Hey i have an iguana...Help me out plz?

Question

I just got an iguana for christmas. Every one says that they are really hard to take care of. Ive read a lot about them but nothing really tells me what i want to know. So i need like a daily routine. And also can someone tell me a websight that i can look up how to build a big cage cheap thanks

Answer 1

Diet:
Iguanas are herbivores; they do not eat animal protein of any kind. Commercially available Iguana food is not suitable for use as it usually contains animal protein. An Iguana's primary diet should consist of Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, Escarole, parsnip, winter squash, alfalfa, strawberries, figs and a calcium supplement. The greens should make up the majority of the diet.
The Iguana should be feed early every morning. Additional feedings may be made if the iguana eats them. Water should be provided, preferably in a dish too small for the iguanas to immerse themselves in.

Size:
Iguanas can grow to 6 foot in length.

Age............... head to vent…..total length
Just hatched……...2 in ………….6-8 in
3 months……...….4 in…………..12 in
6 months…………6 in…………..18 in
1 year…………….8 in…………..24 in
18 months…….…10 in…………..30 in
2 years…………..12 in…………..36 in
3 years……….….16 in…………..45 in
4 years……….….18 in…………..54 in
5 years…………..20 in…………..60 in
6 years…………..22 in…………..66 in
7 years…….up to 24 in….....up to 72 in


Housing:
Where x is the length of the iguana, housing should be x tall, x deep and 1.5 x long. Iguanas are arboreal and need to have something to climb on. A bathing area is also desirable. Iguanas instinctually poop in water and they are likely to consistently use the bathing area to do so.

Heat:
Iguanas need a basking area, normally at the top of the climbing area that has a temperature of 95F. The lower areas of the cages should be cooler as a lizard regulates his body temperature by moving to warmer or cooler areas. The lowest temperature, nighttime, should not be less than 75F. Nighttime heat can be provided using ceramic heaters or night bulbs. Never use heat rocks with Iguanas as they can cause burning.

Light:
Iguanas live in equatorial areas. They should have 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. They also require high quality UVB lights (such as reptisun 10) to facilitate vitamin D production to allow calcium absorption. Vitamin D drop are not a suitable replacement due to problems with dosing and lack of evidence on their effectiveness. Daily trips outside, in a suitable enclosure, are desirable when temperature permits.

Handling:
Iguanas must be handled daily to socializing them. As they can inflict injury with their tails, teeth, and claws the purchase of protective gear for the forearms is often considered (my son uses a leather jacket and gloves). They are not domesticated animals so this behavior is instinctual on the Iguana's part. The daily handling is to show them that you are a friend rather than a threat. Never punish an iguana, but at the same time do not let them win. If the Iguana learns that tail thrashing will cause you to put them down, they will always tail thrash when you try to pick them up.

Health:
Iguanas require reptile vets. Regular vets do not have the training needed to understand what is happening in an Iguana, or any other reptile. You can find a list of reptile vets in the US at http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html.

Lifespan:
In captivity Iguanas given proper care can be expected to live 20 years.



Please be sure to visit anapsid.org. It is the website of Melissa Kaplan, author of Iguanas for Dummies.

Answer 2

Iguana's grow big so they do need a big enclosure. I'd suggest filling a corner with wire mesh 'walls' as a start.
They need heat so place a fairly big heat mat at the bottom of the enclosure, covered by reptile carpet as a substrate.
Make sure you also fit a heat bulb and some easy access shelves for the iguana to bask on.
I've known of people to turn old chest of drawers or wardrobes into enclosures.

Try these for some ideas :

http://www.iguana-news.com/cage.html

http://www.greenigsociety.org/buildvsbuy.htm

http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com/

http://www.baskingspot.com/iguanas/cagepage/wood.html

As for their diet they eat fresh fruit and veg. Also provide fresh water.
Am sure once you have all the correct equiptment you shouldn't have any problems.
I usually find setting up a reptile home as a 'one off payment'.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I had an iguana for about 5 years. Provide it with a heating rock since they can't produce their own heat. You can purchase iguana food at most pet stores. Mine loved almost anything I gave it too eat. They can be hard to take care of and are very costly especially when it comes to vet bills.My father had to spend over 2000 dollars on mine when she caught phnemonia and when we brought her home the next day she died. They can be very fun to have. Mine only went into her cage when she felt like it. She loved wandering our house and always made her way to me whenever I was sleeping. I actually woke up with her in my bed a few times!! She walked around with my dogs like she was one. She was always the sweetest thing unless I was outside taking her on a walk where she would become frieghtened.

Answer 4

iguanas are not as hard to take care of as you would think their heating and lighting are the most important with their eating habits
my brother in law is in the process of making me a big cage 100.00 at most home depot just like a doll house i have expensive taste he already did i he built it off a coffee table 30.00 for wood the glass is costly but you can do without the glass use your imagination itll be nice iguanas are fun not hard to take care of at all i have 2 now and love them

Answer 5

I Have iguana (green iguana) and it's very easy to take care of it
just feed him french vegetables