Taking Care Of An Iguana

Think before you act, is act! This is especially true when it comes to wanting to buy a baby green iguana. Although they might look like a small animal very easy to take care off, realize that can adult iguana can grow up to six feet in length and that caring for an adult iguana is a whole different ballgame than looking after that cute looking baby iguana you purchased at the local pet store.

If however you have carefully considered the pros and cons of keeping a pet iguana, you should still be cautious about which baby iguana to pick. Make sure to look for a healthy-looking, active animal living in a clean enclosure. Iguanas are very susceptible to bacteria, which easily breed in cages or tanks that have not been kept clean.

You will need to build or buy a spacious cage or enclosure where your pet iguana can roam freely like in the wild. The cage should be adapted to the iguana's size. A baby iguana might try to escape through holes you might have in an enclosure suited for a full-grown iguana.

Iguanas naturally live in trees which is why you should set up some branches, artificial or not for your pet to climb on. One of their main activities in the wild is basking in the sun and that is another reason why a branch in the cage is essential. Not only will it give the cage a nicer overall look it will also contribute to the general health of your pet iguana.

Another important factor in iguana care is heat. They like to bask in the sun because this allows for proper digestion of their food and protects them against diseases. A basking spot can easily be created by hanging up a special spotlight or ceramic light. Be sure to carefully monitor the temperature of the enclosure as this plays an important role in the well-being of your pet.

Keep in mind that all green iguana are herbivores and you should therefore never feed them animal proteins or junk food. Although they may eat this kind of unhealthy food, there is a very big chance that this will subject them to various diseases like kidney failure. You can get commercial iguana food at your local pet store. Their diet should consist of mainly vegetables rich in Calcium and low in phosphorous.

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