Iguanas - Feelings?

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Starcat WhipperSnapper Xta Trogdor Zechriel TurtleBites Spiny-ig Reptilesrock WhipperSnapper Iluviggy Razeraze

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#355653

Starcat
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Feelings?

Do you think that they (iguanas) actually love us back? Mine has been being really sweat to me lately, way nicer then normal!! We have had her for about a month now and she is about 13 months old. She was sick when we got her, then she got better and she was kind of mean, and the last 2 days or so she has been really nice. I don’t know maybe she’s just getting used to us. I try and take her out and spend as much time with her as I can everyday, We have a little routine. LOL
I just hope she likes me.

05/28/05 02:21am

#355703

WhipperSnapper
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Message To: Starcat In reference to Message Id: 355653

Feelings?

My IG always rubs against my neck when chillin on my shoulder. Maybe hes thanking me for rubbing his dulap? Godzilla will always turn his head for a kiss too. heh

05/28/05 06:25am

#355758

Xta
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Message To: Starcat In reference to Message Id: 355653

Feelings?

Most people say they don’t have those type of emotions but they do at least have instincts of trust and distrust. They obviously prefer some people over others. Some iguanas seem to seek out people and possibly want attention. If you spend a lot of time with your iguana and bring him back to health, a bond may be formed. I felt that more with my last iguana. Slee tolerates me but I don’t think he loves me by any stretch of the imagination! lol

05/28/05 09:55am

#355789

Trogdor
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Message To: Xta In reference to Message Id: 355758

Feelings?

I really doubt they have feelings. I think XTA hit the nail on the head. Iguanas are all instict. they know where their food comes from so they tolerate us. I wish they could love and have other feelings but I know with Bruce he is very trusting and then remembers that he has a tail Perfect for whipping.

He could be sitting on me for an hour with no problems and then BAM! for no reason a tail in the face. If they do have feelings I would say it is humor.

05/28/05 10:42am

#357365

Zechriel
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Message To: Trogdor In reference to Message Id: 355789

Feelings?

This subject is so up for grabs. Eisa may not LOVE us, but she trusts us more than her previous owners. She’s much tamer and getting bigger. My youngest daughter has 3 mice in which the females are very tame and will come when they’re names are called, right into your hand. my son’s snake used to curl up on my lap and fall asleep so again the trust and some tolerance cause I used to kiss his head.
i think though animals may not have those higher, elevated emotions that humans have, they may have soemthing more primal and raw. And on that level, they can connect with us. Sorry so deep, but when it comes to all babies, I’m just a spiritual person :)~

05/30/05 08:56am

#357823

TurtleBites
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Message To: Zechriel In reference to Message Id: 357365

Feelings?

well if they should emotion tords us i think my girl absolutely hates me..lol...unless I’m feeding her then shes nice...any other time she just tolerates me ...but i still love her the same.

05/30/05 07:10pm

#357931

Spiny-ig
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Message To: TurtleBites In reference to Message Id: 357823

Feelings?

Hard topic...

Most of my past experience with turtles and tortoises left me believing that they were "loving" because they associated people with food. My igs are different.

Dwayne, our female spiny-tail ig has never liked or appreciated our presence, even though we are the bringers of food. She still runs from us, though we’ve had her about 1 1/2 yrs. She doesn’t hiss or threaten to bite anymore, but definitely doesn’t like us. Our little rhino ig we’ve had since 1 month old is a sweet-heart, and though she sometimes wants to be left alone, she generally likes to be fed, pet, and taken out to play. She might not "love" us, but definitely appreciates the food we bring and the feeling of being pet. She seems to "love" us more, or at least what she gets from us.

We love them both, and both are quite entertaining with their little personalities. Live and let live I suppose. Emotionally, I think either would be quite traumatized by new owners...not necessarily because they "love" us, but because they are used to us and trust us to feed them, pet them or leave them alone, and are used to our mannerisms.

05/30/05 08:40pm

#357953

Reptilesrock
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Message To: Spiny-ig In reference to Message Id: 357931

Feelings?

All animals have emotions and feelings. Iguanas included. My iguana gets ticked off if I don’l let him out of the cage. There’s the emotion of anger. My iguana loves his food and gets excited when I feed him. There’s the emotions of happiness. So don’t tell me iguanas don’t have feelings.

05/30/05 09:05pm

#357993

WhipperSnapper
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Message To: Reptilesrock In reference to Message Id: 357953

Feelings?

Yeah, if I’m not home to let my IG out of the cage when he wants he will tear up the paper at the bottem of his cage and flip the food dish over. happens every time

05/30/05 10:03pm

#359659

Iluviggy
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Message To: WhipperSnapper In reference to Message Id: 357993

Feelings?

i would say that igs don’t love us back, but do have certain simpler emotions or maybe it’s just instincts that might be confused w/ emotions. hard to say for sure. i’ve had mine for neartly 4 years now and she will do anything to keep me away from her. i’ve always treated her gently and cared for her well, always interacted w/ her, pet her, talked to her softly, etc... but every time i come near her, she flinches. i have a very high strung, stuck up ig for the most part.. lol.. except on occasion, like when treats are involved. then she suddenly becomes my best friend!

06/01/05 06:57pm

#359701

Razeraze
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Message To: Iluviggy In reference to Message Id: 359659

Feelings?

this topic has been thoroughly discussed in the ball python forum
"does he love me". i posted all kinds of scientific behavior studies and associative learning overriding instinctive behavior. along with on the monitor "man i was surprised" site i have posted plenty of arguments showing any species can learn. for example Britain using bees to sniff out bombs. also there is mention of the reptile (or the r-complex) parts of the human brain. the most primitive gray matter left on the planet. it is the bases of emotion, fear,hunger,survival,lust or mating,territorial dominance, etc. check out the other forums and research it yourself creature and human behavior is fascinating.

06/01/05 07:50pm

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