It’s not unusual to go into a pet store and see a kid admiring an iguana, probably the most popular pet lizard. Young iguanas are readily available and inexpensive, but do they really make good pets? Children who are allergic to dogs or cats normally have no problem with iguanas, so they are worth considering. However, there are both pros and cons on the suitability of iguanas as pets.
Are Iguanas Friendly?
Young iguanas (about one foot long) are usually quite content to be handled. They can be picked up and will happily perch on someone’s shoulder. Whether or not that remains true as the iguana gets older – and larger – largely depends on whether or not they are routinely handled.
If an iguana is generally left alone in a cage or terrarium, it will become aggressive as it ages. On the other hand, an iguana that has been handled on a daily basis will usually remain tame, although it might bite if it felt threatened. Iguanas are territorial, so it’s usually best to only keep one.
Are Iguanas Easy to Maintain?
Retailers often say that iguanas are easy pets, needing only the right diet and warmth. Anyone experienced with pet care in Alexandria would probably expect that there was a little more involved and would be right.
* Iguanas are herbivores, needing a balanced diet of greens, other vegetables, and fruits. Commercial iguana food can be added but should not be the only food.
* Supply a heavy, non-spillable water dish.
* Once a week, include a reptile multivitamin and a calcium/D3 supplement.
* A large fish tank or cage is needed-;the bigger the better. An adult iguana can reach lengths of six to seven feet and 20 lbs., including the tail, and live 20 years in the wild.
* A basking light and UVB lighting are recommended. Iguanas prefer warm temperatures and cannot tolerate cold.
* Iguanas can suffer from health problems including dehydration, calcium deficiency, parasites, and respiratory infections (usually caused by becoming too cold). A proper diet prevents many health problems.
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