My Lizzie

[kukla]

I just purchased a beautiful iggy 3 days ago. She is 12 inches long (btw would anyone know how old she is by that?)and really a beautiful bright green with even some turquoise on her neck. I call her a her because she is just so sweet so I figured she was female. The first day I brought her home she seemed most interested in finding a way out of her tank. I picked her up a few times with one of the times her trying to bite me. Now she lets me pick her up. Sometimes with a hassle but mostly as soon as I get her in my hands she calms down and relaxes. She lets me pet her constantly and even falls asleep when I do. She already sat calmly on my shoulder without trying to get away and also layed on my belly while I pet her and she slept. She also falls asleep whenever I kiss her. I kiss her head and she closes her eyes and you just feel her relax.
Is this normal behavior for a iggy? Or am I just lucky I got a pretty tame iggy? Or do you think she bonded with me that quickly? A friend of mine absolutly can't believe the way she acts. I just want to get some feedback from other iggy mommies and daddies.

Also she doesnt eat too much. Like 2 tiny cubes of whatever I give her. (bananas, apples) Do they usually eat this little because they are so small or does she still need to adapt? Like I said the first 2 days she just walked into the glass in hopes she would be able to get out but now by the 3rd day she just chills and waits for me to take her out.

Write back please everyone!

Lizzie's mommy

p.s. I will post pics very shortly.

[Marie]

Kukla

Welcome to forum. I am sure you will find the people here friendly. Now on to your questions.

If you talking STL, 12 inches is between hatchling and 1 year on the chart here

www.anapsid.org/iguana/agesize.html

Each iguana is different when it comes to taming and socialization. She may be relaxed or sleepng when closing her eyes but it could also be she is zoning out. Iguanas sometimes zone out when they are stressed. That is where they close their eyes to block out what is stressing them. Your iguana is having to adjust and may take a while before eating like she should.
You can download an excellent article about feeding, care and socialization here

www.anapsid.org/iguana/icfs/index.html

My iguanas were adoptions and so were older. But Baby was similiar to our iguana. Never had any problems in the behavior department for her. I carried her everywhere with me. She rode on my head. I don't recommend letting you iguana do that though. They get very heavy as they get older and they tend to hold onto your ears and their claws scratch you neck and shoulders. She is my spoiled one though and gets away with it. I would be careful about kissing her and letting her close to your face. She may accidently or deliberately bite you and it does hurt.

Besides this site you can get excellent information from

www.greenigsociety.org
www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html

The following books are excellent

Iguanas for Dummies by Melissa Kaplan. All the information is on her web site but the book is easier to read and understand.

Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W Hatfield III is a very thorough and comprehensive book.

Hope you enjoy the forum and post pictures and ask questions.

Marie

[elizabeth]

Yes welcome to the forum!! Marie covered a lot of good info so we will just be looking forward to some pictures!!

[ChamZilla]

:(YES WELCOME!

I can't wait to see some pictures Hope you enjoy it here, I do

[kukla]

TEXTAhhhhh now I am upset. Here I was thinking she loved it when I held her and kissed her and that was why she was zoning out. Today I had her on my belly again and again she zoned out as I pet her head and back.

I am so nervous about the biting part. I am afraid that once she does that I will be afraid of her and never touch her again even though I know that is the wrong thing to do. I had a Ball Python and once he started going for me I stopped interactinng with him which is probably exactly what he was striving for. Well he got it.
I love Lizzie sooooooooo much already and do not want to be afraid of her. She seems nervous once I first take her in my hands but I start shhhhhhing her and speaking softly and she seems to calm down immediately. She will stay still for awhile but once I make a sudden move she gets nervous and fights to get away so I put her back in her home to calm her down.

I'll read the books you recommended. Have already done alot of online reading about iggy's.

Pics coming later today......hope you guys like as much as I do.

[ChamZilla]

Well you have to remember that Iggys arn't at the top of the food chain where they are from.

Iggys look at us like a BIG predator and they try and defend themselfs sometimes. Its just like a wild kitten, they will bite you to get away.

But if you just take your time and be calm. You'll know once you get bit the warning signs for your preticular lizard. I was scard of RZ after it bit me also.

But RZ's warning signs is a gaping mouth and head tilting. Hopefully you notice signs before you get bit. The main thing is if you DO get bit don't pull your hand away as it will make it much worse. Just like a snake you arn't supposed to pull your hand or whatever away a snake bites you.

Remember to clean the area immediatly with alcohol or peroxide and apply some iodine or betadine. Some antibiotic cream would be bennificial also. Just remember to keep it clean so you don't get an infection. BUt if you do develop redness or swelling from the wound go to the Doctor immediatly.

Good luck and just take your time. I was afraid of RZ when I first rescued it, but it is like 4 feet long, and quite a bit bigger mouth than a baby.

[Marie]

She still may love you holding her and kissing her. They sometimes zone for good stress also. My iguanas close their eyes when I pet them even now. It is because they feel safe enough to close their eyes. I warned you about bites so you can look for warning signs. But it may never happen. Every iguana is different. You just need to be prepared just in case the worst happens.

Marie