Compared to other reptiles, green iguanas make great pets as they are generally very docile.However, when agitated, these calm animals can deliver very painful bites indeed! Though their venom glands are weak, they possess very sharp, small teeth which they use to tear plants and leaves.These serrated teeth are capable of causing a lot of damage and can cause severe complications if left untreated. If you own a pet iguana and live in an area where wild green iguanas are present, then it is very important to educate yourself on what an aggressive iguana looks like, so that you do not get bitten. To learn more about these interesting iguanas, read on!What warning signs do iguanas display?Iguanas may bite people, even their owners, for a variety of reasons. However, you can easily avoid these attacks from your pet iguana by learning to read the warning signs.Pet iguanas are usually not aggressive but become stressed, aggressive, or territorial under certain conditions, which will cause them to lash out. Although their bites are not venomous, they are very dangerous because iguanas’ teeth are designed to tear off leaves and other plant material, rather than for chewing. A pet’s tiny serrated teeth can in fact dig very deep and cause a lot of damage to a hand or other parts of a human body if an owner is not careful! This reptile also clamps down hard when biting, which makes it very difficult to shake off and can increase the severity of the injury.Fortunately, an iguana will act in a certain manner before it attacks, because of which an owner can easily learn to dodge these attacks or stop handling their pet until it calms down. When an iguana is stressed, it will hiss at a human, extend its dewlap (the flap of loose skin at its neck), or change its body language to become more stiff or reclusive. It will usually move its tail from side to side, which shows that it is angry. It may also stand up on its front legs and lean forward, which is a sure sign that it is preparing to attack. Bobbing its head from side to side is also an indication that it is uncomfortable.Wild iguanas are commonly found in tropical areas like Florida, Brazil, the rainforests of Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is considered wise not to approach these wild reptiles as they are not used to being handled at all and will most definitely bite any humans approaching them as they will perceive anything larger than them as a threat.How To Avoid Getting BittenIf you own a pet iguana or are attempting to remove a wild one from your yard, then there are a few precautions that you can take to avoid being bitten.Pet owners must properly socialize their animals as well as teach them to react well to being handled from childhood. Be patient and gentle during the process, and do not rush into handling them. Gradually making your pets used to your touch and presence will make them very open to being handled once they are grown up, and will reduce the risk of future injuries. First of all, read an iguana’s body language. Understanding how an agitated iguana acts can help you retreat until it has calmed down.If you see an agitated iguana, do not approach it loudly or with sudden movements. Doing so can make you look like a threat and can make it more aggressive. Be slow and gentle until you reach the reptile, and then gently pick it up. Try approaching from the side, so that your shadow does not fall on the animal and startle it. Keep your arm under its belly to support its body and tail, while restraining it with your other arm.If an iguana clamps onto you, you can get it to detach itself by covering its nose with an alcohol-soaked cloth. Attempting to forcefully remove it will only lead to more injuries.The Danger Of Iguana BitesIguana bites are not very venomous, but they can still be incredibly painful. Iguanas possess venomous glands which produce a very weak and harmless venom, which does not cause a lot of damage to humans. However, they have many small, serrated teeth which can easily tear into the skin and leave deep wounds.As iguanas are primarily herbivorous in nature, they do not use their venom to incapacitate prey but rather as a means of self-defense. In fact, their sharp teeth are useful to them because they mostly eat plants. Herbivorous lizards require sharp, serrated teeth with a strong bit force in order to tear off leaves and chew them properly for ingestion.Iguana bites are also prone to becoming infected and can cause serious health problems. Iguanas can carry salmonella in their guts and mouths, as well as a host of other dangerous bacteria, which may transfer to the wound through the bite. These can be very difficult to treat, as the microorganisms are resistant to a lot of regular antibiotics, so specialized treatment is required. Since their teeth are tiny and clamp onto the body, they may also break off in the skin, which can cause severe infection, and even tetanus if not removed properly.Why do iguanas bite?A new iguana in the house can tend to show territorial aggression, especially when around other iguanas. If your pet tries to show territorial aggression, the best thing to do is to leave it alone until it calms down, as trying to sort out any conflict between a group of iguanas can result in getting bitten! If there is any need to remove this reptile from its enclosure, then make sure that it is done swiftly and without making eye contact with it.They also become unusually aggressive during the mating season, especially males. They may try to attack you if there is no female present. Male iguanas may clamp down onto your skin. Though the bite, in this case, is not very dangerous, attempting to remove male iguanas can lead to increased aggression, leading to them causing serious damage to your skin. In this case, it is best to leave your iguana alone in its enclosure until it overcomes its mating urges.Iguanas also bite when provoked, so teasing your pet too much or accidentally hurting it may cause it to lash out and deliver painful bites. They may also lash out if they are scared or stressed out. Handling your pet iguana too much can result in potential injury, as a scared and stressed iguana will attack once it reaches its breaking point. To avoid this, avoid handling your iguana too much, and be gentle whenever you touch it. Do not make these lizards feel cornered or trapped, as this can make them aggressive and prone to deliver bites.Treating An Iguana BiteIf you have in fact been bitten by an iguana, then the number one priority is to properly treat it before it becomes worse. Untreated or ignored bites can become infected, or become gateways to a number of dangerous bacteria to enter your system.First, wash the wound properly with water to flush out any saliva around the wound. Be careful if there are any teeth embedded and try to remove them with tweezers. Wash the wound with mild soap to remove any impurities. Once this is done, dry the bite thoroughly and then apply an antibacterial ointment or cream. Wash the wound every day and repeat the process to make it heal fasterHowever, if the wound is very deep, then you may need to seek professional help. Attempting to forcefully remove an iguana that has latched onto you can cause it to bite harder, causing very serious injuries. In this case, you may require stitches to close the wound. If this is the case, seek immediate medical attention as incorrectly handling the wound can lead to an infection.In rare cases, a large bite from an iguana can actually cut the tip of your finger off! To avoid such serious injuries, it is very important to be aware of what an agitated iguana looks like and to not approach it under any circumstances. Being aware of the warning signs from both wild and tame iguanas can save people from sustaining painful bites.Precautions Iguana Owners Can TakeThe best precautions iguana owners can take is to sensitize them to being handled and touched from a young age.Being gentle and patient with tame iguanas as they grow can work wonders, and make them confident and loving around owners as well as new people. Improperly trained pets can also deal an extremely dangerous bite if agitated, which is why taming them as early as possible is necessary. Making this animal comfortable around you and able to trust you will reduce its chances of biting you greatly, as well as prevent accidental injuries.
Compared to other reptiles, green iguanas make great pets as they are generally very docile.
