Caring For An Iguana

Green iguanas are rapidly growing, intelligent lizards requiring extensive taming and socializing to become good family pets. In just five years iguanas can reach up to six feet in length! With careful attention to their specific environmental and dietary requirements iguanas can live 10 to 15 years, or even longer.

Green Iguana Caresheet General Through consistent daily handling your iguana will become tame, though at first it may try to whip you with its tail, bite or scratch. To lift, place one hand under the pelvis and one under the chest, then carry your iguana resting along your forearm. Allow plenty of exercise outside the enclosure, in a safe, iguana-proofed area. Housing A 55-gallon glass tank is suitable for a hatchling, but in a year will be too small, as your pet will continue to need larger enclosures as it grows. Use paper or towels, artificial turf or washable carpet on the floor. Avoid newspaper, kitty litter, wood shavings, gravel, sand, and bark. Install a hiding box, climbing branch and shelves to rest on, as well as an under-tank heating pad to maintain daytime temps between 76-88° F and humidity around 75%. Provide a basking area of 88-95° F at least 12 hours a day, using a basking light or ceramic heating element (100-150 watts). At night keep temperatures at 73-84°F with a heat light (60-100 watts) or ceramic heating element. UVA and UVB light is essential for good health. Choose a 'full spectrum' fluorescent light specifically designed for reptiles (not all 'full spectrum' lights provide UVB light) and securely fix it 12-15 inches above the iguana, controlled by timer to give a 12 hour day/night cycle. Natural sunlight is even better! Diet Feed your iguana primarily dark leafy greens (60% -70%) with a small amount of grated vegetables and a bit of fruit. Good choices are collards, mustard, dandelions, escarole and watercress. Avoid iceberg lettuce. Sprinkle alfalfa pellets, powder, or crushed tablets over the fresh food and mix. Commercial alfalfa-based iguana food may be offered in addition to fresh foods. Iguanas should never be offered meat or dairy products. Calcium supplements can be beneficial breeding females. Vitamin and mineral supplementation are generally unnecessary and may even be harmful (consult your vet). Clean drinking water should always be available. Cleaning Remove waste daily. Wash your iguana's enclosure and equipment weekly, and disinfect. Health Be sure to locate an experienced reptile veterinarian. Be observant, any change in normal appearance or behavior may indicate an illness or injury needing treatment. Warnings Never use "hot rocks" for your iguana as they can cause serious burns. Reptiles may carry salmonella bacteria, so good hygiene is essential.

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