| Basic Care Sheet Welcome To Double D's Basic Care Sheet This page will give you just the basics of iguana care Please be sure to do LOTS of indepth research before bringing an iguana into your family they are a TON of work. Feeding Iguana's Should be fed at minimum once a day, most feed there iggy's an average of two, some even three times a day. Your iggy's diet should contain FRESH foods NOT the Canned iguana food that some pet stores push at you. Greens should be 40 to 50 % of your iggy's diet Collard Greens,Turnip Greens,Mustard Greens,Dandelion Greens,Escarole,Water Cress,Broccoli (Leaves ONLY),Flat leaf parsley,Cilantro. Vegetables should be 40 to 45 % of your iggy's diet Green Beans,Orange Fleshed Squash,Snap peas,Carrots.Parsnip,Asparagus,Okra,Onions,Mushrooms, Bell Peppers,Sweet Potato,Zucchini,Snow Peas,Yellow Squash,Kobacha Squash,Cactus Paddle, Egg plant,Yucca Fruits should be 10 to 15 % of your iggy's diet Fresh or dried Figs,Peaches,Apple,Papaya,Watermelon,Honeydew melon,Cantaloupe,Mango,Grapes (Seedless), Raspberries,Strawberries,Blackberries,Prickly Pears,Dried Apricots,Cherries Please make sure to change the food regularly the heat and humidity you iggy needs makes the food life shorter. NEVER leave food in the enclosure without changing it for more than 12 hours, I change ours as soon as it starts to even show signs of looking bad, I usually remove food after a three to four hour time frame and then give fresh. |
| Water All thought you might not see an iguana drinking they DO NEED WATER. Most of there water is received from the foods they eat but a CLEAN water source needs to be available at all times. Be sure to watch the water so that it stays clean changing it every day if not more than once a day. |
| Enclosure Unless you are prepared to buy a new enclosure every year of your iguana's life I suggest you start out big. With a 6 to 7 ft full grown iguana you will need a space the size of a small room. From my understandings it will need to be at least 6 ft tall and 4 ft wide. Inside the enclosure you need to provide plenty of climbing room, basking spots no further than 18 inches from UVB lighting and Basking lights. Temps need to be at 85 degrees with basking spots that reach temps of 90 to 95 degrees. Humidity levels need to be 70 to 90 % all though iguanas can adjust well to low and they will feel as if suffocating and not getting the things they need to breath correctly in the air. |
| Heating & Lighting Iguana's require specialized lighting requirements. In order to process there food they MUST have UVB light, the best way to get this is UNFILTERD (unfiltered being direct light not through a closed window) Sunlight. If you live in an area like I do that is an impossibility. The next best thing is a UVB light. There are several brands the one I have seen recommended the most is the Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0. These need to be on for 12 hour day cycles and then providing a night time black light basking spot. Temps need to be kept at 85 degrees with 90 to 85 degrees under basking sources. Sources for heat used are Radiant Heat panels, CHE's (Ceramic Heating Emitters), Human heating pads set on low. HOT ROCKS are sold and used they are a MAJOR DANGER to your iguana, from thermal burns to electrical shorts. PLEASE DO NOT USE A HEAT ROCK IF YOU FEEL THIS IS NEEDED TRY A HUMAN HEATING BAD WRAPPED IN A BLANKET OR TOWEL. Check out our pages for more information on specific types of lighting and heating (we will be working on that part of our site soon with more detailed information). |
| WORDS OF CAUTION Iguana's are NOT EASY PETS, they are NOT Pets to put in a cage and watch. Iguana's Live to 20 years if cared for properly Grow 6 to 7 ft long. Have SHARP claws, and VERY SHARP TEETH. Iguanas can be unpredictable, can do damage with there teeth, nails, and tail. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans from there use if your not extremely careful. Iguanas are a VERY TIME CONSUMING, Lots of HARD WORK involved pet. PLEASE do LOTS of research before getting an iguana they are a LIFE LONG commitment. IF you are still wanting an iguana PLEASE check into adopting one of the MANY iggy's needing a home you can find all varieties age,size, and health wise. PLEASE Ensure you find a QUAILIFIED HERB VET (link on our Links page to find one in your area) to care for ANY MEDICAL needs for your iggy. |
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