Toenail covers (softclaws)

[indnajns]

I've got a strange question. Has anyone used, or considered using those Softclaws for their ig? (www.softclaws.net) They're soft plastic nail covers for dogs and cats to keep them from tearing up the floor, the couch, the curtains ... the house in general. I know igs need nails to climb, but if he has ladders for everywhere he needs to go, couldn't I use these on my ig? The petstore near my mom has them in stock now and I keep pondering the idea. I've used them on cats (with mixed results. they come off easily, seemed to me.). I was just wondering how they would work on an Iguana. My t-shirts sure could use the break. (along with my arms, my ears, my scalp ... )

[prism_wolf]

First of all...you're not supposed to let your ig on your head. This could lead to serious and permanent injury if a claw lands wrong...

...which is partly why your asking...

I know the ones you're talking about. I just did last weeks newspaper column on cat clawing/scratching problems for the local paper. An iguana's claws are shaped too differently for them to be useful in a lot of circumstances. As much climbing an ig does...a cap would not last long. Have you thought of arm guards?

[IguanaKing]

Not only are they not designed for iguanas, but taking away an iguana's ability to grip things with their claws essentially cripples them. Iguanas depend on their claws for their mobility. Prism has some great ideas for making arm guards to protect you from scratches. Please don't think about altering your iguana's body to make him more friendly to your environment. He will always be a wild animal, so its up to us to alter our environment to make it friendly to him.

BTW, scar tissue is much more claw-resistant than fresh skin. J/K. ;D

[prism_wolf]

iguanaking said:

BTW, scar tissue is much more claw-resistant than fresh skin. J/K. ;D

And what a painful trip THAT is!!

Arm guards are pretty easy to make yourself. It can take a couple of layers for larger igs, but you could cut the sleeves out of as many sweatshirts as you need...or even placing a tube-sock in-between two layers of sweatshirt sleeves sewing in place...or just a couple of layers of tube-sock. You need to cut the holes for your fingers...and then a separate hole for your thumb. This will keep the arm guards from sliding up.

[darkluvr]

oooo that's a good idea, but i dont mind the scars, so i'm all good. and i dont think the caps would be a good thing for the iggy. they hinder him.

[George-n-Me]

i do! i should post some pictures of my George scars I got recently!

[darkluvr]

u should lol

[khaosinc]

I know I'm a rarely posting type, and untill spike was 'dumped on me a year ago, I hadn't dealt with iguanas in quite a while.

that said, His feet are horribly deformed due to his previous life, and by that I mean toes that look like corkscrews, if they are unbent to the point not to be hooked on other toes (of which a couple are).

With that said he has learned to climb pretty well, and my thought would be that if goofy plastic bits on the claws would make the difference between a free roaming healthy iguana and a poor lizard ending up locked away, especailly if someone is willing to build them better access points, then give it a try. If all esle fails.. they come off pretty easially.

[prism_wolf]

It's not the "goofy plastic bits" that are a concern. The blunt plastic tips take away every ability to climb well. Even while free-roaming igs enjoy climbing on the furniture. They do not always like to be confined to walking on the floor. The effort in trying to climb would get very stressful and even cause injury. Iguanas are climbers. This is part of owning one of these animals - claws and all.

With your ig Khaos - there are still probably some claws that meet the surface. Zair has some mangled toes, too...but many still touch the climbing surface. Caps just aren't a feasible option...