Iguanas....?

Question

What size starter cage for a very young iguana do I need? What is the best substrate, and should I use a heat light, hot rock, or a heating pad under the substrate? What should I feed it? How do I tell if its healthy before I buy it? Does it hurt if they bite? Thanks!
PS-Its an El Salvadoran iguana, NOT a green iguana. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

MINIMUM size cage for a hatchling iguana is a standard 55 gallon tank. That will only last for 6 months then it will need a custom built cage, that holds in humidity and temperature but yet allows for some ventilation.

You will need a flourescent UVB bulb so the iguana can absorb calcium. I recomend Zoo Med's Iguana Light 5.0. The bulb needs to be replaced every 6 months.
You will also need a basking light so the iguana can thermo regulate.
NEVER EVER use a heat rock. They cause thermal burns.
The best substrate in my opinion is coconut fiber. It holds humidity, is easy to spot clean, cheap, and most importantly is digestible if accidently swallowed.
DO NOT use sand, bark chips, walnut shells, pine or cedar bedding, and that fake carpet liner stuff.
Iguanas need atleast 70 percent humidity. Lack of humidity and horrible diets lead to renal failure and an early death in captive iggys.
You will need to buy stuff like driftwood so the iguana can get up high. Not being able to climb and get up high is going to stress the iguana. They are arboreal.
Food- collard greens, mustard greens, watercress, turnip greens, dandelion greens, hibiscus flowers and leaves, parsley, arugula, beet greens, escarole, chickory greens, acorn squash, butternut squash, yams, parsnips, green beans, peas, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, blueberries, rasberries, and mango. 80 percent of the diet needs to be the greens, while 10 percent should be veggies, and another 10 should be fruits. THEY NEED A VARIETY. NO LETTUCE WHATSOEVER. Even romaine lettuce only has 1 percent calcium and really there is no point even offering it to the iguanas.
A 2 yr old iguana should be 4 ft in length if properly cared for. Yes iguana bites hurt, not so much when they are babies but adults CAN sever a finger and the whip of their tail can lascerate you. Not to mention that thier claws wich are made for climbing trees will slice you open when they try to climb you like a tree.
By the way, el salvador iguanas ARE green iguanas.

Tim a- IGUANAS ARE HIGH MAITENANCE, AND THEY GROW FAST. READ THE SITES I LISTED IN THE SOURCE SECTION

THE IDIOT WHO SAID TO FEED ANIMAL PROTIENS- ANIMAL PROTIENS CAUSE RENAL FAILURE, IGUANAS ARE OBLIGATE FOLIVORES/VEGETARIANS.

Answer 2

Hello...a 15 gallon aquarium is good for young juvenile iguana's..heat ( under tank &/or bulbed is good - all bulbs have to on Dimmer switches ) &/or UV lights - plant grow bulbs are best for small tanks on a dimmer switch - not the wall kind, these are like extension cords @ Wal Marts & hardware stores ) are a must ..NEVER HEAT ROCKS, as for substrate, best is shredded newspaper ( tho none too pretty ) or reptile carpet - soaked & cleaned weekly, a bowl for water & soaking, a branch that so he can go up & down regulate the heat they want ( bask)..any bulb has to be seperated by a screen only, not glass or plastic - UV rays must penetrate..no matter the iguana, the needs are the same & until about a year old, they need meat - wax, meal, earth worms & when big enough pinkie mice are OK or crickets...most iguana's are vegetarian after a year, temps need to vary up to 90 degrees..NEVER CELERY, LETTUCe or Onion type foods, the healthiest iguana will be the one closest to the heat & have a nice fat tail - where the body meets the tail !! The top will have to be very secured so he don't escape..also the bigger they are bigger the bite & yep it can hurt, so can a whipping tail & long claws !! Take Care :)

Answer 3

I also suspect that you are getting a green iguana. El Salvador operates large scale iguana farms for their meat and babies are also sold into the pet trade.
A very young iguana can be housed in as little as a 25 gallon tank but if kept under proper conditions they grow rapidly and you will be up-grading quickly. I like to use ground coconut fibre for iguanas as it helps keep the humidity up. Impaction should not be a problem as they are usually fed from a dish. They are arboreal, basking lizards so a heat light is the best choice. A healthy young iguana should be bright and alert and a bit nervous about being picked up. If it seems really "tame" right from the start it is probably not well. A bite from a baby would pinch a bit and may break the skin but the bite from an adult can cause serious injury requiring stitches and adult males can bite aggressively so be aware. Basically they eat a wide variety of greens but this site is excellent for the many specific aspects of their diet.

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html

Answer 4

Well I don't want to overwhelm you but iguanas are very low maintenance no matter where they come from. A 20 to 30 gal. tank will do you just fine for a good long while. I've never heard of putting a hatch ling in a 50 gallon tank. that's way past over kill. Remember Iggy's grow slowly. As far as substrate goes I have always used the "astro turf" stuff. Not the stuff at home depot but the pet store stuff. just makes clean up allot easier and it comes in several natural colors. Lastly an iguanas' primary defense is a tail whip, I'd be more concerned about that but not too much.
Good luck.....

Answer 5

The cage should have the approximate dimensions : 18 in. long, 12 in. wide and 14 in. high. As your iguana grows, you will have to keep expanding the tank, making it more comfortable for your iguana to be in.
The day temperature range should be between 32°C (90°F) to 34°C (93°F) and at night between 22°C (71°F) to 24°C (75°F) to keep the iguanas comfortable and in good health. Artificial lighting is a good substitute for sun light when sun light is not available but it is better to take the iguana into the sun light when ever possible.
It is best to feed romaine lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, other eatable leaves, carrots, all kinds of fruits, coliflower and broccoli, etc. Green food is high in calcium and also contains vitamins D3 which is important for your iguana.
These lizards are very resistant to diseases. They don't need the care that other pets would need. It is definitely important to have a reptile experienced veterinarian at hand.

P.S. As far as I know, ''El Salvadoran'' iguanas are still green iguanas, they're just from El Salvador.
http://www.iguanaselsalvador.com/

Answer 6

I owned an iguana once before. I wouldn't recommend letting it roam free. They have to have a lot of heat and basking areas. You wouldn't be able to get your house to the right temperature. And they could easily be hurt by the other animals. Or you might not see it and step on it on accident. There are a lot of things that could go wrong. And they aren't the kind of pet that you can potty train or anything so it will just potty where ever it feels like it. I strongly recommend that you keep it in a tank. Or you can build your own cage for it. Use PVC pipe and wire mesh. That way it can climb and have a lot of room to roam around in. Just make sure you give it one cool side and one warm and a shelf to bask on.

Answer 7

You don't want to make the cage too small, your iguana will get pretty big. The holes on the side of the cage should be small enough so that the lizard can't get out. You will need a flat rock and a basking light. Find out the best type of food at your local pet stores.

Answer 8

Only thing I can answer, here for you, is yes, iguana bites hurt. I suffered multiple bites from a 3-foot green iggy. They were painful, and the one on my wrist bled badly.

Don't know much about other iggy species, though. Sorry, on that count.