Green iguana (common) (Iguana iguana). What to feed and how to care for your iguana at home

Which pet is best to place in your home? Every person asks this question. Some people choose cats, hamsters, dogs, but there are exotic lovers who do not want to get a simple dog or cat.

Nowadays, snakes, pythons or even spiders live in terrariums at home. Not everyone is ready to expose themselves and their loved ones are in danger, because, no matter how it is, predators are predators. The choice is made on an equally exotic individual - a green iguana or an ordinary iguana, it is a herbivore and does not pose any danger.

What kind of animal is the green iguana, detailed description

The iguana, from the iguana family, a class of reptiles, has a calm character, non-predatory and completely harmless, and is awake during the day. Green Iguana Habitat in Central and South America, Paraguay, Florida, USA, Mexico. Adult animals do not exceed one and a half meters in length; the color of the animal can be not only green.

The lizard feels great not only in water, but also on land. The lizard's vision is very good and its color perception is many times better than that of a human. The green iguana's eye allows it to recognize not only ordinary colors, but also ultraviolet rays, which allows it to absorb vitamin D well.

But, despite excellent vision during the day, the reptile sees poorly at night. The iguana has a third eye. Yes, these are not fairy tales; on the back of the head of reptiles there is a small hole covered with transparent scales. Unfortunately, the third eye is not receptive and the iguana cannot see with it, but this organ has a lens and a retina. It is not entirely known what it is used for the iguana has a third eye, but there is an assumption that the animal uses it to navigate in space and determine the onset of day and night.

Lizards have good hearing and are somewhat similar to human hearing; the iguana determines its source by sound. The iguana is a cold-blooded animal, the optimal body temperature for the animal is thirty-seven degrees. When the lizard's body temperature decreases, the ability to hear decreases.

The animal looks toothless, but this is absolutely not true, the lizard has teeth and they are very sharp, leafy in shape with jagged edges, with the help of this weapon the lizard feeds and eats grass and leaves without difficulty, and in some cases it can even bite, so you should not forget about caution. Thanks to the animal's diet, the body accumulates a large number of salts and minerals that the body is not able to remove on its own, it is helped by special glands that are located on the head.

The lizard gets rid of excess salts by sneezing. When an animal sneezes, excess salt is released from the glands. Depending on their habitat, some animals have so-called horns or spines on their heads. This does not indicate another species of animal, the presence or absence of thorns only indicates different environments a habitat.

How does the common iguana reproduce?

Winter is considered the breeding season for lizards. The age of an animal ready for procreation is from three or four years, some individuals begin to mate a little earlier . Males can "court" after several females at the same time, also, females are not limited to one partner.

During the mating season, males mark their territory with the help of special substances that are released from the limbs of the animal. Battles between males are not observed; generally weaker individuals prefer to leave the territory.

After mating the female They bear their offspring for a little more than two months, then look for a more comfortable place in order to safely lay eggs. Basically, this happens on the banks of reservoirs or rivers; the female digs a hole up to a meter deep, and within a few days lays oval eggs covered with thick skin.

The offspring are born after three or four months. The female, after burying the eggs in the sand, no longer participates in the life of the offspring. After the birth of babies, they stay in a pack for another year and protect weaker individuals. Reptiles feed exclusively on plants. It was believed that due to a lack of protein, lizards feed on insects, but this is absolutely not the case. Mosquitoes and midges accidentally enter the stomach of reptiles along with plants. Juveniles sometimes eat the excrement of other individuals to replenish themselves minerals in organism. But there are cases of reptiles eating fish and meat, in cases of lack of food familiar to them.

After describing what the common iguana is, what it eats, how it reproduces and where the reptile lives, you can consider the life of lizards at home. More and more often, people want to have this particular animal at home.

They are turned on not only warm countries , but also in colder ones. Iguanas are kept in terrariums that have holes or mesh for free air circulation. In addition to free and natural air supply, the terrarium should be quite large and spacious.

And also, a branch and a small pool or water area are placed in the terrarium to get as close to natural conditions habitat of reptiles, all these factors should also include the optimal temperature, which ranges from twenty-five to thirty-five degrees.

