Why Does My Iguana Bob Its Head?

Is your iguana showing relaxed bobbing, almost like it's thanking you (quick, in up and down directions)?

Is your iguana raising its body, and extending its dewlap (skin under the chin) while bobbing head up and down?

Is your iguana exhibiting twitching head bobs?

If your iguana's eyes are relaxed and not fixed on you (or another object) while it's bobbing its head, this is a form of greeting. Your iguana might also head bob if it wants to thank you after a meal, as a friendly gesture.

If your iguana sees any threat in you, other iguanas, or animals, it will try to defend its territory. To show dominance, your iguana will try to raise its body, its dewlap (skin under the chin) will extend and it will bob its head up and down. If your iguana is not in a good mood or feels seriously threatened – it will head bob to show its frustration and readiness to attack. In this case, the iguana will also move its tail around and try to whip the tail and its eyes will be fixed on you.

If you are trying to approach your iguana and it starts twitching its head quickly from side to side and up to down, this means that it wants to be left alone. This sign is similar to an aggressive one but is less dangerous. Your iguana might also perform these jerky head-bobbing movements when it wants another iguana/lizard to leave it alone or not to approach it at all.

If it’s your iguana’s breeding period, you might notice its head bobbing. On top of that, your iguana is likely to become more aggressive (males especially). Breeding head bobs tend to be jerky (vibrating head bobs) from side to side. Males are more likely to bob their heads during the breeding season, but females can do it too – especially if the male is around. Head bobs are one of the main iguana breeding behaviors.