What size cage does my iguana need?
Although your iguana may be small now, if he receives proper care, he will get anywhere from 4 to 6 feet in length. This includes the tail, but it is still Big. Do not be fooled into thinking your iguana will stay small in a small cage. He will grow regardless of where he lives. He needs to be able to climb on branches and turn around. Buy the biggest cage possible to avoid constantly buying bigger cages for your pet. A 55 gallon aquarium is a good starting cage. A 10 gallon will NOT work!


What kind of lighting does my iguana need?
Your iguana needs UVB to absorb nutrients from his food. You will need to buy a UVB bulb such as Vitalite or Reptisun, or else your iguana will need to bask in sunlight every day (this cannot be sunlight filtered through glass, because the glass removes most UVB rays). You will also need a light to create a basking spot that is around 90 degrees F. An iguana cannot digest his food under 85 degrees F. Make sure the lights are placed so the iguana does not burn himself. Using a heat rock instead of a basking light is NEVER a good idea. It doesn't warm the iguana right and in many cases (visit main NIAD site for slide show) can cause severe burns.


What should I feed my iguana
Iguanas need a varied diet of fruits and vegetables. Some good vegetables to feed your pet are collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, bok choy, and leeks. Some fruits are apples, oranges, banana, kiwi, and strawberries. Feed as much of a variety as you can; use more vegetables than fruit. The idea is to provide a 2/1 ratio of calcium and phosphorus. If you supplement with a multivitamin, do so only once every week or two. You can use a calcium supplement that does not contain vitamin D or phosphorous a couple of times a week. Those spray-on vitamins that are sold in stores are not recommended, as they don't work. Do not feed your iguana any type of "lettuce", especially iceberg.


Tips on handling your iguana
Do not grab your iguana or pick him up by the tail. Iguanas will "drop" their tails if they feel threatened. Although the tail can grow back, it will not be as long or as attractive as it was before. One of the most effective ways of picking up an iguana that is not tame is to place your index and middle fingers right in front of his front legs and place your thumb and forth finger right behind his front legs. If he doesn't struggle too much, place your other hand underneath him. If he struggles, use your other hand to hold his back legs. Always be careful with large iguanas, they have long nails that can cause deep scratches, not to mention the long tail that can be used as a whip. Handle your iguana every day for at least 20 minutes to help ensure he will be tame.


Find out as much as you can about iguanas
This page is only a basic care sheet. For more information, purchase The Green Iguana: The ultimate Owners Guide.



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