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There are many different kinds of iguanas: Green Iguana, Cyclura or Rock Iguana, Spiny Tailed Iguana, Galapagos Marine Iguana, Galapagos Land Iguana, Desert Iguana, and Fijian Banded Iguana. This site is only about the Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana). Although there are many different types of iguanas and some of them can be owned as pets, many of them have different care needs that differs from the Green Iguana. Iguana Classification Kingdom - Animal Phylum - Chordata Class - Reptilia Order - Squamata Suborder - Sauria Family - Iguanidae Genus - Iguana Species - Iguana
Cites Green iguanas are a threatened species and listed under the Appendix II of Cites. You can read the Regulations here.
Where iguanas come from Iguanas come from mostly the rainforest and some drier coastal regions ranging from Mexico to Central and South America. The map below gives a rough distribution.
Iguanas are arboreal; they live in trees, and diurnal; they are active during the day and sleep during the night. This means you will need to provide day and night periods (aproximatly 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark). Are you sure you want an iguana? 1. The iguana will only cost you maybe around $20, but all the accessories (cage, furnishings, substrate, veterinary care, lighting and heating supplies, electricity costs, and daily food) will cost you about $300 - $500. And that my friends, is just to get started. Over time these things will have to be replaced when needed. Vet visits every 6 - 8 months are a must to make sure that your iguana is in good health.If he/she gets sick, well then there is another bill to pay. Iguanas are very expensive. Can afford this for many many years to come? 2. When an iguana is a baby they are small, but within 3 - 4 years they can reach over 4 feet in length and by 6 -7 years of age they can reach over 6 feet and weigh over 20 lbs. That means you will need a very very large cage or an entire room for an iguana to move around in to get proper exercise. One big misconception is that people believe that if you put your iguana in a small cage that they will only grow as big as the cage. I have heard this many times and let me tell you, it is wrong. What will end up happening is that your iguana will be very unhappy, stressed, malnourished, and weak from no exercise. Do you have enough space to devote to an iguana? 3. Iguanas need a lot of your time everyday and you need a lot of patients. Iguanas need to have daily routines. The cage must be cleaned on a daily basis, you need to feed and prepare food daily, make sure all cage equipment is working properly, heat and humidity levels are right, and to learn all the complexities of an iguana. You will need to spend a lot of time to tame him/her which can take a very long time. The time it takes varies from iguana to iguana. Even after the iguana has become tame, you’re going to need to teach, learn, and grow with your iguana for many years to come. So ask yourself, do you have a lot of time to devote to this animal? Iguanas can live 20+ years. Are you willing to care for them for this long? 4. With the iguana comes sharp claws, powerful tail, and a mouth full of teeth. You will be scratched and bitten resulting in many scars and possible trips to the hospital. Males (sometimes females) can get very aggressive and territorial, which can lead to serious injuries to people and pets.
This is a bite that a friend of mine had gotten on her arm. She was wearing a long sleeved shirt at the time and good thing because it could have been a whole lot worse.
This photo of an iguana bite was provided by Sue Solomon. I want you to read all the pages on this site and then really think long and hard about getting one. If you think that you are, with out a shadow of a doubt, ready for an iguana then welcome to the world of being owned by an iguana. What your going to need Very Large Cage Heating equipment Substrate (news paper, indoor/outdoor carpet) Daytime basking light and nighttime heat source UVB and UVA producing lights and fixtures Hide box Branch's and or shelves for basking Thermometers and humidity gages Food and water bowls Multivitamin and calcium supplements First aid kit (Povidone-iodine, blood clotting aid, triple-antibiotic ointment, ect) Reptile veterinarian A lot of time and patience
Iguanas and kids Most kids love iguanas. The problem is, most kids can't care for an iguana in they way that is needed. Iguanas are a very big responsibility. There is a lot that goes into the proper care. Iguanas can seriously injure a child or an adult. If a parent does get an iguana for a child then the parent must realize that they are the main care giver of this reptile and must make sure that all the requirements and needs are being met. Another very important note is that reptiles can carry Salmonella. Salmonella can be deadly in children under the age of 5, the elderly, and people with a compromised or weak immune system. If you fall into any of these categories then do not get a reptile. So are you ready for all of this? Yeah?.......... I was hoping you would say yes. So fasten your seat belts everyone and lets go learn about feeding. © 2001-2007 IgPage All rights reserved. |
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