Everything You Need to Know About Iguanas

I'm the proud owner of the happy green iguana pictured in this article.

Things yous should know about green iguanas before getting one every bit a pet

Sachin Mittal via Unsplash.com

Are Iguanas Skilful Pets?

Thinking about adopting your very ain pet green iguana? That's awesome—if you're set for information technology, and yous accept all of the appropriate resources needed to prepare for a life of reptilian parenthood.

Unfortunately, green iguanas are oftentimes misrepresented in popular pet stores, and many potential domestic iguana keepers have no thought what they're getting into. As the onetime saying goes, with great iguana comes great responsibility, and it's important to fully empathise the requirements and implications regarding their ownership.

To get you started on this wonderful cognitive journey, here are eleven things to consider before bringing an iguana home.

11 Things to Know Earlier Getting a Pet Iguana

1. They get actually big.
2. They need a lot of space.
3. They're native to tropical climates.
4. They are terrifyingly strong.
5. They can alive a long fourth dimension.
6. They're not cuddly.
7. They're kind of dull.
8. Their tails can fall off.
9. They're strict vegetarians.
10. You have to do a lot of research first.
11. They're not dinosaurs.

Behold, the Light-green Iguana!

i. They Get Really Big

Green iguanas are tiny and cute in pet store displays, usually barely the size of an iPhone, but they don't stay that mode forever. Next matter y'all know, they're sizing up to Milky way S5 lengths, and then they'll be rivaling a Galaxy Annotation, and before you know information technology, you tin start measuring information technology with an iPad! And they get bigger withal! We're running out of lame engineering metaphors, so allow'south just cutting to the chase: in captivity, a healthy green iguana tin reach over six feet in length and can counterbalance upwards to twenty lbs . . . those are alligator standards, friend.

Think most that before you even consider housing a light-green iguana, and know this: they grow fast. That adorable piddling green guy won't exist gecko-sized for long, and by the time he's a full-blown adult, you'll have your very own Godzilla. Which sounds cool until you lot realize that Godzilla is best known for destroying Tokyo—n ot very cool, subsequently all, huh?

Don't permit this baby fool you! Developed dark-green iguanas can grow upwards to vi feet in length, regardless of their environment

2. They Demand a Lot of Space

Okay, they get big, so what? Perchance you have plenty of infinite in your house, or perchance you tin conform apartment life to living with an iguana. Hate to break it to you lot, but developed green iguanas take up more space than y'all probably imagined, and they absolutely must have their own dedicated territory to roam freely.

Oh yeah, green iguanas are too arboreal, so they'll need superlative in order to satisfy a natural urge to climb. Pet shop terrariums work fine for infants, just they'll grow out of them within a twelvemonth. That ways you're going to have to prepare a prophylactic enclosure for your developed dark-green iguana sooner rather than later.

Blank minimum requirements: the enclosure has to be at least 6 feet in length, six feet in width, and should exist at least 6 feet in height. An unabridged small room is fifty-fifty improve, equally long as it has been modified accordingly. Other ideas: a dedicated dominicus room will probably work great, and in some strange cases a redesigned, heavily modified bathroom may fifty-fifty be an choice.

A dedicated sunroom is a wonderful place to house your green iguana

3. They're Native to Tropical Climates

Green iguanas you find in pet stores are unremarkably imported from South America and are native to regions that are rich in heat and humidity. Long story short: green iguanas in captivity have to live in similar environments, and their enclosure needs to emulate a natural habitat.

This means yous volition take to make sure that their environs needs to consistently be heated between eighty and ninety degrees during the daytime, and effectually 75 degrees at night—twelvemonth round. They retain well-nigh of their hydration through skin, and then controlled humidity is also a big must. Another biggie: they require an additional basking heated lamp and a special UVB light source in order to forestall calcium deficiency.

