Taming a Green Iguana
In the wild, green iguanas can be seen in the Southern American rainforest. When fully grown, an adult iguana can be 4 to 6 feet long. Iguanas have a highly developed sense of sight and smell; they are also extremely intelligent. Green iguanas make great pets for anyone who is willing to take the time to properly care for and train them.
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Instructions
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Start while your green iguana is young. The older the iguana, the more difficult it will be to tame.
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Give your iguana plenty of time to adjust to your presence. Approach its cage and simply stand there, giving it a chance to get to know you. Talk while you are feeding your green iguana; this will help it associate your voice with something good and positive. Make sure your tone is calm.
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Start reading your iguana's body language. If he extends his dewlap when you approach, it can mean one of two things: He is either afraid or aggressive. If your iguana is bobbing his head, lashing his tail or has an open mouth, he is displaying signs of aggression. If you don't have any previous experience with green iguanas, find someone who does to teach you how to deal with an aggressive iguana.If the dewlap is extended but your iguana is otherwise quiet, he is merely afraid and needs to be given enough time to learn to trust you. If your iguana acknowledges you presence by walking toward you or simply looking at you, he has already adjusted to his new environment and is ready to be handled.If your iguana displays no reaction at all, he is probably sick, and should be taken to the veterinarian immediately.
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Place your hand inside your iguana's cage. Do not wave your hand in front of his face or directly above his head; your iguana will think that this is a predatory move. Start with your hand on the opposite side of the cage from your iguana. Each day, bring your hand a little closer to your pet. Eventually, you should be close enough to offer him a bit of lettuce straight from your hand.
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Once your iguana is comfortable taking food from your hand, you can start stroking him. Keep your touch gentle and talk to your iguana the entire time. Once they relax, iguanas love to be stroked and petted.
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When you notice that your iguana is starting to seek out your touch, it's time to start picking him up.Make sure that both of your hands are under his belly and that your touch is gentle--yet firm enough for your iguana to feel comfortable. Keep your movements slow and speak to the animal in a calming manner.
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Pick up your iguana at least once a day.
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Once your iguana is comfortable being picked up, it's time to start teaching him some basic words. The words every iguana should know are "no," "bad" and "good." Make sure you speak in a tone of voice that will show your iguana you are either pleased or unhappy with whatever he has done.
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