Iguanas are herbivorous and one of the few reptiles that do not hunt smaller animals as prey. They are also quite docile and can develop a tolerant, drama-free relationship with us.
Iguanas raised by humans can be tamed, and this piece will reveal to what extent this level of restraint can be explored. Can iguanas be friendly to us and see us the same way as our dogs and typical household pets do? Let’s find out!
Are Iguanas Friendly?
Iguanas are not naturally friendly to humans and will avoid us as much as possible. Fortunately, they can learn to like us quickly if we treat them right.
Caring for an iguana when young will make it affiliated with you and even like you. It would be more comfortable with you and will never attack you.
Building a relationship with iguanas takes patience and care. Since iguanas are not naturally domestic animals, you must make them trust you with positive reinforcement training.
Wild iguanas are not friendly and will run away from you if you approach them.
Do Iguanas Like Humans?
Iguanas do not naturally like humans. They will avoid us when in nature and will defend themselves when cornered. However, those raised by a caring owner can like their owners and the people they see often.
They will be comfortable with being looked at and will only ever attack if their lives are threatened.
Can You Have an Iguana as a Pet?
Yes. You can have an iguana as a pet, but you will need to dedicate more effort, money, and time to raise one ideally. Iguanas are high-maintenance pets who need regular medical checkups to confirm they are okay.
You must create the perfect house for them to survive and meet their dietary needs at different stages of maturity to keep them healthy.
Also read: 12 Types of Iguanas You Should Know About (With Pictures!)
Can You Train an Iguana to Become Friendly?
It is possible to train an iguana to become friendly. You will need to employ positive reinforcement training where you reward it with treats for every positive effort. You also need to care for it and provide all its needs so it becomes very comfortable with you.
It is essential to know that you need to exercise patience and dedication to get positive results from an iguana pet. Iguanas are very intelligent reptiles that can express social skills. They just need a little nudge to express these emotions.
What Are Iguanas’ Temperament?
Iguanas are not predatory animals and are more collected and calculative. They do not jump into fights and will rather avoid confrontations.
When threatened by a predator or human, iguanas may feign death to be left alone. If they decide to fight, they will give multiple warnings. They typically puff themselves up to appear bigger and more intimidating.
Iguanas’ characteristics and association with humans confirm that they are docile animals that will avoid confrontations as much as possible. You will never really suffer any injury from an iguana if you respect its space and do not try to hurt it.
Also read: What Eats Iguanas? 11 Iguana Predators
Do Iguanas Like Being Petted?
Iguanas in the wild do not like to be petted. They see humans as a threat and do not desire to have any relationship with us. A well-intended touch will scare them and may force them to attack you with their razor-sharp claws and teeth.
You should only ever touch a human-raised iguana after being given the go-ahead by the owner or trainers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Iguanas Good Pets?
Iguanas can be good pets if they are raised positively. Caring for an iguana and ensuring it is always healthy will make it bond with you. It will like you and accept you as its friend and caregiver.
Are Iguanas Nice: Do They Have Feelings?
Iguanas do have feelings. They can get scared, cautious, and excited. They can all feel pain and express affection towards owners by licking them. They are highly intelligent and react to situations based on their feelings and perceptions.
Are Iguanas Affectionate?
Iguanas can express affection. They do so by licking owners and close family members they recognize facially. They also like to sleep close to people they like. Iguanas do not show affection towards each other, especially those of the same gender. It is typical for male iguanas to fight and injure themselves for territorial reasons.
Can Reptiles Bond with Humans?
Reptiles like iguanas can bond with humans. However, most will never achieve that level of familiarity with us. Crocodiles, alligators, komodo dragons, and monitor lizards are territorial and will never recognize us as the perfect family. They are unpredictable and may attack at the spur of a moment.
If you have an iguana, prepare to dedicate time to training and raising it. It will eventually become the perfect you envision.
