How do i tame a super-scared iguana?

Question

I've looked almost everywhere on the net and it says that to tame your iguana, you need to get one at a very young age. Well, not on my case. My iguana is about 3-4 years old. Its previously lived in a careless family who would just let it rot in a dark box. I also diagnosed him with Metabolic Bone Disease. Well, i cured him of that and now he's pretty much healthy except for the fact that he always runs like he's swimming in air, despite him having pretty good claws right now. I think he got used to having no claws for 3 years, but he still walks like a regular iguana. All in all, you could see how messed up this iguana's life was and i want him to calm down, to see that i'm not one of those careless, scary owners. How would i do that? He's so old.

Answer 1

you defintely need to get him out regularly hold him and pet him as well.  I have never had a over active iguana mine have always been very calm but I have had mine since they were younger.  But like I said you just have to hold him and let him know you arent going to hurt him.  It will take some time but just hang in there  Good luck!!  And that is awesome you rescued him from a bad situation.

Answer 2

constant work and patience.

Answer 3

At this stage in his life, you will have a very hard time taming him up.  Adult iguanas have twice the willpower of a baby iguana, and the babies are already hard to tame!

However with a lot of patience and daily interaction, your lizard may warm up to you.  This may take years to see results, and there is the possibility that the iguana will never really come to like you at all.

Answer 4

i have had a iguana for 13 years and he is tame

3 years ago someone watch him while we went on Holiday when we came back he didn't want to know me at all it was upsetting (not sure if he was played up while i was away i will never know)

every time i open the glass doors to his home he would flair up and get ready to wimp,,

my steps where letting him come over to me and feeding him by hand bits of fruit and that

people say touch them with paint brushes or put groves on and grab him i don't belive in that one he will just be frightened every time you go near him its his home and it wont feel like that, letting him out in a room will only stress him out when you try to put him back mine use to run and hide above the curtain rail

give him treats and he will start getting use to you,

then i started rubbing his head but don't rush it,

just give ya hands a good wash after!

mine is now back tame and it was only by doing the above.

i bath him peel his skin off when his peeling and rub under his chin now its great

good look with ya new member of family x

Answer 5

He will probably never be completely tame.  I'd suggest just getting him out and letting him sit with you in the same room.  Let him come to you.  Give him his favorite treats and be happy if he doesn't slap you with his tail or claw you.  Hopefully he'll eventually calm down enough for you to enjoy him more.

Just give it time and patience... it's going to take months and months for him to calm down and trust you.  Like you said, he's had a very rough life.  Thank goodness he found someone responsible to care for him.