The first thing that you need to know before you decide to bring home a five inch long baby iguana is that this lizard can grow to be five feet long in a few short years. Buying an iguana is fairly low cost, but, caring for one is not.
Your iguana can temporarily be housed in a large aquarium. As an iguana grows the space you've provided for it will need to grow as well. A full grown iguana will usually require a very expensive pre built cage or a custom built home made cage. The enclosure should be large enough for your pet to comfortably climb around in it. Iguanas like to climb and perch so, placing branches, ladders, and other "toys" in the enclosure is good for your pet. You should also make sure that your iguana has somewhere to hide. Having a hiding place helps make a caged animal feel more calm and secure in their environment.
Iguanas will also need a heat source in their cage with them. An iguana cannot digest its food if its body temperature is too low. Their are quite a few commercially available heat lamps, made specifically for reptiles. An iguana will not be healthy if it is not warm.
An Iguana's Diet Should Consist of All of the Following:
- calcium rich vegetables- greens, spinach, alfalfa pellets
- other veggies: broccoli, green beans,carrots etc
- grains should make up less than 20% of your pets diet
- fruits should make up less than 15% of a captive iguana's diet.
Most captive lizards, including iguanas, require a daily calcium supplement. You can find a reptile calcium supplement in almost any pet store. Without extra calcium an iguana's spine will not grow properly, leading to painful bone disfigurement.
Iguanas need interaction with their owner. If you do not hold and handle your iguana often it will become wild and very difficult to work with. Young iguana can be allot of work to tame. Baby iguanas are fast and rather wild. As your pet grows older its energy level should go down some making it easier to handle.
