How to Tame a Green Iguana

Almost everyday someone asks me how I "tamed" Arcadius. These are the steps that I took to get Arcadius comfortable with me and to form a relationship with him.
Remember that all iguanas are different and will learn trust at their own speeds, or not at all. If you are going to get an iguana, be ready for and committed to whatever attitude your iguana has.
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[@miiaswrldd]

My iguana looking at me like “I’m totally friendly” *iguana walks away*😃🦎🤎

[@Kmart929292]

Arcadius is a nice little guy! I got my iguana in December and he's already quite tame, though he was already grown up a bit when I got him. Did almost all the stuff you did though, and it seems to be working out good! Keep up the good work, I love seeing some happy healthy reptiles.

[@zareptiles]

Thank you! Glad these tricks worked for you too!

[@JeremyGoneWildPets]

Great video. I don’t have an iguana and have no plans to get one, but I appreciate you putting this video out there. I’m sure people will find it useful.

[@zareptiles]

Jeremy's Wild Studio thank you! 😄 I hope they do! I get asked this like everyday, so a video was overdue 😂

[@Pixiewolf]

This is kinda like the process we are supposed to do with taming birds.. omg! :0 Edit: except for the petting 😅 there’s a bit of a process before you can get to that with birds. Like stepping up Cockatiels can hiss and bite pretty good..

[@zareptiles]

Oh don’t I know it LOL! My brother has a cockatiel, and he worked really hard with him and he was getting really good and then breeding season happened and he’s been a brat since 😂

[@savageriders702]

I got my iguana as like an early birthday present from my friends. He's pretty tame now. Like for example today he literally sat on my shoulder for 2 hours. He's a red iguana about 2 years old. Almost two feet tall and like 2 inches wide he's still pretty small.💖 I recommend hand feeding it helps with trust^^

[@zareptiles]

Awww! Hand feeding is always a must when trying to bond with an animal 😁

[@microwavedmetal]

My iguana is a hell spawn 😂 but I still love her.

[@chrisr9271]

Good advice im working on that with my baby iguana thanks!!

[@zareptiles]

Chris R thank you! Good luck!

[@graceroach8727]

Awesome tips! Definitely will try them! My husband brought home a baby iguana the other day and he is extremely skittish and is turning out to be a major handful... We have several pet reptiles and knew what we were getting into with an iguana, but he is definitely more skittish than we anticipated. And your iguana's enclosure is awesome! You've definitely given me some ideas for enclosure upgrade for our little Reptar!

[@zareptiles]

I love the name! Pretty much all babies are super skittish! He’ll slow down with age and bonding! Good luck!!!

[@graceroach8727]

@@zareptiles thank you so much!

[@lunytunez3634]

My iguana is a sweet heart I can't wait till she finally comes around I spend every day with her we watch cartoons together lol she also likes watching the national geographic or animal planet she let's me pet her now so we are making progress yay lol thanks for the tips

[@brianshaffer2478]

I just got a male and a female . My red one I had took 1week . My 2 new green iguanas are taking longer to tame but it's not really hard at all it's time and patience . I just like your videos because you have lots of knowledge . I'm good with iguanas but you have some good ideas I never thought of and it's really interesting. I can tell with your knowledge that you have a good future ahead. My red iguana got stolen so the 2 green ones where for replacement.

[@zareptiles]

Awww thank you so much, that means a lot! I really try to make sure I’ve done a done of research and feel fully confident in the information I’m putting out, before I go blabbering away here on KZbin 😂 I’m sorry to hear about your red! I’m glad things are going well with your greens and that I was able to give you some ideas! You are 100% correct! It’s all about having patience!

[@BBsBeasties]

I love him so much! Living vicariously through you 😍

[@zareptiles]

BB's Beasties aww ahhaha 😄💙

[@BunSimie]

Great tips! I think a lot of these can also be applied to several other types of lizards. Arcadias is such a cutie! I've always wanted an iguana, one day when I have a house I will have one😊 PS. That teeshirt is awsome!

[@zareptiles]

Thank you! I’ve been trying to do these steps with Crikey ... definitely taking much longer with him than it did with Arcadius - I think it was easier with Arcadius because he’s big so I could Just take him to the bathroom, where that’s a little harder with Crikey 😂 Baby steps 😂 I love iggys so much! Thank you! I can’t wait until it’s warm enough to wear it outside so I can actually show off it changing in the sun 😂

[@fstaar]

My red iguana is getting there, when i put him down he runs though, so i need to work on that, he also runs in his cage when i go to pet him, or whatever but when im holding him or when hes like close to me he gets calm

[@User44584]

What’d u end up doing that helped?

[@marduktheiguana]

totally agreed 💚

[@yeomansue]

I have a baby red iguana and I hold him everyday. I let him just sit on my shoulder. He falls asleep and just within the last few days he will nuzzle into my neck. I have had mine since New Year's Eve 2018. I also have been able to get him to wear a harness. He will also eat out of my hands.