In addition to temperature and other factors, one of the most important is to equip the terrarium with an ultraviolet lamp: iguanas receive vitamin D from ultraviolet rays, and it supports the body and strengthens the skeletal system of reptiles. You should not overuse protein foods (meat) in your animal’s diet, although you can dilute the diet in this way, but you should not overdo it. Excessive consumption of meat will lead to the development of kidney disease in reptiles. Basically, it is recommended to feed lizards with plant foods, namely:

• Spinach.
• Rhubarb.
• Beet.
• Celery.

Iguanas are accustomed to water and it is recommended to bathe small individuals at least a couple of times a week; it would also be a good idea to spray the lizards with water. Without water, the reptile will feel not comfortable. You shouldn’t forget about the water temperature either; it should be optimal for the iguana.

To cover the floor of the terrarium, it is best to use rubber that is odorless so that it does not cause discomfort to the iguana. The best material is rubber because when laying soil on the bottom of the terrarium, the reptile can consume the soil or other bedding along with food; in small individuals this can lead to the death of the lizard.

Eating iguana meat and eggs

For some, an iguana is a family friend, but in Mexico and some other countries iguana is a traditional dish. Lizard meat is marinated in salt and spices, then boiled, stewed and fried. Meat dishes are called guisado, posol, biriya. In addition to goulash and various dishes, iguana meat is also used as a filling for tacos (corn tortilla). Iguana meat is cooked with coconut, mainly these dishes are prepared in Guajiro (a city in the Colombian department).

Conclusion

The green iguana and the common iguana are the same type of reptile. The iguana is predominantly herbivorous, preferring an air temperature of no more than thirty-five and no less than twenty-five degrees, and water is as important for the reptile as food.

At home iguanas kept in special terrariums, which should be sufficiently large in size and include all amenities for the animal. Required in the terrarium water zone, a thick branch along which the animal will climb, as in its usual environment.

It is best to use a rubber covering as the floor in the terrarium to prevent soil from getting into the lizard's stomach. . Despite his aggressive appearance , the iguana is a very cute and calm animal. The iguana is the only animal of its class that gets used to and recognizes its owners.

Do not forget that when buying an animal, the lizard has not yet gotten used to the new owner, has not had time to adapt to the new habitat, climate change and other factors. Taking into account all of the above, everyone can decide whether to have a green iguana in their home.

Squad - Lizards

Family - Iguanas

Genus/Species - Iguana iguana

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 1.6-2 m.

Weight up to 4 kg.

REPRODUCTION

Puberty: from 3 years old.

Mating season: depends on the region.

Number of eggs: 25-60.

Carrying: once a year.

Incubation: up to 90 days.

LIFE STYLE

Habits: sometimes lives in groups; active in daytime.

What it eats: leaves, berries, fruits and other plants; young iguanas also eat invertebrates.

RELATED SPECIES

One of the species of this genus is very rare view, which lives only on the Caribbean islands.

The green iguana is an impressively sized lizard. She has a long tail And big head and really makes a strange impression. Her throat pouch and crest of spikes are designed to frighten anyone who approaches her. But despite their terrifying appearance, these iguanas are peaceful herbivores.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

The iguana's main food is plants and animals. The iguana's diet varies depending on its age. Adult animals feed on plants, although in some areas they also eat small mammals and chicks. From plants, reptiles collect leaves, berries and sweet fruits, and also feed on young shoots.

Juvenile iguanas are brighter in color than adults because they usually feed on insects and their larvae, spiders and small invertebrates, for which they often descend to the ground. Sometimes iguanas eat the carrion they find.

The green iguana grows throughout its life. If there is not enough food, the iguana loses weight and sometimes survives only by using its own fat reserves accumulated during the period when there was plenty of food. The female uses these same reserves when digging a hole for the nest, when she does not eat at all.

REPRODUCTION

The mating behavior of green iguanas has been carefully studied by researchers. After mating, the fertilized female lays her eggs in a 30 cm deep hole that she digs in the ground. The hole maintains a constant temperature necessary for the development of the cubs. The hole is also a shelter from enemies.

The female of this reptile digs a hole with her forelimbs and throws earth out of it with her hind limbs. While digging a hole, she sometimes leaves the place of “work” to take a break. At the end of the hole, the female makes a hole in which she lays eggs. The number of eggs depends on the size of the female and ranges from 25 to 60. Then the female carefully digs the hole and compacts the earth with her head. After that, she runs past it several times to confuse the tracks and block predators from accessing the eggs. The cubs hatch, depending on the temperature, after 65-70 days. Newborn iguana cubs are bright green, 20 cm long.

