Whats the best food to feed your Iguana?

Question

What should I feed my Iguana? They tell you so much at the pet store whats the best?

Answer 1

You are getting a wide variety of answers, most of which are wrong... check out http://www.anapsid.com for more information. Variety is important, but some good staple items include collard greens, mustard greens, endive, escarole, bok choy, dandelion greens, squash, green beans, carrots, papaya, fig, etc... NO iceberg lettuce, spinach, or if I remember correctly broccoli. It's important to dust the food with a calcium supplement 1-2 times a week, especially for growing iguanas, and a UVB light is vital for vit. d3/calcium production/absorption.

As far as crickets go, most of the world's "iguana gurus" are taking the stance that crickets are not necessary for iguanas at any age, and that they can cause serious problems in older ones... My view is that while they aren't really necessary, they won't hurt anything if used SPARINGLY... Generally it's not recommended for igs more than a year old.

Answer 2

I had a Bearded Dragon once... they are NOT the same. Mine ate crickets. I would suggest going to a pet store and asking them or getting a book about your iguana. About the size of the food.... if it looks small enough to fit into his mouth, then its probably a good size. Again, I suggest going to a pet store and asking them, they are there because they know, or they can find out. Good luck!

Answer 3

Even if you buy food from the pet store, you still need to give her fresh stuff. NOT JUST romaine and iceberg lettuce! That's the quickest way to make her unhealthy! Give her mustard greens, spinach, squash, green beans, grapes, strawberries and peaches. Go light on the fruit, it can upset their tummies. Once in a while you will need to give them protein, live crickets work just fine.

A good heat source and light source is the most important thing for good digestion.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Lettuce, anything but iceberg (no nutritional value), fruits & veggies plus they sell iguana food that has the necessary vitamins in it. Go to your local Pet Store (like Pet-Co) I forget what the food is called. But, you'll find in in the reptile section. They sell it in a tub (like a butter tub)

Answer 5

Great advice from snakegirl85. Mine showed signs of metabolic bone disease (mbd) was from feeding him romaine lettuce...not enough nutrients. They need dark greens like collard, mustard of kale. mbd was also caused by not changing his uv bulb often enough. The vet said even though it emits light, after about 6 months it does not emit the uv needed to keep him healthy. put it on your calendar to replace that bulb every 6 months. Lastly...go ahead and build a big cage, if properly cared for they grow fast. good luck

Answer 6

The BEST thing to do is make sure it gets a good variety of the reccomended vegetables and foods, along with the proper vitamins and supplements. There are many websites with suggestions, so I encourage you to do more research, but here is just one:

http://www.anapsid.org/

Also, remember two things:
-They need UVB light to process vitamin D3, and the proper temperature basking bulb to digest normal foods
-They get huge and they are going to need a very large tank. I hope you are not one of the majority of people who get tired of it or decide they can't afford it when it gets too big and gets rid of it.

Answer 7

Cookie Monster...no animal protien.
Take Amanda W's advice.

Answer 8

mine likes his greens[ spinach ,mustard, broccoli, some fruit, bananas and watermalon being favorites, veggies like cut up frozen,but defrosted, organic mixed vegetables, always have fresh water even if it seems they are not drinking it,they are veretarians , and must have greens, i give a handful twice a day ,of mixed,and a couple spoonfuls of either fuit or veggies , he is 4 ft, and healthy,blessed be

Answer 9

crickets, fruits and veggies.

Well im saying crickets because i work at a pet store and it's what i have to do. I don't think a corporation would be making wrong decisions.

Answer 10

an other iguana..they are freaky..belong in the wild..dont be a crocodile hunter ..see what happened to him