When you first bring your iguana home, allow it a week or so to become accustomed to its surroundings(acclimated). Then he/she can start getting it used to being handled and picked up. Start slowly, by first picking your iguana up, and holding it for brief periods every day. Pretty soon, it will become much calmer.
I have found that talking softly to your lizard with a soothing, gentle tone while stroking their neck and sides helps to calm them also. How tame your iguana will become depends on how much time you are willing to spend taming it.
Some iguanas will remain wary and aggressive all their lives. That is why you really need to take care in selecting a reasonably calm lizard to begin with. Dont show fear with your Iguana. Iguanas will slap you with their tails if they get scared. The tail is powerful as it is their way of defending themselves.
When I take Dawg out around other people I hold his tail so he wont hurt anyone. I have known people that have had to have constructive surgery because the Iguan got scare and swatted them with a tail or bite them.
It may be useful to get your iguana used to being on some sort of leash or harness. This is especially helpful to be able to take your iguana outdoors to be in natural sunlight. Many pet stores now sell harnesses specifically for iguanas. Get one that is sturdy, yet not harsh to the iguanas skin. Start out by putting the harness on your iguana indoors without the leash for brief periods at a time to get them used to it. You can then start attaching the leash and attempting to walk around(indoors) with them. They will probably completely freak out at first, especially when they reach the end of the leash, but this is normal. Be prepared and try to avoid entangling your lizard in the leash when this happens. After some time of working with them indoors, if they seem to be much calmer when on the leash, you can then bring them outdoors. They may freak out again once outdoors (all those sights, smells, and sounds!) so make sure your harness and leash is strong and properly attached. Most iguanas will get used to being on a leash after a while, some may never get used to the idea. I haven't seen an iguana yet that will walk on the leash (like a dog), but at least if they are on the leash, they can't escape and get into serious trouble!
Links to other sites on the Web
Return Home
Introduction
Selecting your Iguana
Housing
Feeding
© 1998 sallybwi@iname.com