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 CAGING
When starting out with
a young iguana, they may appear to be quite small. But they grow rapidly
and can reach over 18" or more in length. Keep this in mind
when buying your cage. These are the suggested sizes:
30" cage................18" Iguana
48" cage..............>18" Iguana
For the cover, make sure it will keep
the heat in but allows ventalilation. Screen tops are helpful with
U.V. lighting, which will not pass through glass or plastic. Do
not use porous materials, unless they are sealed with a waterproof
coating. Corkbark tubes, artificial plants and climbing fixtures
are great furnishings. They love cardboard tubes, but check
them daily to check on rotting or mildew.
BEDDING
One of the best lining and bedding for your
iguana is newspaper. It's good because it can help you keep track
of stools. Towels, astroturf, indoor/outdoor carpeting, and aspen
shaving are also recommended for bedding. Never Use: kitty
litter, gravel, dirt or any type of wood chips. These items can be
swallowed and are hard to clean up after.
Recommended disinfectants are Clorox Bleach and water (1 oz/qt of
water), Rocal or Nolvasan. Use this once weekly on cage, food and
water dishes.
 HEAT
Heat is very important
for your iguana. It helps him with food digestion. If your
pet does not get enough light he may refuse to eat and become
lethargic. They need light day/night and the base heat should be
no lower than 75°F at night. The optimum heat is 80°-100° F.
The best heat sources are the black heat lamps. You can also use
under-cage heating pads, ceramic heat emitters, and light bulbs at
various wattages.
LIGHTING/SPECTRUM HEATING
Ultra-violet light is
important. It helps synthesis Vit. D, which is very important for
the health of your iguana. Spotlights on basking areas are ideal (make
sure the temp goes no higher than 100° F. If possible,
create areas for the
iguana to move around with different temperatures, making sure there are
no temps lower than 75° F. Also, you may like to take your iguana
out to enjoy the summer weather. If the temperature is above
80° take your pet out in an enclosed structure that is sheltered
from the sun. Always have fresh, clean water available.
HUMIDITY 
To keep humidity levels
at an optimum level, a daily mist with distilled water will do
wonders. Keep a large pan of water in the cage. Check the
water often, since your pet may decide to defecate in it...which may
tend to be a little nasty. Never mist your pet at bedtime,
it could cause chilling if the temperature drops.
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DIET
Your pet would
probably prefer a varied diet, but there are formulated foods designed
specifically for reptiles, providing the necessary nutrients that are
mixed in a balanced fashion that contains all vitamins and
minerals. Supplements are an important part of the diet.
Vitalife, Reptical, and Nekton-Rep are suitable supplements. A good time to feed your iguana would be in the morning,
and then give a treat in the afternoon. Below you will find 5
important food groups of the iguana.
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1. Dark,
Green Veggies (60-80%) these are the most important
part of your pets diet. Examples are:
Romaine lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, endive, beet greens
(no beets), dandelion,
turnip greens, alfalfa sprouts, parsley, bean sprouts, escarole, and
dandelion flowers. Omit or give only
small amounts of: spinach, kale and broccoli. |
2.
Colored Veggies (10-20%) Another
important part of the diet,
colored vegetables that may be offered are green beans, lima beans,
asparagus, carrots, black eyes peas, squash, and okra. |
3.
Legumes (15%) This
food group consists of beans and peas, and is also very important
for your iguana. Foods include beans, 
peas, butter beans, kidney beans, navy beans, alfalfa sprouts,
and tofu. |
4.
Fruits (10% or
less) Any fruit is
desirable to your lizard, with
the exception of citrus and banana which is to high in phosphorus
and not a good food for your pet. Favorites are red fruits,
and kiwi is very good since it is high in
potassium. |
5.
Treats
Good treats for your iguana would be clover, hibiscus, nasturtium,
cooked rice, spaghetti, hard boiled eggs, noodles, plain
yogurt, and whole wheat bread. A good time for treats would be
in the afternoon, with regular diets given in the morning. |
WATER
Water
is a very important part of you iguana's requirements. Keep water
fresh and change daily. Bacteria will grow rapidly in a warm
environment. Disinfect water dishes on a weekly basis.
Sometimes your iguana will defecate in the water bowl, so try to check
the water bowl a few times a day. Igs love to soak in water and
this will help in shedding. Try to have a water bowl large enough
for them to soak in and a soak in the bathtub or small wading pool will
be a special treat for your ig. Remember to mist on a daily
basis. A warm humid environment will start the way to a healthy
lizard. SIGNS
OF ILLNESS
If your iguana shows any
of the symptoms listed below, contact your veterinarian
immediately. You will know your pet better than anybody else, so
even if he seems to be acting abnormally you may consider taking him in
for a checkup.
1.
Listlessness/ Lethargy
2. Swollen limbs
3. Lumps/abrasions anywhere on the body.
4. Redness or swelling in the mouth
5. Runny stools
6. Swollen Ankles
7. Hand, foot or body tremors
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nice and slow they usually settle down and will accept
you. Below you will find a list of necessities you will need for your
new pet, such as caging and lighting requirements.