[@zareptiles]

yeomansue sounds like you are doing great with him! 😄

[@YaBoiEye]

I've got a rescued iguana yesterday, they told me he was brought in bad condition and was heavily neglected, he doesn't like people at all yet, I hope he'll learn to like me, but regardless, I'll stick with him. I'll follow your advice to see how it goes

[@zareptiles]

How’s it going? :)

[@yaboivlogs8814]

My iguana keeps running away from me when he sees me

[@pedrocrane4714]

Can you make more videos about your Kenyan sand boa please?

[@zareptiles]

Pedro Crane sure thing! Anything in particular you are hoping for ?

[@pedrocrane4714]

@@zareptiles not really I'm just looking for videos about Kenyan sand boas out there since I might get one soon, maybe just like an informational video (you could include feeding, pickiness, setup etc...) Thanks! Btw I really like the iguana shirt

[@zareptiles]

Pedro Crane thank you! I’ve been thinking about a Kenyan sand boa care video now that I’ve had her for quite a while, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wait until she got an upgrade or not, I’ll see what I can do 😉 have you seen my enclosure video for her yet?

[@pedrocrane4714]

@@zareptiles yep I saw that video it was really nice and informative. If you want to do the care video when you upgrade his enclosure that would be great as well in the meantime I would definitely enjoy a milksnake video! (Setup video/care guide video/ etc..)

[@zareptiles]

Pedro Crane id love to do some milksnake videos! We have finally gotten to a good comfortable place with each other, so I’ll be doing his intro video soon! And a care video will probably be following that soon, since their care is pretty similar to a corn snake 😄 so be expecting a sand boa care video and a couple Milk snake videos! And if Tootsie keeps growing at this rage, she’ll have an upgrade video soon! 😁

[@melissamajett4375]

Thank you for the advice

[@vickylamb9403]

This was very helpful!! I've just added Oakley to our reptile family:)

[@zareptiles]

Thank you! I’m glad it helped! 😁

[@alyssasmusicevolution9607]

Will this work on s black spiny tailed iguana? I got my little guy two days ago and he's about 3 months, also he seems to be responding to my voice already

[@zareptiles]

This works great for really any reptile! I use the same tactics when needing to socialize anything really :)

[@ashscichlids7057]

Aww he is so cute! You are so great with him!!

[@zareptiles]

Ash's Cichlids thank you! 😄

[@uniquelymade1350]

So, I have a Green Iguana who's 2.5' in length, and 3.5" wide. He'll let me pet and hold him comfortably from Day 1, but he's not eating🥺 I got him 3 days ago, and I'm really concerned. Is this a Vet matter, or should I just give him time? I set out fresh food and water for him daily, take him out into the sunshine for an hour daily (also for bonding). I imagine he ate something yesterday, because he pooped, but it's so minuscule, I don't know what quantity he ate😭😭😭 Your videos are definitely informative, and appreciated💚💚💚

[@zareptiles]

Thank you so much! And I wouldn’t worry yet with him being so new to your household. It can take them some time to become comfortable enough in their new environment to eat. If he seems overall healthy you can give him a couple more days. Once you give it some time, if hes still not eating then I would recommend a vet visit to be on the safe side :)

[@uniquelymade1350]

@@zareptiles He "looks" healthy, but he's lost visible weight. Today is Day 5. I'm not frustrated, per se. I just want him to eat🥺🥺🥺

[@callmebigbrx5346]

How many times a day do I feed my green iguana and I just got it from the pet store and I seen a lil orange bug on it what do I have to do to get that taken care of ?

[@floratheiguana]

Your baby is so cute!!!♥️♥️I got mine around October of last year and I was really scared that I would never bond with him but as time went by he started to trust me and he will eat anything off my hand..I was wondering if you have any tips on their nails because my hand is full of scars from his long nails and trying to get him with a cloth didn’t work because he’s scared of it

[@zareptiles]

Simply Marysol you just have to be confident and patient and sometimes the rewards will surprise you 😉 for nails you can clip them or file them down - or do both! I usually just cut them, but if I’m doing an education program where I’m going to be handling him I’ll do both. Simple animal nail scissors do the trick (they are basically the same as reptile nail scissors), just be careful of cutting too short, just like in dogs and cats. There are quite a few good diagrams online of where to cut their nails. If this makes you nervous, you can always start off just taking a nail file to their nails to wear down the point! Super easy, and pretty effective 😄

[@floratheiguana]

ZA Reptiles your right I love getting his trust lol I’m still not sure if it’s a female or male but soon I will and okay thank you so much your videos have helped me so much!!!♥️♥️

[@zareptiles]

Simply Marysol when you know you know LOL! Arcadius changed genders and names 3 times before he was officially a male 😂

[@floratheiguana]

ZA Reptiles omg lol 😂😂

[@nightwanderer9599]

Seems to me you know what your doing. Thank you for the tips.

