|
Post by AnneVeng on Nov 20, 2004 1:43:46 GMT -8
I have owned my ig for two month now and offcause i have taken him outside his cage a number of times... He gets very angry but i just keep him in my hands untill hecalmes down and then i sit with him in my hands (hes about 60 cm from snout to tail) for about half an hour... But he is never so relaxed that he forgets im there.... He´s always watching my every move. The problem is that i really want him to get use to walking around the room, How do i do that? I know he will run like crazy if i just let him.. Should i wait untill he is more "tame"?
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Nov 20, 2004 3:53:46 GMT -8
Your ig is still a baby and as such is still not quite sure you aren't going to eat him. It takes time, sometimes a loooooong time, to get one to trust you, sometimes up to a year. Try handfeeding him in the cage to help bond with him. At this point if you put him down on the floor in a room it is going to be a chase to try to catch him again. This would be the behaviour of a predator and you will be losing ground. You might try taking him into a small bathroom or somewhere confined like a closet where you can put him down and sit with him but he still can't get away. You just have to be patient with them. Very patient!
|
|
|
Post by AnneVeng on Nov 21, 2004 2:51:33 GMT -8
Thanx Merlin, thats good advise!
I know its gonna take many month and a lot of patiense, I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing by taking him out of the cage and "controlling" the outings..
Thanx
*Anne*
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Nov 21, 2004 4:39:55 GMT -8
Yes and "controlling" is the operative word here. ;D You have to get him to realize that yes YOU are going to touch him and it will be by YOUR rules. Never put him down wihile he is struggling only when he calms down. It WILL be worth it!
Another technique that has had good results is to take and wrap the ig in a towel and cradle him to your chest (like holding a baby) while you walk around and talk gently to him. Seems to help calm them.
|
|
|
Post by AnneVeng on Nov 21, 2004 5:41:56 GMT -8
wow...that sounds like a good one... (eventhough it reminds me of an horible story I heard about taiming birds by wrapping a sock around them so they cant fly)... BUT this is different.... I will definatly try that.... but not at this stage...hihi...
Thanx
|
|
|
Post by EsotericComposer on Nov 21, 2004 7:55:09 GMT -8
I've had eki since early August and he's only a baby still. He's still afraid of me and still runs around in his tank. Does his rolling around in my hand when I take him. But he's getting better. I've noticed a big change in him and how he reacts towards me. It just takes time. And the bathroom idea is a good one. I take eki in for baths then let him crawl all over my chest and arms. He does well.
|
|
|
Post by OneCrazyCleric on Nov 21, 2004 14:06:45 GMT -8
I got icky in late october, and now he's completely calm and will eat out of my hand. There was a point at which he simply ceased to fight and began to allow me to pet him at my leisure, and didn't run away. This was acomplished by taking him out everyday for anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour and just holding him, and bribing him with dry iguana food.
|
|
|
Post by SurvivorSteph on Nov 21, 2004 17:38:13 GMT -8
Another good way to help young igs get used to you is to wait until they're almost asleep and then take them from their enclosure and just sit quietly with them. They'll be tired enough not to resist much, and it's a lot less stressful to take them from their enclosure.
|
|
|
Post by IguanaKing on Nov 21, 2004 17:47:34 GMT -8
Yup...Merlin and Steph definitely have good advice. It had been a very long time since I had to tame an iguana, but I was lucky enough to recently adopt a 3-year-old girl who was very well-socialized. So, she wasn't afraid of people in general, just a little skeptical of me. Even with her, it took a few weeks for her not to tail-whip, but she's my baby now. Of course, it helped that I took her to work with me every day for a few weeks in the summer. ;D
Where do you live AnneVeng?
|
|
|
Post by AnneVeng on Nov 22, 2004 1:55:36 GMT -8
I live up in the cold cold north...in Denmark.... so unfortunately i will not be able to take him/her outside (not even just to transport) except in the warmest month....
Sometimes my coworkes laugh at me, courz i come to work looking like i fell into a bush of roses.... my arms and hands are at times so scratched that they worry about me...hihihi...But its all worth it to me...No doubt about it!
Im very tyankful of all your advise and i will be patient...
Thanx * Anne*
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Nov 22, 2004 2:46:38 GMT -8
LMAO! ;D Just tell them that those arm scratches are the mark of a member of the SSIS! (Secret Society of Iguana Slaves). Sort of like a secret Lodge handshake. We just don't have to wear funny hats!
|
|
|
Post by Cyndi on Nov 22, 2004 3:51:33 GMT -8
Merlin, you are a hoot ;D
We've had our Kyo for about 10 months now, and he still fights when we pick him up in his enclosure. But, when he's out, we can pick him up with no problem.
We started with Kyo roaming in the bathroom, then in our room where his enclosure is. At first, I kept his leash on just to keep track of where he was (I am a nervous iggy mom, lol).
Just keep loving him, Anne.
|
|
|
Post by WillemsMom on Nov 23, 2004 14:29:36 GMT -8
I don't think you need to wait before you wrap him in a towel, Anne. I did it when willie was very young and I think it was comforting to him. I have a pic somewhere. I'll see if i can find it. Here it is. I took it after his first shower. Now how cute is that?
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Nov 24, 2004 2:18:03 GMT -8
Now THAT is cute!!
|
|
|
Post by OneCrazyCleric on Nov 24, 2004 9:57:44 GMT -8
That should be on a "Get better" post-card...
|
|