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Pet Iguana Care Information
Pet iguana care is not nearly as simple as the green iguana's pet trade price tag has made it out to be. Those that purchase them as a cheap and easy beginner reptile soon learn that there is a lot more to iguana pet care than meets the eye.
This species originates from the humid regions of South and Central America. You would have an excellent chance of spotting these arboreal dinosaur looking herps soaking up the sun in the tree line near water in the morning and evening hours as they are primarily diurnal. They will oftentimes plunge into water to escape predation, so naturally they prefer to have it around. Expect a healthy specimen to live 15-30 years in captivity!
Pet Iguana Care Housing InformationYou can expect to go through several cages as these reptiles mature. It is acceptable to keep baby iguanas in glass tank type enclosures, but they will soon require much larger custom made cages.Here are a few things you will need other than the cage Maintenance wise, the cage should be deep cleaned every three months with a 1 part bleach 25+ parts water solution. In order to keep a clean, healthy environment, the cage should be spot cleaned every day, or at least every other day. It is also advisable to out the UVA / UVB lighting bulbs every 6 months or so. The coating on the inside of the bulb that is in the charged with allowing a specific % of UV lightning through will degrade over time.
Pet Iguana Care Heating, Lighting, Temperature InfoOutdoor enclosures with natural sunlight are best for the green iguana; however, most climates are not suitable for this to be viable. This section will focus on their needs in captivity in an indoor enclosure.An ideal daytime temperature to maintain would be around 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit, with the nighttime temperatures dropping into the low to middle 70's. If you are having difficulty maintaining a daytime temperature as high as 75 degrees, then an under the tank heating pad may be an additional option to consider to supplement your heating efforts. A basking light is a critical component in keeping a healthy iguana. The basking light temperature should be around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and measures should be taken to ensure there is no way for your lizard to come in contact to the bulb. The bulbs are very hot, and can cause injury! It is also equally important to supply an ultra violet lighting source (UVA / UVB) to help your iguana synthesize vitamin D3. Without an UVA / UVB lighting supplement, there is an almost definite chance of Metabolic Bone Disease developing. This disease, as the name implies, makes a reptiles bones weak and easily breakable. Additionally, all lighting should remain on for approximately 12 hours a day, and scaled back to around 9 hours a day in the winter months. A high level of humidity needs to be maintained, either by manually misting twice to three times daily depending on the climate of where you live, or setting up a humidifier.
Pet Iguana Care Diet InfoAlthough your iguana may accept meat, it is not what their bodies were made to eat. It is debatable whether or not animal protein (meat) is truly hazardous as there is evidence for and against it, but in my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry.Their diet should consist of 100% vegetables and fruits. Feeding meat may lead to kidney failure, but feeding iceberg lettuce arguably just as bad. Iceberg lettuce consists almost entirely of water and has no to little real nutritional value. Some Acceptable Foods Among Others 
Pet Iguana Care Handling InfoIguanas, just like people, have different temperaments and personalities. Some are fairly docile, while others are aggressive. An aggressive Iggy can cause a fair amount of damage. Their tails can be used as whips (it is actually pretty painful) and their bite does pack a bunch. If your iguana really wants to hurt you, he can.Typically, they do not like to be handled, and they will let you know by scratching you with their claws as they try to scurry away. Like most lizards, if you attempt to stop them from fleeing by grabbing them by the tail, it has the ability to be broken off. It can grow back granted an infection does not occur. There is evidence to suggest that frequent handling causes stress that is negatively correlated with their health. I really am fascinated by these lizards, and do realize I've come off as being a little "negative" towards them, but you must understand it is because I want pets to have the best life possible. I want people to have an idea of what they are getting into. Personally, I think they can make great pets, but they certainly are not for everyone.
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