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Post by joseph2 on Mar 16, 2004 5:31:24 GMT -8
Hi guys. I was just wondering what some of the techniques you guys (and gals) use to train your iguanas to eat from your hand? When Zilla was a juvenile, I had him trained to eat out of my hand. But, after developing bladder stones (Oh, was that a nightmare) and the long recovery from these stones, Zilla has refused to eat from my hand. It has been about 1 1/2 years since this all happened, and the poophead is still being stubborn about this matter. I've read where some people's iguanas jump into their laps to be fed. That would be so cool. How I wish the little monster would do this. Any advice on how to get Zilla to eat out of my hand again?
Joe
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Post by dominick on Mar 16, 2004 5:41:45 GMT -8
Hi Joe-
Treats! Find a treat your Iguana can't resist. Only offer that treat by hand to him.
In my case it's bread, Rex just can't resist it and will do anything I want to get it.
Try all kinds of fruits and bread (whole wheat is best).
Remember, these are only treats, so once he starts taking them you should try to associate the treat with good behavior and use the entire exercise to help train him.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by Tesa on Mar 16, 2004 5:46:24 GMT -8
Be careful what you wish for! ;D Many times the iguana will get "spoiled" and want to be fed ONLY by hand. THAT can be a problem. Having said that.... Personally I didnt have to "train" Thrasher to eat from my hand. After she got comfortable with me holding her, I just offered her some fruit and she took it. I'm not much help huh? ;D
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Post by joseph2 on Mar 16, 2004 5:49:26 GMT -8
Great idea Dom. Now why didn't I think of that. Thanks a bunch...I'm sure that should do the trick. It's time for my fire breathing dinosaur to eat out of my hand again!!! How's that for a self-pep talk? LOL ;D Again, Thanks. Joe
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Post by mar on Mar 16, 2004 8:08:06 GMT -8
Be very carful about what you wish for. I am just getting Bob to eat with out being shown that he has food in his cage. He knows where his food is but I have been trained to hold it up to him for a few bites then put the plate on his food shelf.
Bob is the one that ran over to my lap a few days ago for a treat. I have taken to giveing him a small treat of the piece of fruit I am eating for breakfast -- little banana today -- but he is not given more than a small mouth full and I guess that he does not want it to stop. Fruit is supposed to be a small part of the diet so I will just remove it from the 2 or 3 daily plates of greens and veggies and continue to feed it by hand -- I wonder if this will help control the fruit flies in the summer?
It will take a while before Zilla gains trust again after surgery. Bob had a chicken egg sized calcium stone removed from his bladder about two years ago. It took him a full year to regain trust. I spend a lot of time in the room with him -- he is in my bedroom where I spend 90% of my time at home -- and handle him a lot. Handeling is anything from just petting him, moving him out of my way as he is a free roamer, to walking around outside with him for 10 to 40 minutes daily (when it is sunny and warm enough, I hold him the whole time but also have a leash as a safty).
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Post by prism_wolf on Mar 16, 2004 8:59:57 GMT -8
Mmmm...grapes (but watch the fingers), banana pancakes, wheat bread, blackberries...Oooo. Mine were always up for hand treats...except for my little foster who would rather lunge at my hand for blood rather than a treat.
I whole-heartedly agree with watching out what you wish for...a car accident at 18 cured me of that...so much for wishing I didn't have to go in to work that day.
Igs are definitely creatures of habit. If a habit is not controlled, it will take over...best of luck.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Mar 16, 2004 22:42:31 GMT -8
Not to burst your bubble, but he may not want to be hand-fed again. Gil rarely takes food from our hand; he usually just closes his eye and acts like it's not there.
OK, I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. (honest ;D )
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Post by URSULA on Mar 17, 2004 6:18:00 GMT -8
Like you heard.Watch your fingers.When my girl see mango, she forget, that my hand belongs to me.
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