General Information
I want to start off by saying, I do not feel Iguanas are the pet for everyone. Typically they are purchased by people who are totally unaware of how large they will get, or who think "I will deal with that when I need to" and never really do. Many stores, which used to sell Iguanas, no longer do, because they recognize that these pets often become burdens. As such I stress to you not to get an Iguana unless you know you can devote a whole room of your house to your pet. Remember this is an animal that will grow six feet long and have a dangerous tail.
Additionally because there are very few captive bred Iguanas many are shipped from Latin America, where they pass through many hands before reaching their final home. This puts stress on each young animal and undoubtedly many die.
Selection and Purchase
As I just mentioned only some Iguanas are captive bred, if you can find one that was not imported, and can buy directly from a breeder then this is the best place to purchase your pet, It will be less stressed, and therefore less likely to get sick. Most animals in pet stores are not from ethical breeders, and pet stores usually will not tell you their source. If you can, you should attend a Reptile show where you will meet breeders, or you can find them on the Internet or in advertisement in Reptile magazines.
Look for a bright green color when selecting your young Iguana. Any tendency towards dull colors could indicate stress or poor health. Occasionally they shed their skin, and exhibit a dull appearance at this time, but this is not a good time to pick an animal so leave any who are dull alone. If the whole tank only contains dull colored animals, do not take any of them. This could indicate poor health within the group.
Healthy animals will be alert and aware of their surroundings, food, heat, and so forth. You want to make sure any animal you consider buying shows an interest in food. Unlike many animals younger Iguanas adapt better to new surroundings than do older ones. So ideally pick a young one rather than an older one.
Feeding and Care
Feeding correctly is very important, the biggest mistake people make is to feed their Iguana too much animal protein. While it is fine for them to have some treats like crickets and meal worms, it should not be a main part of their diet, and should not be offered except as treats after your pet is one-year-old. The best food for them are vegetables and fruit. Fresh fruit and vegetables are best, but you can buy commercially prepared diets, or even use canned baby food in a pinch.
Some favorites are things you can grow or pick in your garden, such as carrots, peas, romaine lettuce, and even dandelions. Just make sure you have not used any pesticides or herbicides. Do not feed them potato or tomato leaves, or onions. They like whole wheat bread, cooked brown rice, and most fruits. Make sure you chop any harder fruit and vegetables into smaller pieces.
You can, and probably should, purchase vitamin supplements for your pet, especially if it is an indoor Iguana.
Regular handling is a must. If you do not handle your pet regularly it will become a very big very dangerous animal. Their tails are strong and will be used as weapons if they are not accustomed to being handled. If you have selected your pet well, it will be one that is already somewhat gentle. However if it is nervous you must be sensitive to its' fear and approach it slowly. One of the best ways to tame them is by offering food and patting them at the same time. They usually do not like being picked up from above, so you are best to have them climb up your arm. They may be taken out and let to run loose in your home, but ensure there are no electrical cords or poisonous plants. They can even be taken out in a lizard harness, on a leash. You won't be able to lead them like a dog, more likely they will lead you.
It has been said that lizards kept out doors may be more aggressive than those kept indoors, this is likely because of the UV rays, so you should be aware of this.
Housing
As with all pets the bigger space you can provide, the better, this is especially true when keeping Iguanas. Wild iguanas swim, climb, and cover large areas of ground with out limit. So when caging such an animal you are going to be greatly restricting their natural movement. For a young Iguana a 50-gallon aquarium is the minimum and it should have branches for climbing. Ideally though a 100 gallon or more tank is best. You can purchase, or build other types of set ups for Iguanas. Make sure you have a height feature, and that the cage or tank is secure A strong Iguana can push a lid off the top of a tank.
You need to have a heat lamp, they digest their food by sitting in warm light so this is highly important. Rather than getting more into the specifics of lighting here, you are best to speak to your reptile specialist at your local pet supply shop as they will know what is available in your area when it comes to lighting.
In warm climates it is possible to have Iguana housing outdoors, a wood and wire cage works well. Never put an Iguana outside in a glass aquarium. They will eat any plants so make sure there are not poisonous plants within reach of your Iguana, even when it is out of the cage.
There are several kinds of flooring material you can use for your Iguanas tank. As with any pets, never use cedar shavings, even though they are marketed for pets. Iguanas can have indoor outdoor carpet, aspen shavings, or even sand as a flooring material. Make sure you have a hiding area, such as a cave or overturned box.
A large water bowl should be provided and always kept fresh. If possible provide a swimming area.
Other Information
Before you need one, make sure you have a veterinarian in your area who is familiar with care of Iguanas.
It is hard to tell if an Iguana is in good health, color and activity level are good indicators, a sunken eye is usually a sign of trouble.
They do need their nails trimmed, this can be done by using nail trimmers for people, removing only the tip of the nail.
Again I want to stress these are not animals that stay small, unless you have room for a six foot long pet, you should not even consider getting a small young one, because it will grow and it is unfair to the pet to be "disposed of" when it gets bigger or to be kept cramped into a small cage. Very few people are actually truly good owners of Iguanas, most are unable to devote adequate room to them.
An good alternative pet to an Iguana would be an Anole, Chinese Water Dragon, or other smaller reptile.
