Iguana Care - What Is Important

Introduction

Iguanas are found in the forests of South and Central America.  They are wonderful adaptable creatures. They live on trees; deep inside the thick foliage and their places of habitation are close to sources of water.

Close to 30% of iguanas which are sold in pet stores are able to survive till they attain maturity.  This is due to the stress they have to undergo during transportation and also because of insufficient care and nourishment.  The ones which survive are rescued by agencies; some of them are left to their fate due to their large size, ferociousness and activity.  A good environment and proper diet and care would be of great help and they can be tamed into pets.

Housing Requirements

While buying a cage, be sure that you buy a cage much larger than required.   For a small iguana, you would need to buy a cage which is 3 feet in length and 1 ½ feet in width and 1 ½ feet in height.  The growth of an iguana is very fast in the first 3 years, so you need to buy or construct housing accordingly.

Temperature requirements

The cage should be made in such a way that your iguana is comfortable with the changes in the temperature.  Make sure you have placed thermometers so as to monitor the temperatures. Ideally the night time temperature should be maintained between 23.8 to 26.6 C.

Cage Furnishings

A good sized cage with plenty of warmth and lighting is ideal for a young iguana.  Make arrangements for some climbing areas.  If you place some real plants, the iguana would just trample it.  Real plants which are non toxic like philodendron, spider plants and pothos can be placed so that they do not cause harm to the iguana, even if eaten.   Make sure you create more green foliage with lot of leaves and branches, within the cage to make the iguana feel comfortable.

Food and Diet

Place a water bowl so that your iguana can drink fresh water.   Moisture requirements of an iguana are fulfilled from the food it eats; hence make sure the food you give him has lot of water content.

The diet of an iguana should consist of 35% of fresh greens.  The rest of the diet could be made from shredded and finely chopped fresh vegetables.  Fresh fruits can also be added to the diet.  Some of the greens like turnip greens, dandelion, collard greens, fresh hibiscus leaves may be offered.  Herbs like cilantro, oregano and basil may also be fed.  They also like to have carrots and oranges.    Make sure you feed your iguana with protein rich food like alfalfa tablets, powdered alfalfa and alfalfa food pellets.  Add these to the salad.    Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, plums, dates, grapes, soaked raisins etc are enjoyed by iguanas.

Personal hygiene of your iguana

Make sure you provide a large Tupperware basin or container where the iguana’s body can fit. He may want to defecate in this water area and cleaning becomes easier for you.  Encourage your iguana to defecate in this water area, so that maintaining the cage becomes hassle free.

Iguana Care Sheet

This brief iguana care sheet would help you understanding how to take care of your young iguana.  Make sure you understand about your pet so that you are able to do justice to your pet.

1) Make sure you do your research and homework and do not rely on your pet store fully.  Sometimes, it so happens that even pet stores do not have the complete information.

2) Ensure you buy the right set before you get your iguana home.   You need to keep the cage ready before you get this mammal home.

Plan ahead so that you do not end buying a smaller size aquarium. Your iguana would grow very quickly and you would have to reserve a separate room for him.

3) Your iguana would require a basking lamp, fixtures like tube light for keeping the cage well lit.  An under tank heating pad would also be required and this would depend on the iguana’s size.

The iguana’s cage would include basking limb, water, hide box.  Young iguanas like to drink fresh water.

4) The diet would include fresh greens like collards, mustard, turnips, dandelion greens.  You could also feed him a salad made from peas, green beans, sweet potatoes.

Enough amounts of calcium supplements without adding D3 should be fed.  Make sure you read the labels on the supplements.  Make sure you do not overdo the supplements.

5) Ensure that the lights are not on even during the night time.  Just like humans, iguanas do not need lights all night.  Make sure to place at least 2 thermometers in the cage to monitor the temperatures.  Thermostat devices are helpful since they help in controlling the temperatures.

Ensure that your iguana is receiving the right amount of warmth.  This is important for it to help in digestion and the temperatures needs to be maintained at 85 degrees. The temperatures can be correctly monitored if you use the thermometers.

6) Iguanas should be fed a proper diet.  Do not be slack in this.  Make sure you chop the pieces of food, so that it is easier for your iguana to eat the food.    Iguanas do not have the habit of chewing the food; instead they gulp it down completely.

Make sure you take your iguana to a qualified vet in your locality for regular check-ups.

7) Do your own research and find out facts for yourself.  Also get in touch with other people who own iguanas.  They would be able to guide you properly.