HABITS

In most areas of residence, the green iguana is quite numerous. Its natural habitats are swampy areas, sea coasts and savanna, but the most common place for the iguana to live is the tropical forest.

The iguana climbs trees well, deftly jumping from branch to branch, and therefore inhabits all tiers of the tropical rain forest - from the ground to the crowns of trees, even at a height of 30-40 m. The iguana descends to the ground in the evening, in search of food. She hides in the jungle among the leaves of the trees. The iguana usually rests on tree branches, basking in the rays of the sun. Despite its massive body, it easily moves along thin branches. A frightened iguana rushes to the ground even from a height of 5-6 meters and runs and hides in the green thickets.

The lizard enjoys being on branches located above the water, and in case of danger it jumps down, remaining in the water for several minutes until the danger has passed.

GREEN IGUANA AND MAN

The tasty white meat of iguanas and their eggs are an important source of food for many people living in South America. Due to the unusual, shocking appearance of iguanas, they are readily bred by hobbyists, which is why they have become a subject of trade. However, in the hands of inexperienced people, many green iguanas die.

• Sensing danger, the iguana straightens the spines on its back and thus tries to scare the enemy.
• If the iguana is in a desperate situation, it goes on the offensive, using sharp teeth and claws and striking like a whip with its strong, muscular tail.
• An adult green iguana has little natural enemies, with the exception of large wild cats, crocodiles and boa constrictors. A great danger to young iguanas are predator birds and other species of lizards, the victims of which are quite often young individuals.
• On small island off the coast of Panama there is an area of ​​50 m2 where about 200 green iguanas gather annually to lay eggs.
• Sometimes several females lay eggs in one cavity - this will subsequently help the newborn cubs quickly get to the earth's surface.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE GREEN IGUANA

Young iguana: lighter color, less pronounced throat pouch and spines on the back.

Adult male: grey-green scales, a throat sac and long, curved spines on the back along the spine.

Adult female: she has a lighter build than the male, spines on her back and a smaller throat sac.

Claws: long and curved, help to stay firmly on the branch. The female uses them for digging.

Tail: three times longer than body, muscular, slightly compressed laterally. In case of danger it is used as a weapon.

- Habitat of the green iguana

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

Numerous populations are found in tropical zone America, from southern Mexico to Paraguay and southern Brazil. It also lives on some islands of the Caribbean.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

Today, the green iguana is not in danger of extinction, however, in many places the population is endangered as a result of hunting and trapping for meat and keeping in terrariums.

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IN Lately It has become fashionable to have various exotic animals, such as iguanas, instead of cats and dogs. It is prestigious, beautiful, and there are no special problems in keeping these interesting animals - they are unpretentious and calm. It is even believed that they very quickly get used to their owners, are loyal, and even bring slippers on command. So why do you need a dog?

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Due to the fact that in urban conditions a person is surrounded by infrastructure and various communications, the opportunity to relax and connect with nature is not presented very often. In such a situation, pets come to the rescue: flowers, fish, animals. Recently, you can have not only a cat or a dog in your apartment, but also some exotic animals, for example, an iguana. This huge lizard is calm and unpretentious, and quickly gets used to its owner.

Taming

How to tame an animal like an iguana? At home, this reptile will be happy to frequently communicate with its owner. Contact with the pet involves feeding and bathing. To teach an animal to trust a person, you need to regularly hold him on your arms and shoulders. Keeping an iguana requires devoting a significant amount of time to it, so before getting such a pet, you should adequately weigh your options. Veterinarians warn: despite the fact that an iguana at home quickly gets used to a person, it can bite. Therefore, care should be taken when handling it and, if possible, wear leather gloves.

Optimal conditions for an iguana

These huge lizards live in tropical climate, mainly on the shores of Southern Argentina and Canada, as well as on several islands near the coast South America. In this regard, the exotic pet must be provided with conditions similar to its natural environment a habitat. The terrarium should be selected based on its ability to simulate the humid conditions of a tropical forest. At the same time, it must be clean, ventilated and convenient to use. A young iguana at home will feel comfortable in an aquarium with a volume of 100 to 150 liters. It is recommended to install a vertical terrarium, since these reptiles spend most of their time on high altitude. As the animal grows, a reservoir is selected large sizes, and environmental conditions also change. If it is not possible to install a waterproof cap, a metal mesh cover will suffice. It is necessary to choose a stainless mesh, since humidity is constantly maintained in the terrarium. To allow air exchange there, several small holes are drilled in the walls. An iguana at home, as well as in nature, does not like drafts, so the holes should be located on one side or on top.