Read More than From Pethelpful

iv. They Are Terrifyingly Strong

It'southward not the most pleasant thought, only if threatened, green iguanas can do some serious damage with their de facto defence force arrangement: their tails. They announced to only dangle effectually and move just as an afterthought, but don't let looks deceive you: getting whacked by an iguana tail isn't fun for anyone, and you lot're bound to get a skilful whipping during the required taming months.

In extreme cases, an adult iguana tail is potent enough to interruption human os. Devastating and fatal consequences ensue when yous throw a human being child or other small pet into the mix. Granted, y'all'll actually have to do something terrible to your beloved greenish friend in order to experience the truthful wrath of an iguana tail scorn, but it's not something to take lightly—iguanas are non domesticated firm pets similar cats and dogs, and therefore will e'er have an inherent wild streak to them, and that includes what they do with their tails. They too have abrupt teeth, and iguana bites do indeed suck, simply a flesh wound is nothing compared to what they are truly capable of.

This iguana is old and cranky, as shown with the protuted dewlap

five. They Can Live a Long Time

The standard lifespan of a well-cared-for green iguana in captivity commonly ranges from 12 to 15 years, simply light-green iguanas are known to live upwards of 20 years in some cases. Either manner, equally an iguana owner, yous volition exist responsible for your favorite cadger for a adept clamper of time—these things aren't hamsters, people.

Too of import: you will have to have the fiscal means to care for your iguana throughout its long lifespan, which includes making sure it admission to a proper diet, and that bulbs for diverse required lamps are effectively replaced every six months. Heated bulbs aren't cheap either—and the overall price will add upwards to a hefty sum over time.

Climbing iguanas can be fun to watch, but be careful of those sharp claws!

half dozen. They're Not Cuddly

Though their pudgy little bodies may scream a variation of "caress me, human," iguanas are not cats, and near aren't going to exist groovy on cutesy snuggling. This doesn't mean that contact is forbidden; on the contrary, household iguanas need to be picked up and held daily for ritualistic taming purposes. Properly property an iguana is an art form in itself, though, and it's going to take a while before information technology submits to such unnatural contact.

Some iguanas may fifty-fifty be fond of climbing their man captors, though their sharp claws aren't the greatest matter to have excavation against skin. Always go on this in mind, though--unless yous have the coolest green buddy on the block, most iguanas are going to try to get abroad from you, and if yous aren't listening to its reptilian wisdom you are probably going to take to pay the cost (see point number 4 for additional clarification).

Your iguana volition spend nearly of its adult life lazying away

7. They're Kind of Boring

Baby iguanas are quick little buggers and they tin can be extremely entertaining to sentry, but just like your favorite 1970s action hero, they become docile over time and transform into extremely lazy creatures. Developed iguanas volition spend a adept majority of their time either basking in the sunlight or sleeping on a tree branch-like object. They won't play games with you, they won't trip the light fantastic toe for you lot.

They probably won't want to become for walks either, so that fancy iguana harness you were suckered into ownership was pretty much a waste of money (good luck getting your iguana to wear it, by the way). Yes, it's true: at the end of the day, iguanas in captivity volition ultimately resort to a life of merely "being there," and since that's how they act in the wild, it'due south non a behaviour y'all're going to be able to modify. There'southward cipher wrong with that, listen y'all, but fix your expectations to iguana reality: they're boring.

8. Their Tails Can Fall Off

You lot should be finer scared of iguana tails by now, but there'south no harm in admiring them, is there? They are rather glorious, after all, and would probably strike the envy of their smaller brethren if such emotion were a possibility in the reptilian classification.

They're powerful things, these iguana tails are, so information technology may exist shocking to learn that, merely similar gecko tails, they can autumn off in cases of extreme stress and/or threat. It seems a little gruesome, just it'due south absolutely for the best since it could mean life or death if your iguana is ever in confrontation with a larger, scarier fauna. Residuum assured, they practise indeed grow back, just they're never quite as wonderful the second time around.

