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 #1764868


Gone green
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 I’ve been asked this question alot:

can i keep my igs together?, this post is from melissa kaplins site. she does mention it is possible at certain stages in there lives.but as igs are solitary creatures naturally and that the chances of the ownerknowing exactly when the right stages or starting or ending it is safest to not do so.

Agonistic behavior are those behaviors associated with dominance. They may be overtly aggressive, including such behaviors as chasing, attacking, butting, posturing, etc. Agonistic behaviors can be quite subtle; if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of one of your iguana’s "looks," that out-of-the-back-of-their-eye glare, or sniff of disdain, then you have some idea of just how effective it can be! By mere posture, a subtle or minor shift in position, one iguana can keep another away from food, water and basking areas. This will result not only in a malnourished iguana, it also results in a great deal of stress. Prolonged stress affects the functioning of the immune system, suppressing it, resulting in greater susceptibility to infection, increase in colonies of otherwise commensal worms and protozoans, ultimately leading to failure to thrive, even death.

Igs don’t even have to be housed together for this to happen - just being able to see another iguana who demonstrates agonistic behavior may be enough to affect a subordinate ig.

The size of the iguana alone does not determine who will be dominate and who subordinate. I’ve big igs who are wimps and small tough guys. I’ve had males come in and immediately signal submission who later got healthy enough and well-balanced enough to start challenging the alpha and beta males. I’ve had females come in and displace the alpha female and even challenge the alpha male. I’ve had igs who were too chicken to challenge any of the other igs but who will, at the drop of a hat, challenge humans, the tortoises, the geckos, or their mirrored reflections. Some just carefully look around to make sure they are alone...then bob and posture to their heart’s content, seemingly encouraged by the fact that no one’s around to challenge back.



06/18/08  12:03pm

 #1827104


Gone green
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   Message To: Gone green   In reference to Message Id: 1764868


 I’ve been asked this question alot:

bump
08/11/08  02:16pm


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