Iguanas are interesting pets and can become very tame. Some people who come to the Nesbit Ferry Animal Clinic have chosen an iguana as a pet because a family member is allergic to dogs and cats. However, it’s necessary to remember that while an iguana can become a good pet, it isn’t a dog or cat, has different requirements and cannot be handled in the same way.
An Iguana Needs Time to Get Used to its New Home
When an iguana is moved to a new environment, it is very stressed. Trying to play with it right away is just increasing its stress level. It’s normal to want to take the iguana out of its enclosure to carry it around, but it’s best to wait a little while.
Over the first one to three weeks, leave the iguana alone unless you are feeding it, watering it or cleaning the cage or tank. After this time, begin to spend more time with your pet. It will be much easier to tame your iguana if you’ve allowed it time to get used to both you and its new surroundings.
A Healthy Iguana Will Get Large
Pet stores seldom have fully grown iguanas on display, so people may not realize how large a well-fed, healthy iguana can get. Counting its long tail, an iguana can grow to 6 ft. long. While a baby iguana will be happy in a small cage or tank, it will need a much bigger home when it grows up.
The potential size of the animal is one of the most important reasons for giving it time to get used to you in the beginning. A fully tamed iguana is a fascinating and fun pet.
Care Requirements
Iguanas need both U.V.A. and U.V.B. light to feel good, absorb vitamin D and digest their food.
- U.V.A. light comes from the sun or basking lights.
- U.V.B. light comes from special fluorescent tubes. Replace them every nine months.
Use a heat lamp. Iguanas like warm temperatures ranging from 80-90 degrees during the day and 75 degrees at night.
Your iguana is a vegetarian. Feed commercial iguana food plus a variety of veggies and fruits. Don’t feed iceberg lettuce as it has no nutritional value. Always have plenty of fresh, clean water available.
The Nesbit Ferry Animal Clinic treats cats, dogs, birds and exotic pets with a full range of veterinary services. To learn more, visit Ahnfc.com.
