| We have all seen the guy walking down the street | | | | surroundings with ease. |
| with the iguana on his shirt. Unfortunately, this usually | | | | Whatever you do, do not believe a salesman who |
| leads to people thinking how cool it is and then | | | | tries to con you into buying artificial sunlight for your |
| running out and buying a baby iguana without actually | | | | tank. You do want to supply a light source but there |
| taking the time of learning how much care it takes to | | | | is nothing that can simulate natural sunlight so don't |
| properly raise one. | | | | waste your money. A nice heat lamp will do, but you |
| Before you jump the gun, you need to realize it is a | | | | must get them into the sun when possible. Letting |
| very involved process. You have to be very careful | | | | them hang out in a sunny area will do fine or you can |
| when choosing your iguana. Whether you are buying | | | | be like the guy on the boardwalk and just let them |
| from an individual or a shop, you want to make sure | | | | hang on to your shirt when you are roaming around |
| you are getting a healthy baby iguana. Signs of good | | | | the neighborhood! |
| health are healthy skin, clear eyes, alertness without | | | | Moisture is also very important for your tropical pet. |
| being jumpy (if you put your hand in the cage and | | | | You will create this atmosphere by placing a pool or |
| they go nuts, stay away) and cleanliness. Never buy | | | | bowl in the tank or cage. An iguana actually takes in |
| an iguana that is living in a dirty cage. | | | | the bulk of their water supply via the air, if they are |
| Before you take your new pet home, you are going | | | | drinking large amounts from their bowl, you know the |
| to have to secure housing. This initially means a 30-50 | | | | tank is too dry. Invest in a dual gauge thermometer |
| gallon tank. Later on, you are going to have to build a | | | | (one that will also read humidity) and keep a good |
| huge cage or have a dedicated area for the iguana | | | | eye on it. Your iguana should be using the pool |
| to roam. They will get quite large and you need to | | | | mostly for soaking. |
| be ready for it. | | | | You are only at the beginning of your journey with |
| An iguana is a tropical creature and you have to | | | | your new baby iguana. There is much more involved |
| create that environment. To do so, you will have to | | | | with their care. Things such as maintaining their health, |
| provide a heated environment (72 degrees at night | | | | trimming their claws, proper diet and taming are all |
| and about 85 degrees during the day) and branches | | | | part of the picture. However, these are much more |
| and plants for them to climb on. The size of the | | | | involved that you can learn in a paragraph so it is |
| climbing material should mimic the size of your pet | | | | suggested that you get a good book to teach you |
| and you want them to be able to manipulate their | | | | the ropes. |