Ultraviolet lighting

Also Special attention It is necessary to pay attention to heating the terrarium. For this purpose, special incandescent lamps are installed. A young animal (iguana) will feel great if there are two light sources, alternately used for day and night heating. For supporting optimal temperature You should install three thermometers, evenly placing them over the area of ​​the terrarium. When adjusting the power of incandescent lamps, you need to strive for the following thermometer readings: on the first - from 31 to 35 degrees Celsius, on the second - from 27 to 28 degrees, on the third - at least 25. For the purpose of night heating, colored lamps are used. They don't provoke night activity pet, which may subsequently affect its health. The lamps should be installed in such a way that the animal cannot get closer than fifteen centimeters to them, otherwise there is a high probability of getting burns.

Arrangement of a comfortable terrarium

Any Living being, whether it is a cat, a parrot, a hamster or an iguana, should feel most comfortable at home. Since our pet is a tropical dweller, he needs to be surrounded by greenery and plants. It would be optimal to plant small shrubs and flowers with hard, dense leaves in the terrarium. The soil for them (it should not be loose, not wet or dusty) must be covered with stones. Then the moisture will not stagnate, and bacteria will not be able to multiply, which will provide hygienic conditions for the animal. Of course, the terrarium must be kept clean, so disinfection is carried out regularly, always with low-toxic ionophores. Feeders and drinkers should be washed two to three times a week using laundry soap.

An iguana at home has limited movement. In nature, she loves to climb branches. Therefore, conditions should be created in the terrarium that are close to the natural habitat by equipping it with wooden rods. In this case, it is recommended to give preference to branches that are larger than the pet itself. You can get them in the forest, then treat them with chlorine bleach and rinse thoroughly in running water. During the installation process, it is necessary to carefully grind and secure the wood, excluding the presence of cracks and holes, since if a tail or finger gets in there, there is a high probability of injury to the animal. An iguana at home, as well as in nature, needs its own shelter where it can hide. To satisfy this need, in addition to branches, a small house or hut is installed, as well as shelves for resting and ropes for climbing. Reptile experts recommend giving preference to oak products for terrariums. This material has not only high strength, but also antiseptic properties.

The most common type

The green iguana is most commonly found in pet stores. She feels comfortable in high humidity. They need to get drinking water from several different sources. Access to life-giving moisture is provided through drinking bowls. Some of it goes into the feed. Bathing plays an important role, during which the required amount of moisture enters through the skin. Need to take into account important point: The green iguana, like some other species, must notice the movement of liquid or the reflection of light in it in order to approach the drinking bowl. It must be remembered that for the pet’s comfort, the air humidity should be at the level of eighty percent. This indicator is measured by a hydrometer. At the same time, stagnation of water and a swamp in the terrarium are absolutely unacceptable: it creates favorable environment for bacteria, as a result of which fungus appears on the skin of the iguana.

Basic rules of care

Before getting this exotic animal, it is important to familiarize yourself with some aspects. First, keeping a reptile is radically different from caring for cats and dogs. Adult individuals sometimes reach two meters in length, so it is necessary to have a huge terrarium in which the iguana could move freely. The price of a pet varies from one and a half to twelve thousand rubles and more. The cost depends on the age of the reptile: the older and larger, the more expensive. Keeping a pet is not an easy task. Therefore, before you buy it for your child, you should think carefully and decide whether you agree to take on such responsibilities. You can’t really count on children, since they won’t be able to care for such an animal due to lack of strength and knowledge. Many people, when buying an iguana, are negligent about the issue of maintenance. It leads to various diseases animals, which sometimes occur unnoticed by the owner. Unfortunately, quite often they turn to the veterinarian in advanced cases when it is not possible to save the reptile.

Danger Lurking

Sometimes an iguana can be a carrier of such a dangerous infection as salmonellosis, while the pet itself may not be sick. In this regard, after contact with an animal, careful personal hygiene is mandatory. For the same reason, this reptile should be kept away from the kitchen and human food.

