One of the most obvious of these physical adaptations is the presence of the powerful legs, the long toes, and the sharp, curved claws. In the wild, the iguana uses these superbly when walking, running, climbing and leaping. The legs can propel them at surprising speed both along the ground and up trees - something of which you need to be aware if you want to give your iguana a little more freedom. The long toes and sharp claws are used primarily in climbing both up and down branches and trees - they act almost like grappling hooks, or spiked climbing shoes, providing a strong grip on otherwise potentially slippery surfaces. A fall from a great height could result in disaster for an iguana.

Claws in Captivity
The problem with an animal which possesses sharp claws will become apparent to anyone who tries to pick one up. Whether intentionally or not, a swift and determined movement of the foot can result in quite deep scratches along your arm. In the wild, this is part of an iguana�s defence mechanism. An animal bitten, scratched and whipped will be much more likely to look for an easier item to add to its menu. If you�re keeping an iguana in captivity, however, you need to consider the potential effects of their sharp claws. Handling your iguana on a regular basis is an important part of interacting with it if your intentions are to tame it. In addition, regular handling is also important if you want to move the animal around - for example, when you need to clean the enclosure. In such a situation, you don�t want to receive deep scratches each time you attempt to pick the iguana up. Apart from their unsightly appearance, cuts and scratches are a potential source of infection, especially if the claws harbour dirt on the underside - not unusual, as the underside of the claw tip is grooved. There are other disadvantages to your iguana having long claws, and these will be discussed later.

What about age? Should small juveniles have their claws trimmed? It�s certainly a good idea to start early - that way you have more chance of getting the iguana used to the routine of claw trimming. More care must be exercised, however. Juveniles have much smaller claws which are less well-defined than those of older iguanas, and it�s easier to make a mistake. In this case, it may be easier to use a smooth file on the claws, as this minimises any risk of injury, and very little actual claw tip needs to be removed. Once they get used to you �messin�� with their claws (which also gives you the opportunity to check for unshed scales or caught fibres), they�re more likely to co-operate when they get larger - and they do get larger very quickly if you're looking after them properly!

Trimming Iguana Claws
The important thing to remember when trimming (and I use this word instead of cutting for a good reason) claws is not to overdo it. The word trimming implies removing just a small amount of claw, and this is exactly what you need to do.

Figure 1

The second part of the claw is the sharp, curved tip. The top of the claw grows at a faster rate than the lower part, which is why it curves downwards. The claw tip contains no blood vessels or nerves - it is dead, just like the tips of your fingernails. This is the part of the claw you need to cut. It�s best to use a pair of small dog claw trimmers for this - human nail scissors or clippers are not designed for cylindrical claws like an iguana�s, and tend to crush and damage the claw. But how much do you cut off? It�s a good idea to cut no more than half of the claw tip off (see dotted line on diagram). Not only does this reduce the chance of you making a mistake and cutting into the living part of the claw, but it�s also better for your iguana. If you remove too much, your iguana will have very blunt claws, particularly if you file and smooth the end. While this may seem better for you, with less chance of being scratched, it�s a poor deal for the iguana which uses its claws during climbing and may therefore be unable to move around in its enclosure properly. Blunt claws increase the chance of the iguana slipping, especially on branches, and therefore injuring itself. Cutting off no more than half of the tip will ensure that its claws are still sharp enough to be effective, but not so sharp that it makes handling your iguana a hazardous experience.

Iguanas often don�t like having their claws trimmed, although they get used to regular routines - once every two to three weeks if you trim less than half of the claw tip. My iguana has come to accept it as �one of those things� and looks at me as if to say �Go on then, if you really must.� An irregular routine will only be stressful for the animal. If you can, try and get someone else to hold the iguana, preferably in a soft towel, while you do the trimming. Holding the appropriate leg is also a good idea, otherwise sudden movements increase the risk of you making a mistake. If you simply can�t get someone else to help, then there are other solutions, such as trimming claws after the iguana has fallen asleep each night. Don�t try and rush through the job - be slow and methodical, dealing with claws in the same order each time.

Once the claw has been trimmed, make sure the end is clean and tidy. Split claws will trap dirt, which may be transferred to your skin if you�re scratched. If you do make a mistake and cut into the living claw, make sure you clean the tip of the claw with a sterile swab. The wound should stop bleeding quickly, but specific products available from your vet can be used to stem the flow of blood more rapidly.

Is Trimming Really Necessary?
Trimming claws on a regular basis is a necessary care requirement when keeping a green iguana in captivity for a number of reasons. I�ve already mentioned the disadvantages to the handler if the iguana�s claws are very sharp. One of the commonest reasons people �give up� on their green iguanas is because they become vicious and aggressive when handled. Taming iguanas requires regular handling, and this can be achieved much more easily if the claws don�t inflict painful and visible wounds every time the animal is picked up. Wearing gloves and long-sleeved tops can overcome this, but gloves should not be necessary from a handling standpoint - in fact, gloves can make it difficult to determine how hard an iguana is being held, which could result in injuries to the iguana through over-enthusiastic handling. Injuries through scratches can also lead to secondary infections in some cases, and claw trimming will help to avoid this.

Another reason for trimming is to benefit the iguanas. In the wild, iguanas tend to do more climbing, running and leaping over a variety of different surfaces than they do in captivity. This provides plenty of opportunities for the claws to be worn down naturally. Captive iguanas which do not have their claws trimmed can eventually develop problems, whereby claws can become too long and curve back on themselves, even injuring the iguana or others in the same habitat as they climb about. As the iguana�s caretaker, it should be your responsibility to keep your iguana in peak condition, and regular claw trimming should be one of the many ways in which you achieve this.