will you please tell me about having one for a pet.have a rather large aqurium.and am planning on buying one today.
2007-02-22 07:10:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
They should be feed:
45% leafy greens such as escarole, dandelions, endive, mustard, and collards, NO lettuces or spinach! They aren't good for him.
45% hard mixed veggies such as an orange flesh squash the harder the better(acorn,pumpkin,butternut... fresh green beans, fresh peas, parsnip, and green bell peppers, NO broccoli or cauliflower, or avocado!
10% fruit such as figs, papaya, mango, pear, and berries. NO bananas, only very rarely as a treat.
NO ANIMAL PROTEIN such as bugs, meat, eggs, or cheese!
Temperature:
They need a basking area of 95-100 and normal temps of 75-85. NO heat rocks!
Lights:
They need a 5.0 UV light.
Hydration
They should also get baths everyday or so. And should have a water bowl in their cage.
Vet:
You should take Your Iguana for regular vet checkups to make sure it is in good health. Reptiles can have internal parasites that can harm them so you should make sure the vet checks that.
Iguanas can be very expensive to maintain, and they get 6-7ft long and require a cage 7' long x 7' tall x 5' wide so if you can not provide this then get something smaller like a gecko, bearded dragon(make really good pets) or a chinese water dragon(pretty similar to an iguana but a little smaller). Adoption is also a good way to get any of these, there are a lot of reptile that need good homes.
Here are some good sites, the first one was recomended by my vet.
If you have any other question feel free to e-mail me.
http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html
www.greenigsociety.org
www.triciaswaterdragon.com/igcare.htm
http://www.baskingspot.com/iguanas/igbook/
http://www.reptilecare.com/IgCare.htm
2007-02-22 12:45:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had an iguana for about 2 1/2 years now, it's very important to only feed them vegetables such as greens, carrots, and squash (some people feed them insects, but this can make them very sick and shorten their lifespan considerably). I got a great book at the pet store, it's not too long and it tells you everything you would need to know about raising an iguana. Also, if it's a male, it's going to have spans of time when it gets a bit agressive, this is normal. When this happens, limit its UV light exposure to about 8-10 hours a day, and make sure that you let it know who is boss. Hold it below eye level, and GENTLY hold its body and tail still so it won't whip you...this usually calms it down after a few seconds. Make sure you handle it on a regular basis, this will keep it from getting too aggressive. Also, they can grow up to 6 feet long, so make sure you have adequate space, and know that an iguana is a long-term commitment!! Proper light and heat are also important.
2007-02-22 15:58:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A large aquarium (I'm assuming at least 30 - 50 gallons) is fine when they are babies, but I hope you realize that they grow to 6 feet long and will require their own room.
They also live for 20+ years, i hope you are prepared to have it for that long.
It should eb fed a diet primarily of green leafy vegtables (kale, beet tops, etc.) Lettuce is not great for them as it has virtually on nutrients.
They need to have enough water provided to them to soak in, as well as a proper heat lamp.
2007-02-22 16:01:01 · answer #3 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are incredibly picky, and they like whipping you with their tails. They can be really pissy at times, and they require a lot of time and patience. If you can't spend an hour with them every day, don't get them, because they'll act as wild as if you pulled them out of the jungle.
2007-02-22 15:31:20 · answer #4 · answered by Israely Jew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great info above and great website. if you are not ready for a 5 to 6 foot pet and be able to care for it for upwards of 10 years stick with something smaller maybe something that will not grow out of your tank. just a suggestion if you are able to do the things listed above look into adoption.
2007-02-22 16:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by lizardman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tomatoes, collard greens, and bananas are favorites. they can be extremely loving if you handle them regularly. however, they can get quite large...i had one get 6 ft long. their tails generally make up 2/3 of their body length.
they do enjoy logs in their cages for climbing. also they enjoy being sprayed with cool water from a spray bottle.
2007-02-22 15:43:22 · answer #6 · answered by JaSam 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If its a green iguana you can find all the information you need here http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/Iguana.html
2007-02-22 15:26:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