Iguana is a unique lizard species to keep as a pet, many owners are surprised by how big they can grow, and sometimes aggressive when they reach maturity. Iguana taming and socializing, as well as regular, gentle handling is indispensable to tame any iguana, and maintain that tame until it is mature.
Iguana taming and socializing is not easy for most beginners. Typically, the new iguana is a bit benign for the start of the day after being taken home. At this point, many think that there is no problem in taming this iguana.
But after few days, it will be a bit surprised when the iguana started showing its aggressive nature. This is normal. At first, the iguana was rather nervous and felt threatened to fit into the new environment.
The period to tame the iguana depends on the iguana itself. Taming a baby iguana will change slightly when reaching sexual maturity.
Taming the iguana requires trust, and it will not happen in overnight, it needs patience. It may take a while to gain confidence from the iguana. So you have to be patient and persistent until the next time you will be happy to socialize with your iguana.
Take a little bit of precaution when handling iguana. They have a fairly sharp teeth, a heavy, loose tails, and sharp nails. You might get a little scratch when you start to tame them for the first time.
Okay, now the basic steps to take into consideration when you want to tame and socialize with your iguana;
- Give your iguana a few weeks (at least 2 weeks) to settle down before the taming takes place. Offer regular food, cleaning and more. The daily routine can make the iguana predict and feel safe.
- Talk to your iguana as a daily routine, and place a cage where it can observe you while doing your daily work. This allows your iguana to be aware of your presence.
- Spend time watching and talking with iguana. Use its name often so that iguana can become familiar with it.
- Place your hand in the cage and try to approach it. Do it from the edge but not from the top because he would consider it a threat. If the iguana makes aggressive postures and scrambles around in panic, go back a while and try again, talking to it gently.
- Make sure you move slowly and gently. If you stop trying out suddenly, the iguana thinks you are training her! Repeat this step until the iguana can be held with your hand.
- Now try to hold your iguana. If it is just baby iguana, just held by the lower abdomen, but if it is big, you must support another lower abdomen and the hips (under the abdomen, on the tail) which are indispensable.
- Before that, make sure your room is open and free, no small hidden space for iguanas to hide there – also places that can be climbed like curtains. Watch out. If not, you need to pursue your iguana to get it back.
- Do not try to put the iguana harshly down the floor. Gently and slowly put them down. Of course, you will end up pursuing iguanas as they try to run away, but it is the best not to stress and make them aggressive.
- Never touch the tail as iguana can break its tail as a defense!
- If the iguana already accepts the way you handle it, you can be more responsive to the mood. But if your language or sign language is tense or uncomfortable, it may feel threatened which is not a good thing to bring up your iguana.