| Iguanas are one of the most popular reptile pets in | | | | fast moving insects. Besides iguana simply cannot |
| the world. As required for pet owners to acquire | | | | properly metabolize anything other than leaves. |
| animals for caring, they need to learn the | | | | Iguana has a digestive system that is known as a |
| characteristics of the reptile from its anatomy, | | | | "Hind-Gut fermenter". Meaning they use the lower |
| feeding requirement and habitat. | | | | intestinal tract to produce vitamins and absorb it's |
| The enthusiasm one has for a new pet of any kind | | | | ingested food. Fiber is a critical component of of their |
| often wears off quickly if the animal is no longer | | | | diet. It changes as the animal matures. |
| healthy and finds them experiencing problems. It only | | | | Approximately, fiber should be no less than 16% of |
| takes understanding and education to prevent those | | | | their diet. |
| problems to make life easy and happy for both | | | | Body temperature plays an important role for |
| owners and pets. | | | | Iguanas to digest their foods. In their habitat the |
| If you have already decided to obtain an Iguana as a | | | | Iguanas seek a sunny basking spot to raise their |
| pet, there are a few facts to keep in mind. The | | | | body temperatures to around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| longevity of the animal is up to 15 years in captivity, | | | | When they achieve the required body temperature |
| the size of adults reach up to 6 feet in length. There | | | | they will begin to feed. The proper body temperature |
| are basic and important dietary requirements to | | | | helps the animal in digesting its food. |
| consider. It is also important to understand that these | | | | During captivity, it is important to provide pet iguanas |
| animals are capable of inflicting injury on their owners. | | | | with the proper heating equipment to maintain |
| Though it is established there are more cases | | | | required temperature. |
| domestic dog biting than there are the number of | | | | The rate at which Iguanas eat is a function of its |
| Iguanas in the United States, it is safe to bear in | | | | health, environment and age. If junk foods are for |
| mind that the iguana pet is a wild animal regardless of | | | | children, junk food for the Iguanas is fruits. It is |
| how much you think it is not. | | | | equally as hard to get most common Iguanas to eat |
| The availability of farm raised Iguanas from Central | | | | their greens instead of cantaloupe. |
| and South America has drastically reduced the price, | | | | Dark leafy greens comprise the majority of Iguana's |
| increased the quantity available, and generally | | | | diet. Minimize intake of spinach, parsley and kale. |
| increased the health of the babies arriving into the | | | | These greens contain oxalate which blocks Iguana's |
| United States as well as other countries. These facts | | | | ability to absorb calcium. There is still ongoing |
| make it easier than ever to obtain a healthy animal to | | | | research proves this issue, but it is probably safe to |
| start, or to expand your reptilian collection! | | | | avoid these greens. |
| The area that needs major attention is the diet of | | | | Young iguanas should be fed daily. In their natural |
| Iguanas. As popularly known, the iguanas are | | | | habitat, these animals feed several times per day. As |
| herbivore. To be more specific Iguana is actually a | | | | they mature the frequency of meals decreases. |
| folivore, which means animals that primarily eat | | | | They have no ability to chew food; they bite off |
| leaves. It's natural habitat are branches of trees and | | | | chunks of greenery and swallow it whole. Therefore |
| there is no evidence that Iguanas, young or old, eat | | | | in captivity, it is important to chop all their food to a |
| insects etc. For they do not possess any predatory | | | | size that can be handled by your iguanas. |
| capability like jumping or quick movements to capture | | | | |