Brought Home A New Iguana From Your Local Reptile Shop? Here Are Some Care Tips!
If you came home from the local reptile shop with an iguana, then it is vital you know how to properly care for your new pet.
Here are some tips:
Tip: Ensure Your Iguana Has the Right Habitat Conditions
Iguanas in the wild live their lives in the rainforest where it's warm and the humidity is very high. They have adapted to require this ambient heat and moisture to keep them healthy and ensure their skins regularly shed.
For this reason, your new pet iguana's habitat needs to simulate its natural rainforest environment. It should have plenty of humidity and warmth.
The easiest and safest way to add warmth to the habitat is to install a health lamp. The heat given off from the bulb will be trapped inside the habitat and keep it nice and warm.
To provide enough humidity, keep a humidifier inside their habitat. For added moisture, you can also mist your iguana with a pump sprayer or provide them with a small fountain or pond.
Tip: Feed Your Iguana Fresh, Calcium-Rich Foods
Unlike many other pets, your iguana needs to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to stay healthy.
The best feeding options are those vegetables that are high in calcium, such as:
- dandelion greens
- parsley
- cilantro
- mustard greens
- collard greens
- kale
- romaine lettuce
- squash
In addition, iguanas like alfalfa hay when it is still green and hasn't dried out yet.
There are also many foods you should never feed to iguanas. They are:
- bugs and insects
- meat
- citrus fruits
- acidic foods
In addition, you should avoid feeding your iguana spinach because it can negatively affect the absorption of calcium.
Tip: Boarding and Vacation Care
Finally, when you need to be out of town for business or vacation, it is important to provide care to your iguana. Iguanas aren't like cats where you can just leave them enough food for a few days and they will take care of themselves.
Your iguana needs to be fed fresh food daily and their habitat's humidity and warmth need to be regularly monitored. If the power were to go out or your heat bulb or humidifier stopped working your iguana would suffer.
For this reason, you need to either have someone come to your home multiple times each day or find a pet boarder with experience and a habitat designed for iguana care. This ensures your iguana will be safe and healthy while you are away.
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