| A large, airy terrarium is needed for your pet iguana | | | | correct temperature for your iguana you need at |
| with an area for basking and plants or branches for | | | | least two thermometers. One in the basking area and |
| climbing. | | | | one in the cooler part of the cage. It is difficult to |
| Suitable Terrariums | | | | get an accurate reading if you place the |
| Iguanas grow very fast and can often more than | | | | thermometer in the direct rays of the lamp. Place it |
| double their size in just a year. Make sure you buy a | | | | to one side or cover with a piece of paper. It is |
| large enough terrarium so it doesn't have to be | | | | vitally important that the temperature is correct. |
| replaced when your iguana is fully grown. But at least | | | | Observe your pet and see if it keeps close to the |
| a forty or fifty gallon sized tank. A large open, airy | | | | heating source, it is possible too cool, or moves right |
| terrarium with plenty of foliage and climbing areas will | | | | away from the heating source, it is possible too hot. |
| suit your pet. A glass cage can heat up too much in | | | | A note about hot rocks - do not use them. They can |
| the sun so a mesh cage would be preferable. Check | | | | get very hot and severely burn your pet. |
| all edges to make sure there are no sharp places to | | | | Feeding Your Iguana |
| injure your pet. | | | | Provide fresh water daily for your pet. Either provide |
| Always make sure the lid and doors are securely | | | | a bathing area or spray your iguana with a gentle |
| fastened. | | | | mist of clean water daily. The main meal should be |
| Lighting | | | | dark green leafy plants such as cilantro, mustard |
| Iguanas need UVB lighting to ensure they have | | | | greens, lettuce, dandelions, green beans, chicory, ocra |
| healthy bones. Keep the UVB lamp on in the daytime | | | | etc, a healthy diet should be 80% leafy green |
| and use an infra red lamp during the night. Position | | | | vegetables, 10% other vegetables and 10% fruit. |
| the lamps about eighteen inches above the mesh lid. | | | | Suitable fruits include papaya, figs, grapes, raspberries |
| Heating | | | | and blackberries. Foods high in oxalic acid are toxic to |
| Iguanas, like other reptiles cannot control there body | | | | Iguanas and should not be used. These include kale, |
| temperature and are cold blooded. You need to | | | | cauliflower, spinach, rhubarb, beets,turnips and brussel |
| make sure the temperature is correct at all times. | | | | sprouts. Iguanas should never be fed on dog or cat |
| The terrarium can be heated by heat pads | | | | food, cheese, eggs or meat. |
| underneath the floor or by incandescent lamps or | | | | A commercially prepared diet can be used but so not |
| ceramic heaters. The temperature should be kept at | | | | use for more than half of your pets diet. Supplement |
| around 86F in the day and about 75F at night. The | | | | it with fresh vegetables. Dries food needs to be |
| basking area should be at between 90F and 94F and | | | | moistened before giving it to your pet and chop up |
| special reptile basking lamps can be used. Iguanas like | | | | any food into small pieces as iguanas are not capable |
| to climb high to bask so set your basking lamps at | | | | of chewing food. A juvenile iguana should be fed |
| the top of your cage close to a branch or shelf for | | | | daily, an adult can be fed twice a week. Iguanas |
| the iguana to sit on. | | | | should always be given a supplement once or twice a |
| In order to ensure that the terrarium is at the | | | | week containing vitamins and calcium. |