kristina
Full Member
My iguana eats better than I do.
Posts: 33
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Post by kristina on Aug 30, 2007 9:19:01 GMT -8
Hi. I have a female iguana named Dmitra, who is 2 years old and I've had her since she was a hatchling. I've handled her everyday and she goes everywhere with me, and when she's out of her cage or anywhere in her cage besides her hammock she's very docile, calm, and generally behaves like a good, tamed iguana. But when it comes to taking her off of her hammock, she turns into a monster! She puffs up, head bobs rapidly, and gives me the open mouth threat. She has bit me several times before when she is like this, and now when I take her out I have to where a glove, which she hates. To me this seems like she's very territorial of her basking spot. Has anyone experienced this behavior? Does anyone know any methods to tame her out of it? I would appreciate any advice that you can give me.
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Post by prism_wolf on Aug 30, 2007 9:57:06 GMT -8
The thing you have to keep in mind is that iguanas are still wild animals. That IS her territory...and you're trying to "take it". We know you're not, but she doesn't. She's trying to assert her position. The only way to get her to stop is to take the hammock away. This may work, or she may choose whatever you exchange the hammock for and continue the behavior.
Unfortunately, iguana keepers face these behaviors more often then not...and it's part of the reason so many end up in rescues, set free, or killed. Don't back down...and honestly...changing the hammock may make the difference.
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kristina
Full Member
My iguana eats better than I do.
Posts: 33
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Post by kristina on Aug 30, 2007 10:15:18 GMT -8
I definitely won't be backing down anytime soon. I just am kinda stumped as to whether I should try to be the boss or approach her on her terms. Maybe some Pavlovian conditioning will help, if the hammock change doesn't (which I doubt it will, I've had all kinds of basking spots in her cage in the past, and she's always behaved this way). I'm going to start maybe giving her a piece of food while I'm scooping her up, and maybe she'll start associating good things with my approaching her hammock. I figure if iguanas can be toilet trained, that means they must have the capacity for conditioning. Thanks for the advise anyways.
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Post by prism_wolf on Aug 30, 2007 12:06:12 GMT -8
You know...that's a good idea. I'll be interested to find out how it goes for you using bribery. It works on socializing the unsocial...so it may work for the territorial female, too.
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Post by Merlin on Sept 4, 2007 15:35:44 GMT -8
Just a thought,..is the hammock above the level of your head? If she is at a higher level she assumes a dominant role. Also instead of the glove, which as you said she hates, you might try having a balled up towel in the other hand to keep between her mouth and the hand that is picking her up.
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kristina
Full Member
My iguana eats better than I do.
Posts: 33
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Post by kristina on Sept 7, 2007 15:08:45 GMT -8
Yes it is above my head. Wow, I never thought of that! Just an update: I just got a Mega Ray SB yesterday, and it's really weird, she hasn't been showing this aggressive, terriorial behavior any more. She still puffs up and gets pissy, but no threats or rapid head bobs. I know that she hasn't had good enough UVB (I had a crappy slimline and a compact, which i heard aren't that great) in the past, and I've heard sickly igs can be aggressive (so as to not seem sick and be susceptible to predation). or maybe i'm just jumping to conclusions. anyways, i've been able to pick her up without the glove which is a MAJOR improvement. i've also been giving her treats consistently while i pick her up, so maybe that worked too
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