Taming Iguanas

Baby iguanas should be handled regularly, an older iguana is much harder to tame. Play with the tail often. As a defense mechanism, an iguana can lose it's tail. If something grabs the tail, the tail is shed, and the iguana escapes. The tail will grow back, but not the same. Playing with the tail often will help prevent this. Let others play with the iguana when it's young as part of training. Take him outside with you. Let him get used to other people, noises, etc.

Iguanas have very sharp teeth & claws, and powerful tails. I have to admit, after being bitten a few times, it takes some nerve to keep trying. My iguana even did a crocodile 'death roll' on my finger during a training session... I am so glad I had a glove on that day! But, training is absolutely necessary. During your iguanas' life, you WILL need to pick him up, perhaps the vet will need to also. And considering how large and powerful iguanas can become, it is best he is tame and won't bite you, or anyone else.

I realised early on that gloves really scared my iguana more than my bare hands did. Not wanting to get bitten, I used a different method. If you are trying to tame your iguana, try this - use a washcloth/small towel to pick him up with. At first you can wrap him up so he can't even scratch you, and over time leave more of the iguana uncovered.

During the time I had him 'wrapped up', I'd take him around the house with me and show him around. I'd go to the fridge and get him greens to eat from my hand. I took him to the garden where I grew his greens and let him eat from there.

This worked very well for me even though my iguana was over a year old when I got him and had never been handled before. Within a few months (4 or 5 months of doing this daily), my iguana had become my friend. Finally, he enjoyed coming out of his cage, getting petted and going onto the balcony to bask in the sun.