This size often surprises people who start with a little baby iguana. Therefore, an aquarium or a small reptile enclosure is a very short-lived home for a young iguana. Many iguana owners opt for custom-built enclosures complete with many ramps, shelves, and branches that this tree-dwelling species can climb. An adequate enclosure for a single iguana is around 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 8 feet tall.
Also, clean the food and water dishes daily. Once a week, move your iguana to a temporary cage to clean its main enclosure. Discard the substrate the bedding that absorbs waste and odors , and scrub all surfaces and decorations, such as rocks, with a pet-safe cleaner. Wait for everything to dry thoroughly before reassembling the enclosure. The iguana is a tropical animal. It wants to bask at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and its habitat shouldn't drop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
In fact, the iguana needs a temperature around 85 degrees Fahrenheit to properly digest its food. This should be closely monitored, especially if you're adjusting the climate of an entire room for its habitat.
You can use heat lamps typically positioned less than a foot away from basking ledges follow the instructions on your particular light to achieve an optimal temperature. A large enclosure means a lot of lighting. Use UVB bulbs designed for reptiles to provide your iguana with appropriate light exposure for 10 to 12 hours per day. This mimics the benefits it would get from natural sunlight, namely promoting vitamin D production. Mercury vapor bulbs can be used for large enclosures or rooms, while compact fluorescent lights or tubes can work for small enclosures.
Large branches and shelves in the enclosure will allow your tree-dwelling iguana to climb up and bask in these lights. A wood substrate, or bedding, is typically fine for iguanas. Because they're a tree-dwelling species, they spend most of their time climbing instead of burrowing in their bedding.
Fresh food is the key to a healthy iguana. Iguanas in the wild are strict herbivores. They avoid eating animal protein, including insects. In fact, diets high in protein can cause health issues, such as kidney failure, in an iguana.
In addition to a quality pelleted commercial diet, provide your iguana with dark leafy greens, some fruit, and a calcium supplement. Plus, iguanas need fresh water available at all times. Follow your veterinarian's instructions on the quantity to feed to maintain a healthy weight for your pet's size.
Like most pet reptiles, iguanas carry salmonella. But humans can acquire it from touching the iguana or items in its environment. Head Bobbing - Head bobbing is found in many lizards, iguanas are no exception.
This behavior is primarily initiated when the iguana is trying to be the aggressor or dominant in a situation. Iguana Biology - Important Thing to Know. Your iguana has some features that are important to understand and know about. It is believed, however, that iguanas can use their parietal eye to discern the absence and presence of light. The Nasal Salt Gland. All green iguanas have nasal salt glands.
On rare occasions, these glands can fill up with salty fluid. This problem can be caused by diet. If your iguana has persistent nasal discharge, schedule a visit with a specialized iguana or reptile vet. How Often do Iguanas Shed?
Baby iguanas shed every 4 - 6 weeks, while adult iguanas only shed about once a year. They may not always shed at the same time of year. If your iguana is having trouble shedding the old skin, it is sometimes helpful to gently soak the iguana in some water, or spray and moisten the enclosure. Recommended Checkups for an Iguana. When you first buy a new iguana, we recommend having a specialized reptile vet examine your new pet. It is also a good idea to bring your new friend in on a yearly basis for a physical exam including a fecal and blood work to ensure a long and healthy life.
Common Iguana Health Concerns. Many iguanas have infections or parasites that they contracted in captivity before arriving at your home. These infections are commonly caused by overcrowding, travel or poor husbandry. Any infection or parasite infestation is easier to deal with at the beginning of the presentation of illness. This is another reason that it is so important to bring your new pet iguana to an exotic vet for an initial check-up, even if they appear healthy.
Every iguana is different and blood work can determine if your pet has any underlying conditions including mineral deficiencies. Even with the proper diet, some iguanas need nutritional supplements.
A yearly exams allow the doctors to get a general baseline of health for each individual iguana. The following is a list of signs or symptoms which might indicate that your iguana is sick. If you observe these in your iguana, we recommend scheduling an appointment with an iguana vet nearby. The following is a list of iguana emergencies. If you witness these, seek medical care right away. Contact us about your iguana emergencies if you live in the NY area!
Iguanas at LIBEVC are given large enclosures where they get daily well-diversified herbivorous meals that would make any vegan proud! Daily handling is also available if your iguana enjoys free-time.
Pets We Treat. All Birds. Small Mammals. The Natural History of Iguanas. How to Care for Your Pet Iguana.
An Important Note about Electricity Reptiles and iguanas in particular require many different electrical systems to maintain their proper living conditions. Water In the wild, iguanas live near a water source. Iguana Biology - Important Thing to Know Your iguana has some features that are important to understand and know about.
The Nasal Salt Gland All green iguanas have nasal salt glands. Recommended Checkups for an Iguana When you first buy a new iguana, we recommend having a specialized reptile vet examine your new pet.
A hiding place and basking branches are a must. For substrates , cage carpeting can be utilized and is the easiest to maintain with Iguanas, as well as other substrates such as Eco Earth, ReptiBark, or Forest Floor. An incandescent light or ceramic heater should be the chief source of heat for this lizard. UV lights can also be used 10 to 12 hours daily along with the incandescent light for basking during the day.
All iguanas should be housed separately from other iguanas and other reptile species. They do shed their skin, too, so making sure that humidity allows for the shedding process to take place and providing a shedding container for the iguana to immerse itself in can be important. Sometimes this lizard may even need a nail trim. With regular, daily handling this reptile can become rather tame and nonchalant about human interaction.
Sometimes the Green Iguana may bob its head up and down as a way to communicate with you! Although they are generally friendly and calm, some males may show signs of being territorial, though. If you are looking for a long-term relationship with a pet that, though it may require quite a bit of maintenance and care, is very rewarding and provides a unique pet parenting experience especially for a reptile, then this pet may be just right for you!
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