This iguana was eating vegetation around my patio this morning. Upon closer view we noticed that it had a split tail. I thought it would be interesting to show you all this oddity.

I put a few more pictures in my albums in my CP. Just click on my name to view those.

__________________
1.3 veileds and 0.1 ambilobe

wow you should catch that , its prolly worth so much money to some freak

You should proballey catch him. Some unusual animal collectors would love to have him

__________________
Sage, 1.0 male veiled chameleon
GO BEARS

How do you catch an iguana?

__________________
1.3 veileds and 0.1 ambilobe

Big leather gloves and nerves of steel .

Actually you can pick them up without gettin tore up too bad. Only if you put one hand at the base of the tail from the top, and the other under its chest. The rear legs are the ones to worry about and the tail, or tails in the case. By grabbing the top of the tail just behind the rear legs, both are ineffective for defense. The other hand under the chest is more of a comfort thing for them, they feel secure and calm down usually. Im right handed and usually go for the tail with the right hand as they are very strong back there. Of course that doesn't work if you can't get close enough to him.

And if you do, be careful. All the claws and tail can and will cut you open if given the chance. Also they are heavier than you would expect, and its all muscle. My 4 1/2' female is close to 16 pounds. Being that they weigh soo much you have to be careful to not grab too far back on the tail, or it may break off. Which it looks as tho that one already lost the tip and it regrew two new ones. The new tail growth will look black like that one does.

If ya can't get close to em and still want him try some cat food. For some reason mine runs to it everytime she gets out of the cage, just before pooping. Its not good for them, the proteins wreck their liver. But she seems to love it.

Thanks for sharing!

You might have better luck using a large net, if you have one. I owned iguanas for many years, and they will bite HARD if threatened, as well as claw the heck out of you and lashing those tails like a bull whip. They are also very fast, so it would be hard to just go up and catch one. Also, if you have a garage or shed you could lure him/her into with food, and then shut the door, that might be an option. I've never seen one with a split tail like that, it's pretty amazing. Oh, and definitely do not grab the tail only, as they will just drop their tails and run off, and you are left with a (still squirming, ewwww!) tail in your hands.

Please do NOT feed cat food!!!! Yes, they will go after it, but animal protein destroys their kidneys and liver. Ichabod, my first rescue iguana, had been fed animal protein to "bulk him up" by his previous owners. That along with horrific caging conditions left him with barely functioning organs, deformed bones and back legs that were almost useless. Oh, but he was very bulked up, how nice. He only lived another couple of years after I rescued him before dying of massive organ failure at age 6 despite every effort the vet and I made for him. My next iguanas never ate animal protein in their lives, were still plenty "bulky" (4'6" females) though it actually took PATIENCE and good diet instead of a quick "steroid-fix" with killer animal protein, and both lived to be nearly 18 years old. No matter how much they may love it, it will kill them in the end, so don't do it!!

Most iguanas are pigs for fruit, even though the greens are better for them. If you lure him/her in with a big plate of leafy greens (mustard greens, collard greens) topped with berries, shredded apple, and even some shredded orange squash, you might be able to stage a capture. Also they love dandelions (the leaves and the yellow flowers), if you have access to any that are not sprayed with chemicals or polluted by proximity to a heavily traveled road (car exhaust and spilled oil).

Keep us posted if you decide to give it a try!

__________________
Wendy (1 veiled cham, 3 red eye tree frogs, 1 ball python, 1 gecko, 3 parrots, 3 cats)

I have never been able to get close to them. Only time is when I am behind sliding glass doors and they come up on my patio. Can't say that makes me close, lol

__________________
1.3 veileds and 0.1 ambilobe

maybe you should try to offer him some food and i'll be on the roof with a cast net and a ninja suit on and we can split the profit, if you can catch me after i deploy my ninja smoke screen

lol also that would prolly hurt to get lashed with a double whip, but how would i know

I wasn't suggesting her feed it the cat food as a staple, nor do I feed it to mine. Mine gets mostly collards and dandelions with fruits thruout the week. Even still, she jumps out and runs to the cat dishes on the floor. Cant be there all the time, and she lets herself out. So she gets some here and there when we aren't around to stop it.... I never said I fed her cat food, only that she runs to it, and she is now 13 years old.

Secondly, the grabbing by the base of the tail is a very common way of holding them. Reptile certified vet taught me. Its right at the base of the tail behind the legs. They cannot shed the tail this far up. Your basically gripping them around the cloaca when its done right. And as I said it stops the bullwhip and the rear claws.

yea that would be a shame if she went to catch him and he simply dropped his tail, that would really suck, i wonder if it would grow back double?