[@oprinsamanthafayeg.9400]

I got an Iguana from my dad, and he knows how much I wanted one but now that I gotten one, I don't know what to do to not get scared of him. Like I really wanted to hold him but scared if he runs off or he will bite me, what to do 😅😢😢😢

[@dayanaorozco149]

I recently got a green iguana maybe 3 or 2 weeks ago she is very scared of my dad and I can someone give me some advice please? Where I got her she was very social with the owner but when it came to us she was terrified she hits my dad with her tail but doesn’t bite

[@barrywashington1814]

Just got me a male iguana he is a 18inches how do I tame him get him use to me

[@zareptiles]

Did you find the tips in this video helpful?

[@nikkic4070]

I got a baby green iguana about a week ago and I'm a little worried because he still hides all the time and isn't really eating. I have never seen him eat but I did put some greens right close to him where he was hiding and it is gone so I'm sure he ate it. But I have tried all different veggies and greens and fruit but he just won't come out of hiding and eat. I have been picking him up 2 times a day for only a few minutes but when I try picking him up he freaks out. Then once I have him he is fine but as soon as I put him back in his home he goes back to hiding. I sit with him all day pretty much and talk to him. Anyway is this normal behavior or should I be worried? Also do you have any suggestions that may help get him to eat? What am I doing wrong?

[@zareptiles]

Sorry I missed this! Any updates? :)

[@Heatherreseller]

Thanks for sharing! What times do you think they tend to eat? Morning lunch or dinner?

[@zareptiles]

I feed in the late morning, that way he can eat what he wants throughout the day and he has time to sit and bask which helps with digestion! ☺️

[@thebigmanmatt6914]

very helpful💪🏻

[@zareptiles]

Im glad you think so!😁

[@thebigmanmatt6914]

it sure is, I tried it with my Red Iguana lol

[@hareeral.najjar9999]

I have a green juvenile iguana his/her’s name is Godzilla I have no idea where to start

[@O.B.E.A.S.T.T.]

Hey mines named Godzilla too!

[@onlyoneunamedv1080]

Cute btw😌

[@mynorroldan9294]

THANKS..VERRY COOL

[@zareptiles]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@heyyou7952]

Beauty and the beast

[@Nabify]

Pretty sure my iguana isnt cuddly but wants to eat my face off

[@zareptiles]

typical iguana behavior lol!

[@dan1034]

Nice vidéo trop cute

[@insetcasade8137]

My iquana is still a baby do you have any tips to get my cat and iquana to be friends when hes well a lot bigger

[@zareptiles]

I don’t recommend letting any reptiles near dogs or cats, or even other reptiles, but cats especially. Bites and scratches from cats can be deadly to reptiles, because they heal slowly and a wound from a cat can also involve a bacterial infection. Same goes for a grown iguana near a cat. A grown iguana could certainly do damage to a house cat. They would never be friends, at most they might tolerate each other, but It’s not worth the risk :)

[@insetcasade8137]

ZA Reptiles ok thank you I will keep them separated 🙂❤️

[@lacynovich1976]

I have 2 iguannas, 1 red, 1 blue and 5 cats we have had no major issues everyone gets alone. We worked hard to introduce everyone slowly and they will chill on the couch together

[@lacynovich1976]

Text me 920 257 7475... I have 2 iguannas, 1 red big boy, 1 blue ladie and 5 cats. We have not any major issues. They chill on the couch all the time

[@bigcsaquarium7605]

Did you get him with the curvature in his spine?

[@zareptiles]

I got him with severe MBD, due to a lack of proper nutrition and lighting in his previous home, so his bones were very weak. He developed the curve in his spine shortly after (maybe like a week?) from running around his enclosure, because the physicality of it was more than his bones could handle. His MBD is also why he is so small - he is stunted because of it.

[@bigcsaquarium7605]

Poor lad , I took in a iggy an scale rot recently, glad he’s in a good home now

[@dying2live264]

You're messing up the Eco system non stop Crickets those same crickets lived past the average life expectancy and have now mutated into killer cricket But u want a iguana right

[@zareptiles]

are you ok? 😂

[@chrisstone7369]

He has mbd? I see the curve in his tail

[@zareptiles]

Yup! He had severe MBD when I got him a couple years ago. He’s much better now but unfortunately he’ll always have his deformed spine and kink in his tail

[@chrisstone7369]

Poor fella lucky he has you now!

[@zareptiles]

Thank you! I’m very lucky to have him!

[@chrisstone7369]

I’m fairly sure I’ve just purchased a stunted male green he has the mindset of mating adult but is only about 22” long

[@disaswickramasinghe6762]

Is this a male or a female

[@zareptiles]

he was a male

[@dying2live264]

You've now domesticated the iguana and when u can no longer feed it/it got too big u let it go NOW IT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ACT IN THE WILD You don't even know what you just did

[@zareptiles]

LOLLLLLLLLLL first of all I advocate against people owning iguanas because they get into them without knowing what to fully expect. Good thing Im committed to the animals in my care and I do the proper research so im well prepared. Second of all he had severe metabolic bone disease when we rescued him, so he wouldnt stand a chance in the wild anyway. 3rd of all…. HE WAS CAPTIVE BRED AND BORN. So he already doesnt know how to be a wild iguana be default but go off 😂👍

[@marioeighht7690]

Youre really beautiful