Nutrition

There is an opinion that domestic iguanas are predators by nature, so the basis of their diet should be insects, spiders and worms. Large specimens can even eat small vertebrates, for example, lizards. Only common iguanas, upon reaching adulthood, consume exclusively plant foods. Also, some believe that for better development, you should feed your pet animal food with a high protein content. The opposite is true: such a selective approach to feeding can cause disease. Veterinarians assure that digestive system reptiles are designed to be eaten plant food. The main menu of such pets should consist of salads, herbs, vegetables and fruits. The main thing is that the greens are enriched with calcium. Clover, dandelion, spinach, and lettuce are perfect. Alfalfa is an excellent addition to the diet. You can diversify your pet's menu with fruits: figs, citrus fruits.

What to look for when purchasing

If a person nevertheless decides to buy such an unusual animal as an iguana, the price is not at all the main indicator of the reptile’s health. First of all, it is recommended to carefully examine the appearance of the future pet. The eyes should be open, clear, without any discharge or dry crusts. The skin is bright. Dark color is a sign that the iguana cannot molt normally. The oral cavity should be Pink colour, without the presence of plaque, purulent discharge and swelling. The nail pads of a healthy reptile are clean, the nails are even, without breaks. The limbs are symmetrical, the skin is smooth and without growths. The base of the animal's tail must be thick; any protrusions of the skeleton and its parts are not allowed. It is not easy to catch a healthy iguana, so when the animal goes into your arms without any problems, this is a sure sign of illness.

As a rule, when buying pets, people are interested in the age and gender of the future pet. In the case of iguanas, determining the exact age is not so easy, since they do not breed in captivity. IN natural conditions babies are born in the spring. Therefore, if a seller accurately states the age of a reptile or offers a three-month-old animal at the end of winter, this is a reason to think about the reliability of the information.

After purchasing an iguana, it is important to give it time to adapt. The very fact of moving to a new home is stressful for an animal, so there is no need to rush into “visits”; it is better to give the pet a few days of rest.

The green iguana is undoubtedly the most popular reptile kept as a pet in USA. Every year, huge numbers of this species are imported into the United States from iguana farms in Central and South America.

The green iguana can be found in almost every pet store, and some shows even gave away these animals as prizes, as if they were goldfish.

Unfortunately, with such popularity market price prices for iguanas fell so low ($15-$50) that many people began to buy these animals, having neither knowledge of the necessary conditions of keeping, nor understanding that the cost of properly arranging a new pet would be 10 times higher than its price.

Some pet stores that sell iguanas exacerbate the problem by selling completely inappropriate equipment with them and giving incorrect advice on care and maintenance. This has resulted in a huge number of dead or homeless iguanas and frustration for their owners. The best way To avoid such an outcome is education.

Buying or “adopting” an iguana

There are several factors to consider before making the final decision to purchase an iguana, number one of which is its size. Iguanas – large lizards. A healthy iguana can easily reach a size of 1.8m, so it needs a huge terrarium.

Iguanas are not easy to keep; they have very specific dietary preferences and requirements. environment, so before purchasing an animal you will need to prepare thoroughly.

Children of any age will not be able to care for an iguana, and parents should understand that all responsibilities for caring for the animal will fall on them.

Iguanas can also carry salmonellosis. Without proper hygiene, salmonella can be transmitted to humans and cause serious bacterial infections. The risk of infection is especially high in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. The likelihood of contracting salmonellosis from a carrier iguana is low if you wash your hands every time after contact with the animal, cleaning the terrarium, and isolate the terrarium and the animal itself from food preparation areas.

Iguanas can make wonderful pets, but they require a lot of attention. If you are considering getting an iguana, first contact your local reptile societies to adopt an iguana that has been abandoned by its owners. Many reptile communities have adoption programs for stray animals, and an iguana can be given to you for a small fee.

Because there is so much misinformation about iguanas in the pet trade, many iguana owners don't know what they're getting into. And often these owners end up giving up the animal because they can no longer or do not want to care for it. As a result, reptile adoption agencies are overrun with homeless iguanas (they share this fate with tiger pythons, which are there for the same reason).

If you haven't found an iguana in a shelter, then you can buy one.

Most iguanas found in pet stores are babies or teenagers, and it is important to choose a healthy one. Healthy baby iguanas are energetic and when someone tries to grab them they will run wildly around the cage and often lash their tail. If an animal does not try to resist and continues to sit or lie down when picked up, this does not mean that it is tame. This means that it is sick.

