Handling is a very important part of caring for your iguana. Holding your iguana should eventually become a pleasure to you and your pet iguana. In this post, we will discuss how to correctly approach and handle baby or adult iguana and how to handle an aggressive iguana.
Correct handling technique will help you establish trust and bond with your iguana. You will need to learn how to correctly hold an iguana, when to handle it and how to approach it for handling.
Iguana handling tips
- Approach your iguana or its cage slowly, but make sure that your iguana can see and hear you coming.
- After approaching, make sure that your iguana is in the mood to be handled.
- Start slowly approaching your iguana, and place your hand closer to him/her.
- Only put your hands inside from the side and not top (will be perceived as a threat).
- Release its claws from the branch or other surface before lifting. Do it quickly but gently, because your iguana can grip again while you are releasing another foot. Use each of your hands to release its 2 front legs and 2 back legs quickly at the same time.
- Quickly grab your iguana (few seconds after scooping) until it has realized what is happening. To do this, place one of your hands (palm up) under its shoulders, and another hand – under back legs to support the tail and the base. Quick actions don’t mean rough or abrupt handling. Be quick, but gentle.
- After scooping your iguana, give it a moment – and then lift it up. Your iguana will feel more secure this way.
- If you do it quickly, your iguana is likely to stay calm, but if you do it slowly, iguana will start resisting.
- Never grab your iguana by its tail – it can drop the tail as a defensive mechanism. This is something that you must avoid.
- Always be confident when handling your iguana, otherwise your iguana will feel the weakness and will try to dominate.
- Don’t handle your iguana after food – it needs heat to digest it. Try handling your iguana when it’s the most relaxed – after waking up or before sleeping.
Is your iguana in the mood for handling?
You must find out if your iguana is not in the mood for handling before you actually try handling it. If you approach your iguana and it starts resisting – hissing and trying to walk away – you are likely to leave it alone. However, if you keep doing it – your iguana will start showing this behavior every time so that you leave.
Instead, observe your iguana’s mood before you even try handling it. Or, if you started handling and your iguana is resisting – proceed with handling to show your iguana that it’s fine and that you will sometimes need to do it whether iguana wants it or not.
But if your iguana is tame and understands you – you can sometimes let it be alone when it doesn’t want any attention. Your iguana will appreciate that.
Iguana handling gloves
Handling your iguana should be fun and rewarding. But sometimes, your iguana can try to bite or scratch you (can be accidentally, too) when handling. It might be a good idea to get thick gloves for handling your iguana, to help you feel more confident when handling and taming your iguana.
The best type of gloves for handling your iguana would be thick MIG welding gloves like these. Remember to always act confident around your iguana and don’t run or make sudden moves, as your iguana will feel that and will try to dominate.
Iguana handling techniques
Iguana handling technique number 1: With its body on your forearm
If your iguana is still smaller or medium size as well as calm, you can put it on your forearm. To do this, place your iguana’s body your forearm, preferably with its head in the direction of your palm. Iguana’s head should rest before your hand, so it can hang on to your hand with its claws.
You can also place it on your forearm the other direction, but there can be less grip. Either way, make sure to use your other hand for support and it’s better to be sitting down when handling this way. Your iguana will be hanging from your arm like a tree branch when fully relaxed.
Iguana handling technique number 2: Placing iguana on your forearm with more support
If your iguana is bigger and more active, you can still use the first method, but you will need to provide more support. You can do this by placing your iguana on your forearm, but also placing your arm closer to your body. This will give you and your iguana more support from one side.
This handling method is very useful for larger iguanas, or younger iguanas that get scared easily. With more support, your iguana will feel more relaxed. You can even slightly push your iguana closer to your body, including its tail.
Iguana handling technique number 3: Holding iguana with both hands
With a very large or active iguana, it will need even more support when handling. In this case, you will need to use both hands to hold your big iguana. Use one hand (palm up) to support your iguana under its shoulders, and another hand – under the base of the belly.
It is also a very good idea to have iguana’s face away from you – in case it decides to bite. Another tip would be to push its tail closer to your body so that it doesn’t whip you by accident. You can put your iguana closer to your body for extra support, as well.
How to hold a baby iguana
You will need to be more vigilant when handling a baby iguana. This is especially true if your baby iguana is still new and not tame. Untamed baby iguanas tend to be more jumpy and skittish.
When handling a baby iguana, it is the best idea to go in a small room or bathroom to prevent escapes. An iguana-proof room would be an advantage. Be very calm when handling a baby iguana, talk in a soft voice and give it some treats.
The best way to hold a baby iguana is to place it on your forearm with its head towards your palm. Then, support it with your other hand, by placing it on top of its body. You should also aim to sit down when holding a baby iguana. Pressing your arm closer to your body can give extra confidence to a baby iguana.
If your iguana is very small, you can put it on your palm. Support its head and front with your fingers and then back – with the base of the palm. You can also use your other hand for extra support.
Handling a baby iguana is very important, because it will build trust and will make your iguana more tolerable and calmer. Let your iguana walk on you, and make sure to stroke it a little to make it used to a human touch.
When your baby iguana becomes more confident and tame, you can let it sit on your palm only or even on your shoulder.
Aggressive iguana handling
Sometimes, your iguana might become aggressive and not willing to be handled. In this case, you should leave your iguana alone. But don’t do it straight after you tried handling it already – this will teach your iguana to always do it to avoid handling. Instead, see your iguana’s mood first, and then make a decision whether it’s the best time to handle your iguana at that moment.
However, sometimes you will need to handle your iguana whether it wants it or not. But it should be in rare cases, otherwise it can break trust. These occasions can include putting your iguana in its cage, clipping its nails and so on.
If your iguana is being aggressive, pick it up quickly (one hand under the shoulders and one on the base), but wrap the towel around your iguana. This will prevent tail whips and scratches. Hold your iguana away from your face, too.
You can also gently lift your iguana above your head, as it can help to calm it down. Iguanas tend to relax when they are positioned higher than others. They feel scared when you put your hand from top.
Handling a tame iguana
If your iguana is tame and calm, you can let it walk over you and sit on the forearm, with its feet handing down. This will indicate the total trust and bond between your iguana and you.
Handling is a very important aspect of taming your iguana and creating a strong bond. Handle your new (baby or adult) iguana twice a day, for 15-20 minutes per session. Start handling sessions only 2-4 weeks after you bring iguana home, to let it acclimatize first.
How you will handle your iguana will greatly depend on how tame it is and its size. Never rush things and take one step at a time.