Moon's Graden

Strange behavior from Spike the iguana last night, but he may have been
pouting since my roommate moved out with his favorite recliner chair.  
First thing he did when I took him out was walk over to where the chair
used to be, flick his tongue a bit, and then give me a dirty look.  
Clearly "where's the chair, Mom?"  Then he wanders around a bit and
disappears.  I finally notice a bit of tail sticking out from between
some couch pillows and find him buried under the pillows, really
burrowed in.  I took him out, and ten minutes later he climbed back in
there again.  I've never noticed him hiding like that.  Is it normal
behavior?  Should I provide him with places to hide inside his tank?
(Difficult to provide a place for a 2 1/2 foot lizard to hide!)

-Beth

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I've noticed that everytime I move (apartemtns that is), my iguanas need
to find their own safe palces to bask/sleep.  Until they do I find them
hiding in the oddest places- behind the tolit, under the dresser, inside
of dresses in the closet (lizards don't look good in lace).  Once they
find someplace safe they stop hiding.  You may just need to set
something up to replace the chair.  I put a towel ontop of a cage, and
spot lighted it. That seemed to sufice my lizards.

If you really want to give your ig a hiding place, believe it or not a
shoe box will work for that size ig.  I have a very panicky 2 year old
that flips out anytime a large iguana or person moves quickly near his
cage.  This is a new occurance (he used to have a much more secluded
cage.  His new cage is to big to tuck away), and out of deperation I put
a shoe box with a door cut in one end into his cage.  He dove in, and
somehow fit his entire 3 foot length inside. The box is about 2 inches
longer then his body, and he wrapes his tail around himself like a cat.  
He likes it, and readily dives into it for cover whenever destraut.
(usually about twice a day).

Hope this helps.

Pamela

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I've noticed then everytime I move my iguanas need to find a new safe
place to sleep/bask.  If they can't find one, they will go someplace
like behind the tolit, under the dresser, inside a dress, and hide.  
Your iguana may just need to have a new safe place provided for him.

It also may be a seasonal thing.  My 3' iguana is easily intimated and
will panic at the site of a larger iguana even though he's safely in his
own cage.  This only happens during sumemr and fall when the oldest goes
into a headbobbing freanzy.  I just take a shoe box, cut a door way in
one end, and he can fit his entire body inside somehow.  Often, he'll
sit with his head and front legs out the front of the box, and act like
a turtle going in and out of his shell while I clean his cage around
him.  (He comes out and basks when the room is completely silent and all
other igs are away).

Pamela

My wife and I had to move Mikey's cage so it is not close to the air
conditioner.  For weeks afterward, he'd still wave his arms and sometimes
take his customary flying leap to where the cage used to be.  It was
almost as if he could still see it there.

Mark Garvin

Hmmm..I'd let him stay there until he wanted to come out...I am no VET or
animal training specialist...but it coldn't hurt...and he'll probably
waddle out on his own...

That is unless you see someone about to sit down there : )

Adios,

Flynn