The iguana should be brightly colored, alert, active and eat with an appetite. Iguanas that are kept in proper conditions almost never refuse to eat. Ask to show you how she eats.

It is important to pay attention to the conditions in which animals are kept. It pains me to remember how many times I have seen stores or wholesale stores selling baby iguanas crammed into a 40-liter aquarium, each trying to warm up on a single tiny heating stone.

Avoid places like the plague. They themselves do not know how to care for an iguana, and will not be able to help you provide the animal with the right conditions. Such stores significantly contribute to the appearance of homeless iguanas.

Ask the seller to tell you about the necessary conditions for keeping an iguana, and if he cannot answer you correctly, look for another place to buy a pet. It is entirely possible to purchase a healthy, well-cared for animal from a well-informed and experienced seller, but it often requires some effort.

Necessary terrarium

Iguanas are large animals and require large spaces to keep them. The normal size of an adult iguana is 150-180cm. An adult iguana should live in a terrarium with a minimum size of 120*120*180 cm (L*D*H).

Iguanas require a vertical terrarium because they are aboreal (arboreal) animals and prefer to spend most of their time climbing as high as possible. Tree branches with a diameter slightly larger than the thickness of the animal itself should be provided for it to climb. Branches can be bought or collected in the forest, but in the latter case they need to be sterilized using chlorine bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water), and then rinsed thoroughly clean water.

A young iguana can be kept in a smaller terrarium, but the minimum recommended size of a temporary (nursery) terrarium is 200 liters. Within 4 months (assuming you bought the iguana 1-3 months old), your iguana will outgrow the temporary terrarium and should be placed in a larger one. The industry today does not produce terrariums large enough for an adult iguana, so the only option is to build a house for it yourself or order it according to an individual drawing.

The substrate for the terrarium can be newspapers with soy-based printing ink, bark chips or a green plastic lawn mat. Newspaper is by far the most practical, although least aesthetically pleasing, substrate option.

Do not use wood shavings, corn-cob bedding, sand, or crushed walnut shells in your iguana's enclosure. Wood sawdust(especially cedar) give a specific odor that irritates the sense of smell of reptiles, which can harm the animal’s respiratory system. Other substrates are not digested if accidentally eaten and can cause intestinal obstruction.

Iguanas naturally live in tropical forests, so terrariums require high humidity. Air humidity of 75% or more can be obtained by generously spraying the terrarium once or twice a day.

A few words about iguana walks

Do not allow your iguana to roam freely around the house without supervision. More than one fire in the house was started by an insidious, freely roaming iguana, which dropped a lamp on which it climbed to warm itself.

A free-roaming iguana will also have salmonella everywhere, which should be avoided at all costs. A stray iguana can also damage furniture, wiring, and carpet. Iguanas are also masters of getting into completely unexpected and hard-to-reach places. This can lead to injury when trying to get it out of there for both the animal and the owner.

Necessary heating

It is extremely important that the iguana warms up properly. Reptiles are cold-blooded, which means they do not produce their own heat. Iguanas are forced to regulate their body temperature using the surrounding space, which occurs through a mechanism called external thermoregulation.

Thermoregulation means that when the reptile is cold, it moves to warmer areas, for example, to a well-heated area, and when it is hot, it moves to cooler places. When we confine a reptile to a terrarium, we must provide it with such conditions that it can regulate its body temperature in the same way as it does in nature. Iguanas need a “warming point” with a temperature of 35-38˚C, and a “cooling point” with a temperature of 27-29˚C. The night temperature should not fall below 21-24˚C, provided that the animal can warm up during the day.

The most correct way to organize a warm-up point is to use heating lamps. The tallest branch should be placed under the basking lamp to give the animal a place to warm up. Make sure the lamp is out of the iguana's reach as the animal may get burned. Proper heating is very important for a healthy immune system and good digestion.

It should be noted that heating stones are not suitable for iguana terrariums. In nature, arboreal reptiles do not lie on their bellies on warm surfaces to warm up, and there is no need to force them to do so in the home.

Correct lighting

Iguanas need what is called full spectrum radiation, which mimics natural sunlight. Iguanas specifically require ultraviolet light in the 290-315 nm wavelength (UVB) range to produce provitamin D3.

