Many reptile lovers are tempted to buy the cute baby iguana in the pet store. You should not do so unless you have plenty of experience dealing with reptiles. There are many factors to consider before you commit to taking on an iguana.
First, you must consider they will grow to 6 feet or even a little longer. Green Iguanas need to have plenty of space and their tail can be a dangerous weapon. In fact, they have been known to break a dog’s leg. My 5 ½ foot female iguana (Spiker) would thump it on the floor as a warning to my large 29 Lb. cat.
The teeth are sharp and can draw blood easily. I was only bit once by mistake and it can be painful. You need to have special housing for a full-grown iguana. You could give them a part of a room or a special cage. I had good luck with large wire cat cages with wheels. There were a couple of shelves which is essential. Iguanas like to be off the ground. They love to climb.
The easiest material to use for the floor is a newspaper. Iguanas love water, but their environment must be kept dry. Newspapers are easy to clean. Carpet may hold germs longer, plus there claws are easier to get snagged in the carpet. When cleaning there cage and materials just use hot water and a brush if needed. Using bleach or any other chemicals could be fatal to them.
Iguanas need water for soaking plus it is great exercise. My larger iguanas used to love swimming in a little kiddie pool. The water should be about room temperature. The water will help loosen old skin. The iguanas in their natural environment are used to rain every day.
Green Iguanas need a heat rock to help digest their food. Most people recommend under a tank heater, but depending on your cage that may not be possible. I never had an iguana burn their belly on a hot rock, but I kept a close eye on it.
Iguanas also need a special light such as Vita Light. This helps them process their Vitamin D. If they are kept outside, you will not need to use a light. They should have light about 10-12 hours a day. It should be a little longer in the spring and less in the winter.
Green Iguanas diet will changes as they grow older. When they are younger, they will eat chiefly insects such as crickets and mealworms. Feed them mealworm sparingly since too much will be harmful. As they get older, iguanas will eat mainly vegetables with some fruits and just a touch of protein. Don’t feed lettuce, since it is not healthy for them. My iguanas would love a mixture of greens plus some squash. They like sweet fruits with strawberries and bananas being their favorites. For the protein, about once or twice a month feed some can dog food or even some cooked ground beef like a hamburger. Iguana’s food should be dusted with a special dust found at any pet store. Just follow the directions on the package. One last thing, a Hibiscus Flower is a special treat that are loved by iguanas.
Iguanas should be kept separate. They don’t get along. If you want to breed them, you need to be careful. Male Iguanas are aggressive and have on occasion been known to kill females. As soon as my male iguana (Gizmo) was done breeding with Spiker, the opposite happen. She grabbed him by his spikes and makes him bleed. She backed off once I put my hand in the cage. Before, I had them mate, their cages were side by side to see their reactions together. Males have been known to be aggressive with human females especially during their menstrual cycle.
If you want a tame iguana, it must be handle daily starting at an early age. Heavy-duty gloves and long sleeves will save your body from many scratches. Spiker went thru the terrible twos with her tail whipping. Once she was taken to the pet store to have her nails clipped, her attitude changed completely. Be careful of handling baby iguanas since their tail can break off easily.
If you are lucky iguanas can live 15-20 years in captivity. They are more intelligent than most reptiles. For example, Spiker would know what time I got home from work. If she saw me peeking in the window, she would grab the bowl and shake it. She knew the difference between my two cats and even rested next to the smaller one.
As you can see, there is much to consider if you want to take the baby iguana home. They are not recommended for beginners or people who don’t have plenty of time to spend with them.
