Iguanas as Pets

Iguanas are large and impressive lizards, their size, crests and dew-laps making them look for all the world like “stand-ins” for a dinosaur movie. Often seen on sale – though typically as youngsters, rather than full-grown six-footers (1.8m) – the Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) is a commonly kept pet, but it is not a particularly easy species to look after.

Aside of their rapid growth rate, which will see them outgrow tanks in an alarmingly short time especially in their first few years of life, the natural dietary requirements of these animals are difficult to replicate adequately in captivity, often leading to a range of health problems. Success with the Green Iguana is possible, but it’s a job for the more experienced keeper and they’re definitely not a species for a novice – no matter how appealing they may look in the pet shop.

Housing Green Iguanas

One thing’s for sure, when it comes to housing Green Iguanas, you’re going to have to think big! While young animals can be safely accommodated in commercially available terrarium tanks, once your iguana begins to get older, it’s going to need something altogether larger. It’s also important to bear in mind that iguanas in the wild are tree-dwellers, so their home needs to be fairly tall in relation to their size, to allow them to behave in as natural a way as possible.

A native of tropical South America, in captivity Green Iguanas need the warm, humid conditions of their natural home. In practical terms, this equates to a temperature range of around 86-95F (30-35C), with suitably hotter daytime basking spots and becoming slightly cooler at night. Regular misting – coupled with the sort of good-sized water dish that Iguanas seem to enjoy using as an impromptu bath-tub – will maintain the necessary humidity within the tank and a suitable UV source will help to replace the essential levels of sunlight they need.

In addition, a range of well-anchored stout climbing branches will be greatly appreciated, along with a good choice of hiding places.

Food And Feeding

Green Iguanas are distressingly prone to all manner of deficiencies – particularly of calcium and vitamin D – which makes it absolutely essential for keepers of these magnificent lizards to get their diet right if you want to avoid brittle bones, poor growth, muscle problems and worse. Unfortunately there is a good deal of conflicting advice on what constitutes the “ideal” menu for iguanas and although there has been much recent work done – particularly on aspects of their reliance on gut bacteria – the fact remains that they regularly end up in vets’ surgeries suffering with nutritional problems. On the positive side, however, it does mean that many vets have accumulated a wealth of first-hand experience in the dietary requirements of iguanas and can prove invaluable sources of advice as a result.

Although there is much debate over feeding insects to young iguanas, studies in the wild have shown that they do tend to eat more of a typically general “lizard” diet of bugs than the largely plant-eating adults, gradually becoming increasingly vegetarian as they get older. Despite the differences of opinion amongst keepers, perhaps the best course of action is to offer insects to the young and let them decide for themselves!

Such issues aside, the key to proper feeding lies in variety and the greater the range of nutritious vegetation you can offer, along with appropriate mineral and vitamin supplements, the better. It’s particularly important to avoid any hint of over-reliance on any one foodstuff, so be creative and take full advantage of all that the supermarket fresh fruit, vegetable and salad shelves have to offer. Many old hands swear by a “rule of three” – never offering their iguanas less than three different kinds of vegetation at any one meal; it’s probably a very good maxim to bear in mind.

Keeping Iguanas is not something to be undertaken lightly and any would-be keeper needs to do a great amount of research on what is undoubtedly a complex and difficult subject. While they may not be for everyone – and they are far from the easiest of pets to keep – for a knowledgeable owner who’s prepared to put in all the necessary work, there are few lizards on the planet to match the grandeur and presence of a fully grown Green Iguana.