Iggy Enrichment

By  Veronica Jennings

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Igs do not play with toys the way a dog or cat dogs. There have been stories of igs having "fun" though as they find a game they particularly enjoyed at the moment. Some igs have been said to use their caretaker's legs as a slide to be taken over and over again. Some have been known to launch from a piece of furniture onto a slippery surface and slide...over and over again. Some hop in and out of the tub...some just hop in and don't come out until made to.

There are ways to enrich the environments our igs live in...and provide some exercise at the same time (especially important for gravid females). Provide lots of climbing obstacles in the cage by using disinfected branches of all sizes, 2x4s wrapped in sisal rope or thick twine, ramps of various textures, etc. Get a clip of some kind that you can attach to the inside of the cage. Clip a whole, or half leaf, and hang it slightly over their head. Some enjoy the challenge of reaching for their food and ripping it off as they would in the wild, some prefer the leaf easier to get, but still enjoy the ripping and shredding part. Set their enclosure near a window. Iguanas are curious...and even though they tend to get lazier as they get older, the mental stimulation of a good dose of bird watching is always good fun. I have watched Zair many times watch the birds and butterflies from the windows. They also watch the kids, dogs, cars go by, people walking by, cats doing what cats do, etc.

Outside time! A plus on many levels. Good UVB is a plus for all ages!! ALWAYS USE A LEASH! A hip leash is the one highly recommended ( http://prismwolf.fotopic.net/p2924443.html ). Depending upon the size of your ig may depend on the way you provide that outdoor time. Always start slowly...about 10 minutes at a time at first, then gradually increase your outside time. A new place to explore always provides mental stimulation, as well as physical. For larger igs this is less intimidating since they are past the baby ig flighty stage where everything is out to eat them...so they think. A baby may do better just being held until they're about 2' long stl. Let them (large and small) look at the new surroundings first from the safety of your hands. Talking to them will help. Show them the carnations and nasturtiums you planted for them. Watch that tongue take in the smells...:D

Once the initial introduction is over and it's time for exploration, think like an ig. What do you think you would like to see?

Have a small dead tree? Let it be climbed. Have an iguana garden? Let them climb through it and allow it to eat right off the plant. Have an outdoor cage? If not, build one! They're inexpensive to build, and with limited supervision they can roam the cage in safety. Just remember to provide fresh water and shade checking outside often.

**A couple of tips here: Often an ig will act up once it's been outside for extended periods of time. UVB energizes them. A LOT! Some even become slightly aggressive. Don't worry...this is a good thing and they usually calm back down after a short while. Also while wandering, keep in mind that igs do enjoy smelling with tongues, so stay away from graveled areas such as driveways and flowerbeds containing small gravel. Make sure your areas are chemical free. If your yard is not chemical free, then provide all the enrichment for inside. If allowing for climbing on old, dead trees, give your ig a quick once-over to check for any parasites of other creepy crawlies that don't belong.