Iguana Care

   Iguanas are beautiful animals and make fascinating pets, but they are not for everyone.  These reptiles have very specific requirements for feeding and housing and their size and behavior may make them unsuitable for some households.

   Because adult iguanas reach three feet in length, they need a large, easily cleaned enclosure that allows for climbing.  They must have a source of ultraviolet (A and B) light.  A window exposing the iguana to sunlight is not sufficient.  Temperature and humidity must be carefully controlled.        Because iguanas are herbivores, they require a wide variety of vegetables. A common misconception is that iguanas require meat protein. 

   Preparing the appropriate diet for your pet iguana each day can be time consuming and costly, but improper feeding is one of the leading causes of disease in these pets.

   Sexually mature adult iguanas can become aggressive and inflict serious bite wounds and scratches.  Surgically altering iguanas may reduce some undesirable behaviors and prevent some reproductive diseases, but children should not be allowed to handle a mature iguana.  The veterinarian will often need to identify the sex of your immature iguana, but adult males and females are dimorphic.

   While the iguana does not require yearly vaccinations, a yearly physical exam and appropriate laboratory work is recommended.