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Post by sillywoman1969 on Sept 22, 2004 5:42:50 GMT -8
Ok again let me say what a great group this is cuz as I'm going thru past behavior posts looking on info on head bobbing I ran across the ejaculation post and just nearly DIED!! Thank goodness for you people cuz if this one would have snuck up on me without me realizing what was going on I'd be in a state of shock! lol Puppy bobbed his head at me for the first time last night and I couldn't remember where I had read why they do that (information overload on my part) and my son was wanting to know when male igs hit their sexual maturity. He's very concerned with Puppy getting too aggressive with me during this time. Puppy is 12" SVL. Are there any other male behaviors that I should be aware of cuz that ejaculation post was just too funny/icky!! LOL You guys rawk!!
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Post by IguanaKing on Sept 22, 2004 10:27:46 GMT -8
Those are the main two behaviors you'll notice in male igs. Head-bobbing is actually a fairly complex language to understand but here are the basics. Smooth head-bob- Basically where your ig just tosses his head back and bobs his head up and down. This is usually a greeting and/or territorial display. Its basically like he's saying "this is mine". This is generally not a threatening gesture, in fact, if Hercules doesn't give me a morning head-bob, I know to take him to the vet. With him, it indicates that he is not feeling well if he doesn't head-bob in the morning when I put him back in his habitat. Shuddering head-bob- His head moves back and forth in short, jerky motions, just before the head- bob. This is a threatening gesture. It basically means "I'm angry, go away." However, with an adult male ig, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you don't allow him to make you go away with the shuddering head-bob. You should still approach him and make contact with him and even pick him up and hold him (be careful to always keep your face and your fingers away from his mouth when he is trying to scare you away). The more you do this, the less he'll try to scare you because he'll know that it doesn't do any good. As he gets bigger, your establishing yourself as the Alpha iguana is crucial to your safety. If you ever allow him to back you down, he will start acting more and more aggressively. Remember, he is training you, so don't let him succeed. I can't really remember when Hercules reached sexual maturity, it was too long ago. Someone else here should probably know that one right off the top of their head though. ;D
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Nanshe
Senior
I am owned by Elvis & Angel :)
Posts: 167
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Post by Nanshe on Sept 22, 2004 11:20:42 GMT -8
What does the fast up and down bob mean? The one where they shudder up and down really fast, then kind of nod 1 or 2 times slowly afterwards? Elvis does that one to me a lot! I'm curious what he's saying to me (or maybe I don't want to know LOL)
Also, Elvis came into sexual maturity when he was around 2 to 2 1/2 years. From what I've read, that's a little behind schedule, but understandable due to the inadequate care he was receiving before we got him.
Someone else probably knows a lot more about this than I do though.
~Nan
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Post by sillywoman1969 on Sept 22, 2004 12:23:32 GMT -8
Well 2 1/2 - 3 yrs would be about Puppy's age. I wonder if maybe now that he's getting healthy he'll be displaying more blatant male behavior! He doesn't whip his tail at me anymore but he does gape and posture up, when he doesn'ts settle down while my hand is on him I'll gently push his head/body down and after i let go he gets all mushy and lovey dovey with me. I had read somewhere (probably here) that this was one way of showing your dominance. I never let him get away with struggling or getting all beserk with me. I always continues to either pet or hold him till he calms down. So what exactly is the first sign of sexual maturity? When would I know for sure?
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Nanshe
Senior
I am owned by Elvis & Angel :)
Posts: 167
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Post by Nanshe on Sept 22, 2004 13:38:24 GMT -8
For me, the 1st sign was the orange coloring he started to show.
~Nan
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 22, 2004 15:45:18 GMT -8
Willie came into season early. He was only about 17 months when he started ejaculating. Many people have told me I was wrong, but I'm not. One of my first experiences with his ejaculations occured when he was in his bath. I saw his hemipenes come out and then his ejaculate. He has ejaculated on me and now does every morning in his special place. It looks like the color of raw hide and if I find it early enough I can shape it in my fingers. If I find it late. it's hard. still the color of raw hide.
Willie is so young that I only saw hints of orange and I don't think his behavior became more agressive. Next time around with him might be quite different.
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Post by Diane on Sept 22, 2004 17:17:34 GMT -8
Narcy hit his first 'breeding season' late as well. . .guesstimating 2-1/2 to 3 years old. He was a rescue and didn't have the greatest start in life either, so that is why I think he was a bit late too. my first indication (which i didn't realize at the time) was that he would do this short little run/lunge around me once in a while and was just a little 'jumpy'. then one morning I went to uncover his cage and the minute he saw me he puffed up, leaned sideways away from me and did a continually flickering tail whipping until I went away. He would do this anytime I approached his cage and not knowing any better at the time, i would go away. I think this is why he still thinks he can over rule me. . .and it is taking a long, long time to make him understand now that I am the boss. His 'season' lasted a good 6 months.
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