how big of a cage will i need for a iguana if i want it to be 1 1/2 ft long.?

Question

pls suply me with more information as much as u can

Answer 1

Wanting an iguana to be 1.5 feet long is an iguana that is barely sexually mature, they won't stay that way for long, they get big. We house ours in a cage that is 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, basically an aquarium volume of over 500 gallons. It doesn't sleep in it though, it sleeps in the bedroom free to roam, he's that size and only about a year old. They live 25 years, and require extreme care. A good diet, expensive lighting, and constant aclimation into your daily routine. Males are aggressive during mating season, so much so that a large male may send you to the hospital several times a year during his rut. A female is smaller and not so aggressive, but may require spaying to prevent egg binding, they produce eggs even if a male is not present, and without specific conditions, she will not pass them, and she will die.

An iguana is a great pet, but it's not the easiest reptile to care for, despite the price. A bearded dragon, or geko is a much easier, and less expensive pet to deal with. I spend about 300 a month on food, supplies and electricity for this guy, not to mention vet visits, which can be horrid. Aside from monitors, they are the most intelligent of all reptiles, and it can be a rewarding venture, but it's a costly and time consuming one. If you would like more information, please let me know and I can try to steer you in the right direction. If you're determined to get one, shop around and do allot of research, buy the book "Iguana's For Dummies", it's really great.

Answer 2

First of all, it's a myth that iguanas only grow to fit their cage -- and a cruel myth, because it leads to people keeping miserable, crippled iguanas in tiny cages. An iguana won't stay small if it's confined in a too-small cage any more than a dog would.

It's also not true of fish, by the way. The only reason a fish in an undersized aquarium might be stunted is because it is living in very unhealthy conditions and can't grow properly. If given proper water conditions (aggressive filtration, etc.) a fish will vastly outgrow its tank. I've watched it happen.

Iguanas are NOT animals for beginners. They're not even close.

They get huge. The only way an iguana could remain a foot and a half long is if it was so sick it was on the verge of death. Four to six feet is a normal range, and you can expect a lizard on the high end of that range. They need a huge amount of space. Letting them wander around your place is one option, but an iguana can be a one-lizard wrecking crew just by wandering around.

They have very, very specific dietary requirements. Feeding an iguana what it needs to be healthy is not easy. They require regular blood tests by your vet to check their calcium/phosphorous balance. Getting an iguana sitter for a week is not easy.

An iguana is not the reptile you want.

Look into a bearded dragon or a blue-tongued skink.

Answer 3

If you want your iguana to only be 1 1/2 feet long, then give it away right now to someone else while the poor creature has a chance to survive. I am not assuming you have an iguana though. Iguanas generally get at least 4' long and need as much climbing space as possible. A minimum of 130 gallon tank is required. Not a good idea to let the reptile wander the house because iguanas carry and spread salmonella. Water Dragons which come from Australia look very similar to iguanas make much better pets and only grow to 1/2 the size. Water Dragons are much easier to feed also because the diet requirements are different. They are mostly carnivorous, eating insects and pinkie mice. Water Dragons are very peaceful also. It is for this reason that we do not sell iguanas in our pet shop but do sell water dragons instead. Please consider this before purchasing either. Both iguanas and water dragons live at least 9 years or more.

Answer 4

You wont have a problem with it being 1 1/2 feet long. They grow that length in a matter of a year. The problem you're going to have is that iguanas get anywhere from 5 to 6 feet long when they are full grown, and only after 3 to four years. I own a male green iguana that is four years old, 6 foot from head to tail, and weighs 17 pounds. They also live 15 to 20 years if taken care of properly. A full grown iguana preferably needs a room size enclosure. But if you're wanting to go smaller, you should think of building one that is at least 6 feet tall, 6 feet long and 3 to four feet wide. It will save you from having to do it later. I wish you would have done research before you decided to get one of these magnificent creatures. They are not for beginners. You should seriously do some research or purchase a book on iguana care. If you feel you can't be commited to taking care of one for 15 to 20 years, I recommend that you get rid of it. Not just for your sake, but for the iguana's as well. Good Luck.

Owner of a 4 year old, 6 foot long, male green iguana.

Answer 5

Melissa Kaplin's rule for enclosure size is

Dimension Snout-Tail Length

Minimum length (side to side): 2-3 x
Minimum depth (front to back): 1-1.5 x
Minimum height: 1.5-2 x


My 1 year old iguana is over 2 ft long, already longer than you think your Iguana should grow to. An Iguana can reach 6 ft by the time they are 4. If you wish to keep an iguana I would suggest that you accept that his are extremely large lizards and plan accordingly.

If you have a size requirement for your lizard, then select your lizard accordingly. It is impossible to force a healthy iguana to remain 1 1/2 feet. Try a bearded dragon instead. It is also a much easier lizard to work with.

Answer 6

oh yeah but iguanas can grow huge like 6 feet long so a cage wouldnt last it very long. yeah you'll probably end up making a cage for them or paying someone to make it. Oh, and another thing iguanas can dig so its better to put some cement or else its gone. my suggestion is that you get a lot of fence and make your own cage as you see fit. maybe make a four cornered cage that is held up by wooden posts at each corner and of course the top...

Answer 7

I've got a Chinese Water Dragon (which is just like an iguana) that is 15 inches long an needs to be in a 30 gallon tank, so if you do the math you'd probably need to put it in a 60 to 80 gallon tank. Maybe 100 gallon!

Answer 8

It is a myth that an iguana will only grow in accordance with the size cage you put it in. You should do some research before getting one to make sure you have everything it needs to be healthy and avoid common diseases such as metabolic bone disease and stomatitis. As "just me" suggested, the lady's name is Melissa Kaplan....do a search for her name and you will find tons of reliable iguana info. Melissa Kaplan is very well known in the herpetological world for her knowledge of reptiles, iguanas in particular. Good luck!

Answer 9

Bad news man Reptiles continue to grow regardless of what size cage you keep them in. You iguana will probably get to 5 or 6 feet as an adult. Keeping them in a smaller enclosure will not stop them from growing. But it will end up making them very stressed and eventually kill them.

Answer 10

it don't matter what size cage you put an Iguana in, they are going to grow and they won't stop with the size of the cage... they will out grow their cages if they are not upgraded... there is some really good sites out there on Iggs, if you look, you can find them.. I think the lady is Melissa Keplin or something like that, she has some very good ones...