Question
2 Igs
Hello! We rescued a small green iguana that someone had abandoned in the park in November. She (we're assuming) was checked out by the vet and deemed "healthy" so we brought her home. We already have an iguana, Iggi, we're assuming he's male. We were cautious about introducing them because Iggi tends to be a little aggressive. After a couple of hours of staring at each other, Iggi started nipping the little one's back and then moved around behind her as if he was going to mount her (this is the main reason we assume she's female). Today, day 2, Iggi began head-bobbing(no dewlap extension), which he's never done before, not even to us. We think he's trying to court her, which is cute, but he's twice her size. Also, when she was found she was cold and stiff, which makes me worried about future health risks. I'm hesitant to leave them alone, so we kept the little one in a separate cage last night. If he's trying to mate with her, is it safe for her, or should we continue to keep them separated when unsupervised? Also, what advice can you give for introducing a new iguana? I don't think Iggi's just being aggressive, because he's been much more social since we brought the little one home. Please help, I want to make sure both of these little guys have a safe, secure, happy environment. Thanks!
AnswerDear Misty,
This is a cute scenario you are describing because it is so typical. I will discuss typical iguana breeding behavior because this sounds like what you are dealing with.
In the wild, iguanas mate towards the end of "summer" (wet season); this is also the time period in which iguanas who previously lived together compatibly may start showing signs of incompatibility. It is sounding like your male may be becoming sexually mature. Once breeding season hits, it will occur about the same time every year. The exact time of year varies among individuals, perhaps due to what region of Central/South America they originally came from. If your iguana reaches the 18 month mark and his or her first season in November, that will be about the time every subsequent year that the season will start.
Anyhow, to get to the point: Yes, it is a VERY good idea to remove that female from the terrarium and get her her own space. Males are VERY aggressive when breeding and will often bite the females on the nape of their necks and draw blood while trying to mount. Some males have been known to kill females during breeding they can get so aggressive.
Adult males who are "in heat" can become very different in their personalities and temperaments. They can be very dangerous to you and to other iguanas and so you should consider any unusual aggressive behavior from him as normal for a male with pent-up sexual frustration. Some iguana owners find that giving the male a "sex toy" to relieve himself works to alleviate some of the aggression. I have heard of using stuffed animals or
From the picture, your male doesn't look like he is big enough yet to inflict serious harm on you, but he really could to that other iguanas being that he is probably much stronger and healthier than her.
Furthermore, even if your male stops his aggression toward your female, it is still a good idea to separate them because whenever two iguanas are housed together there is always going to be a more dominant iguana and a more passive iguana. This usually means that the dominant iguana will soak up most of the heat and UV rays and get the most food, leaving the other iguana to be suppressed and possibly not getting the heat, UV and food that he/she needs.
Please read the following information about males who are breeding:
Males During Breeding Season: Physical Changes - Physical signs that a male iguana is in breeding season are an increase in orange coloring in the skin, an enlargement of the waxy protrusions from the femoral pores (see photo below), and the presence of sperm plugs seen either protruding from the vent or found in the enclosure or habitat area. Sperm plugs are dried packets of semen that often appear as long, translucent orange or cream colored objects. Males in season may also leave fresh semen around too, which is sometimes compared in color and consistency to melted mozzarella cheese.
Males During Breeding Season: Behavioral Changes - Owners of male iguanas should be prepared for possible difficulties when their iguana matures. Since mature iguanas go into breeding season for a period of several weeks, or even months, every year, this is something owners must deal with on a yearly basis. Many male iguanas exhibit behavioral changes during breeding season that can make them very difficult to handle or interact with. Some males can even be dangerous during this time. Behavioral changes may include an increase in head bobbing and display behaviors, an increase in territory patrolling and an increase in territorial defensive behavior. Problems occur when male iguanas defend their territories, which may range from their enclosure, to one room, to an entire house, with violent attacks. These attacks may be initiated by a normally docile male against the owner he usually trusts and has bonded with. These attacks can be unpredictable and severe. Iguanas can deliver serious bites, especially when their owner is caught off-guard. It is imperative that owners of male iguanas be on the lookout for this type of territorial aggression during breeding season. Not all males exhibit this type of behavioral change. Many remain their normal, docile selves. However, the very real possibility exists for this type of behavior, so all owners of mature male iguanas should be prepared for it.
Finally, be sure that you are giving them both sufficient UVB in addition to the common UVA bulb to prevent metabolic bone disease. Also, a balanced diet and a set sleep schedule are great for reducing stress and the healthier they are, the smoother the breeding season will be as iguanas can endure undue stress from not having any of the above things I listed.
Now that you have a sexually mature male, and soon to be female, please spend some significant time researching iguana breeding and the best online sources are:
http://www.greenigsociety.org/breedingseason.htm
http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/breedingbasics.html
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you.
Thank You & Happy Holidays!
Sara J. Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA
www.RaptorRescue.org
My iguanas
QuestionI have a 4 and a half foot male iguana and a 2
Need help!
Question
Serious problem
Mt iguana has developed
Licking
Question
Me and Sylvester
My green iguana was ab
My pet iguana
Question
My iguana tail
My iguana wa trying to r
iguana tail
QuestionHello,
I recently purchased two baby green igu
