Where should I put my two Iguanas, I just moved to a basement?

Question

Ok I have two iguanas that I really worry about. Now I just moved to a basement where there is no direct sunlight which I know the iguanas loved, now I only have them with a heat rock, sand and a UV light. Do you think that is enough for them or do they need direct sunlight. I also live in Chicago...

Answer 1

A good UVB5.0 tube that gives coverage of their basking area should replace the sunlight. You may need two lamps.
Please get rid of the heat rock. These are renowned for causing burns on iguanas & other lizards. Replace it with a non contact heat source.

Answer 2

Direct sunlight (not through a window which blocks all UVB out)...is wonderful, but there are ways to provide UVB. I'll get to that in a minute.

Iguanas are very territorial. You should honestly think about housing them separately. Especially if you have only one basking area. Use the link below for reading here. One of the articles used is mine.

The heat rock is a huge disaster waiting to happen. These have been notorious for malfunctioning and killing reptiles. Iguanas need heat from above...not below. The link you were given for the Iguana Den is a great source. Read my other article (below) on "Heat From Above or Below".

Use a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer w/hygrometer for the best accuracy. You can get these for about $15 - $20 at Wal-Mart. Once you get the thermometer your goal is meeting the required temperature gradients in three different spots:
Basking: 92-96
Ambient: 80-85
Cool end/night time: 75 for babies under a year, 70 for adults.

Without the correct temps, especially the high basking temps...all that good food going in will not get digested properly and organ functions will be trying to run on less than ideal capacity. Nutrients are lost and illness sets in.

As for a UVB source...you need two...one for each iguana totaling 4 bulbs if using the UVB fluorescent lights. Using a merc vapor you will only need one. Not all UVB lights are created equal. Some decay very quickly. You need no less than two 4' fluorescent UVB tubes. Short version - UVB helps the ig to process the calcium in their diet. Without the UVB...the calcium does not get absorbed and the result is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and renal failure. The brands to go with:
Reptisun 5.0 or 10.0
Iguana Light 5.0
Exoterra 8.0
Arcadia 5.0 (UK)
...or:
Mega Ray EB (external ballast)
http://www.reptileuv.com

Many of these can be purchased at http://www.reptiledirect.com for a more reasonable price than the pet stores. Once you provide these lights for your ig...set them in the 6" - 8" range (12" - 18" for the Mega Ray). Any farther and the UVB drops of so much that they don't do any good. Change the fl. tube out every 6 months...unless you purchase a UVB meter...then you can often go longer...and sometimes find a dud. The merc vapor should be changed after a year.

Sand - Moss, bark, sand and the likes may look nice...but it's horribly bad. This stuff is deadly and has killed many reptiles...not just iguanas. It causes impaction which often requires surgery to remove if found in time. It sure looks nice, but with an iguana's sticky tongue and the way they flick-lick everything...it's very easy for it to get caught. It also harbors bacterias and fungi. Just go to cage carpet or replace it all with newspaper, butcher paper, old towels, linoleum, etc.

Answer 3

as long as the room is maintained at a temperature for them and that you have a basking spot of 85 c 95 c and a good 5.0 uv light then they should be fine but i would suggest one thing get rid of the heat rock these cause nothing but painfull deep burns that could kill them opt for a heat matt instead the uv lights not as natural as sunlight but does the job just as well so they can absorb the calcium from there food which they need to prevent them gettin mbd also it helps produce vitamin d

Answer 4

Nephew has one over 6 feet long in a bedroom.no sunlight. But if he takes it out or moves it ,it gets stressed and goes off food.In Wi. keeps room at 82.