My ig gingko is quite the little monster. I look at him and he jumps across his cage and flares his dewlap and puffs up. Everytime I try and pick him up I have to approach from the top, so I assume he takes every holding session or bath time as an absolute nightmare because he is so aggressive and angry. How can I avoid picking him up from the top and instead picking him up without making him feel so intimidated. I am trying to get to the point where I can get him acclimated, but we still haven't gotten to that stage yet and I have had him since January. I think I am doing something wrong here, if I amonly hold him then I don't actually socialize him but I can't do anything else with him fb/c I have already made our session into another traumatic event for him. What now?

When you pick him from top he thinks of your hand as an eagle or prey bird. The shadows are picked up on its third eye on top of its head. You should pick it up from the bottom.

I understand why you may be picking him up from the top if he is kept in a top opening tank or is on top of a high platform where you can't reach and still have your hand turned facing up. Is that the reason?

Iggys can be hard to tame, lol..best of luck with him!

Sounds like a typical iguana. It just takes patience!

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Maybe you could build an enclosure with side doors. Aquarium tanks with screen covers are notorious cages for igs and of course cause that problem of handling from above. Good luck....and patience will win out for sure. Lyn

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I need to build him a new enclosure but until then I would still like to be trying to get him used to me. Is there any luck with distraction methods or anything? Perhaps scooping him up in something until I can get him to at least eye level? I feel like a dork asking such elementary questions, but I can't seem to get it right. lemme know if you have had similar situations- thanks

I don't have much experience with iguanas, but perhaps you could lower something into the cage so that he could climb out to you. I never reach in and grab my snake. I would be bitten for sure. I always wait for him to slither out to me and then no one gets spooked.

I have found that a good way to pick up a herp that is flighty is to slowly lower one hand into the tank and kind of wave it around to distract the lizard and then slowly try to scoop him up from under his belly with the other.

another things is DONT GIVE UP! If he learns that he can flip out to make you go away he'll do it everytime you try to touch him.

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wait til he does the croc roll on you if he hasn't already you'll flip out i have 2 igs and 1 is a nasty bugger been bit soooo many times it aint funny . once he bit me on the upper lip i thought for sure my lip was gone. he hates being picked up and I don't do it witho gloves if I want to keep all 10 fingers gail

i have had my ig since october and there is absolutely no change in temperment. Just keep doing what your doing and eventually he'll learn that your not a threat and lighten up.

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