Collard Greens--Iguana Food at its Finest

nine. They're Strict Vegetarians

Green iguanas are natural herbivores, requiring a daily diet of fresh leafy greens and fruit. Great examples include everything your mother told you to eat: kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, green beans, and asparagus, among other salad bases. Iguanas also enjoy fruits, peculiarly bananas, but a majority of their nutrition should consist of vegetables.

They aren't the brightest lizards on the block, though, and in some cases may eat meat products in an accidental capacity, and you should never permit this happen. Their bodies aren't designed to assimilate anything out of an herbivorous diet, and kidney failure is a certain bet if your iguana acquires a taste for dried cat nutrient. This tin be really bad news since kidney failure is a leading crusade of iguana-related death in everyday households. If you beloved your iguana, you'll feed it a delicious salad daily, and you'll go along it away from accidentally eating any type of meat.

1 more thing to note: iceberg lettuce does not cut it, since it has admittedly no nutritional value, and iguanas demand plenty of calcium and phosphorus to keep their bones salubrious.

ten. Y'all Have to Do a Lot of Research Outset

Iguana care isn't something nosotros typically larn growing up, and since they are a rather unusual pet to accept, common cognition within the topic is in short supply. You lot are going to have to perform plenty of research before adopting an iguana, and this commodity tin just be the tip of the iceberg. Before yous throw your arms in the air and get a turtle instead, keep in mind that there's some good news on the horizon: information written past passionate, educated iguana experts is readily available, and lots of it tin be obtained for free.

It'southward not a bad idea to take a physical book on hand—Iguanas For Dummies by Melissa Kaplan is an awesome, easy to read, extremely informative all-in-i iguana guide, and information technology covers just most everything you would always need to know well-nigh this topic.

11. They're Not Dinosaurs

No matter how much you want them to be, light-green iguanas are not, and never will be dinosaurs. Dinosaurs have been extinct for roughly 65 million years, and your dark-green iguana will always exist a common lizard, zip more and nothing less. Besides, if having a pet dinosaur is what y'all're after, then you may want to consider getting a bird instead since they're probably more related to a tyrannosaurus than an iguana would exist.

We'll get out here on a more serious note: delight practise non adopt an iguana on a whim, and never, never get suckered into an impulse buy at your local pet shop. Iguanas are amazing animals, but the act of taking them into your home inhibits a great many of their naturalistic habits, therefore rendering you every bit their sole provider and only true means of survival. Unless y'all are well read on the topic, have all the resource needed to care for an iguana readily available, and are dedicated to provide for your iguana with the utmost intendance, consider a cat instead.

Iguanas--easy to love, just difficult to care for

This commodity is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Information technology is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional person. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen past a veterinarian immediately.

Shalena on Jan xiii, 2020:

I have a greenish iguana he is 17 months old we take had him since he was 6 weeks onetime. He is going thru perburity and has bitten me four times and my husband twice once in the face. How can nosotros get him not to bite?????

Javam on Nov 30, 2019:

My Iguana is over 22 years erstwhile. She is a wonderful pet, only they do crave a long term commitment.

Rd5v6 on June 01, 2019:

The reason why people fed them meat is considering Google says so

Andrew Burton on September 01, 2018:

Not dangerous. Have caught wild ones. Black Iguana Ctenosaura pectinata far more decumbent to bite and have defenseless more wild ones of those that Green Iguanas. Nope, they've never bitten me. Not 1.

Information technology's just non a good "pet". Most just end up emaciated and die.

Salmonella from faeces most probable more of a take chances due to iguanas being vegetarian (but chickens just as bad or probably worse!).

Miguel prudencio on March 26, 2018:

I really want to prefer one I love them

Melissa A Smith from New York on June 07, 2014:

Some good advice, but iguanas exercise non break arms. A bite may require stitches worst case scenario. I'd have an iguana bite over a cat seize with teeth any day, based on what I hear their bites beingness extremely painful and disease-ridden (I've been bitten in the confront by my iguana).

jenningssionerve1940.blogspot.com

Source: https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/Eleven-Things-to-Consider-Before-Adopting-a-Green-Iguana

Share this post