wouldn't dig again for the rest of the day, until it needs to poop again the nest day. But I do want to make sure that it is not annoyed by its surroundings somewhat.

Bob-pause-bob-bob is usually accepted as a greeting.

I think your iguana is happy to see you.

To read an anecdotal response to Body Language see this link.

http://www.cyber-ig-info.netfirms.co...y_language.htm

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Regards,
Dominick
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"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

Well there isn't always the pause in the way you describe, just up and down, although sometimes there is... one slow, two fast. But sometimes just rhythmic up and down a few times. Body posture is always relaxed though.

If this is indeed a greeting, will putting the tree in affect it badly?

I just read your section on that page about temperatures. One thing I never read was that iguanas "Gape" to reduce body temperature when they are overheated. Does this mean they open their mouth slightly, as they do when annoyed and ready to bite? My iguana doesn't do that, but I just wanted to learn something new.

Putting the tree in will probably upset it a bit but it will get over it. And what you are describing sounds like a simple greeting bob.
They will gape when hot. Its similar to a dog that pants to cool off.
They will also do this when stressed.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

like the language link posted helps to understand that little bit more. although everything seems negative on there lol.


matt

Thats because a good deal of iguana body language is based around their attitude of "Just go away and leave me ALONE!"
If we weren't pestering them everything would be ok!

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