Iguana as a Pet

An iguana is most commonly known as a south and Central American lizard. This reptile is from the family of Iguanidae and can grow up to 3 to 6 feet long.

Iguana reptiles are the most popular lizards which is kept as pet. Before purchasing an iguana as a pet one should always collect information related to this reptile. Iguana is also best known as the ‘Dragon’.

Tips to be considered while keeping Iguana as a pet

1. Proper space : Iguana reptile should be provided with proper space. This will keep an iguana healthy and active. Space provided in a reptile tank must be approximately around 50 gallon. Iguana grows very quickly. It grows about 3 to 6 feet so the cage of an iguana should be comfortable for it.
2. UVB Light Required: Iguana requires proper lighting with UV lighting. They require ZooMed Reptism light or Iguana light. The best would be to keep the cage in sunlight.
3. Temperature in cage : The temperature of an iguana cage should be around 80 to 95 °F. Basking temperature for the Iguana reptile should be maintained around 90 to 100 degrees.

   During the day time, ordinary bulb can be used for heating purpose. Iguana strictly needs darkness at night. Ceramic heater emits only heat not a light. At night, ceramic heater emitters can be used for heating.

4. Required things in cage/habitat : Building a proper cage for iguana reptile is an important task. The cage should be big that iguana should be comfortable moving around with its 4 feet long tail. The habitat of iguana should include tree limbs to climb on it. Furniture in cage must include hide box, basking limb, water (Iguana needs fresh water) and food dishes.
5. Proper food : Iguana reptile feed on mainly mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, peas, pea pods, Yellow or orange squash, dandelion green salad, sweet potato etc, They also like to have kale, chard or spinach but in a small amount mixed with other green peas only. Iguana should be feed with a proper nutritional diet. Feeding iguana with cukes and celery would be better way of providing a proper diet since it also contains water in it.
6. Calcium Supplement in diet : Calcium supplement should be provided to iguana with out D3 added to full fill the requirement of calcium in his body. Always get the supplement which does not have any D3 in it. The other major problem from which the iguana suffers is toxicity of D3.
7. Thermometer in cage : Iguana reptile should be provided with at least two thermometers. One should be placed at cool side and the other one near to the hot spot. A thermostat device should be used to check the proper amount of temperature in the cage. There are many type of thermostat device found i.e. T-rex, zoo-med etc.

To take care off iguana as a pet is not an easy task. Iguanas are aggressive in nature and also they grow very quickly! It requires proper planning and precautions while keeping the iguana as a pet.