Provitamin D3 is necessary for the absorption of calcium that comes from food. Without ultraviolet radiation, iguanas develop a metabolic bone disease caused by calcium deficiency (rickets). Full spectrum radiation is provided by ultraviolet fluorescent lamps, which are produced specifically for reptiles.

When buying an ultraviolet lamp, make sure that the spectrum has a peak in the UVB region; some “full spectrum lamps” do not have this. It is very important to place the heating area at a distance of 25-30cm from the ultraviolet lamp. At a distance of more than 30 cm from the source, the intensity of UVB waves decreases significantly.

The ultraviolet lamp in the iguana terrarium should be on for 10-12 hours a day and turned off at night. If ultraviolet lighting is left overnight, the iguana will not be able to sleep, will become stressed, and will become behaviorally erratic.

The UV lamp should be replaced every six months, even if it does not burn out before then. The intensity of ultraviolet radiation decreases over time, and after 6 months of use such lamps become ineffective.

If possible, provide the iguana with access to sunlight, but provide a place where the iguana can cool off if it overheats. Sunlight is the best source of ultraviolet radiation, but window glass does not let it through in sufficient quantities. Do not place the iguana aquarium in direct sunlight, as... The glass of the aquarium will quickly heat up and the iguana may die from overheating. Do not take your iguana outside if the air temperature is less than 21˚C.

Diet

No aspect of iguana keeping contains more misconceptions than nutrition. Iguanas are completely herbivores from the moment they are born, and do not require animal protein at any point in their lives.

Previously, researchers noted that if an iguana consumes large amounts of animal protein, it grows faster, which is true. However, it is also true that iguanas that consume large amounts of animal protein do not live very long, which is often the result of gout or metabolic bone diseases.

It is important to formulate your iguana's diet with calcium-rich greens, fruits and vegetables. Herbivorous reptiles require a 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their food.

A diet that will provide this combination usually consists of:
70-80% dark leafy greens, which are rich in calcium (collard greens, close relative broccoli), mustard greens, chicory, watercress, dandelion greens). Mulberry and hibiscus leaves make excellent base foods if you can get them.

Avoid basing your diet on iceberg lettuce because... it has very low nutritional value. Spinach should either be given in limited quantities or eliminated altogether, because... it contains oxalic acid, which binds calcium in the intestines and prevents its absorption.

20-30% of the diet should consist of grated vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, thawed mixed vegetables or prickly pear cactus. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage, kale (also some kind of kale with curly leaves), escarole (one of the varieties of chicory), cauliflower. These vegetables contain substances that bind iodine, and their excessive consumption can cause problems with the thyroid gland.

10-20% fruits or flowers, such as strawberry, raspberry, mango, papaya, kiwi, melon, apple (without seeds), prickly pear cactus flowers and fruits, hibiscus, nasturtium, dandelion flowers. Iguanas love bananas, but they should only be given as treats because... contain the wrong ratio of calcium and phosphorus. Make sure all fruits and vegetables are grated or cut into small pieces.

In addition to a properly formulated diet, iguanas require calcium supplements, which can be purchased at pet stores. Calcium powder should be sprinkled on food three times a week for juveniles and once or twice a week for adults.

You can put a pool in the terrarium, but daily spraying is still necessary to maintain high humidity. Often iguanas can lick drops of water directly from the bottle when spraying or from the walls of the terrarium.

Conclusion

The green iguana is the most popular reptile for home care to date. Due to this popularity, it is the most numerous species found in homeless animal shelters.

This is large, naturally very capricious and demanding special conditions keeping an animal that is not suitable for beginner terrarium keepers.

The green iguana is an amazing and beautiful animal that often does not receive proper care in the animal trade.

Increasing your own awareness of proper iguana care and helping others will help reduce the number of dead and homeless animals, as well as improve the lives of iguanas and their owners around the world.

by Petra Spies
Translation: Elena
in the photo is my iguana Cesarina.

Recently, exotic animals have become popular as pets. Instead of the usual fish, parrots and turtles, mothers and fathers buy their children giant spiders, snakes, lizards. The iguana animal is also on the list of favorite pets.

Those who have ever seen an iguana in a pet store probably know that it seems to be thinking about something all the time: it freezes in one position and only occasionally blinks its eyes. How does this animal behave in conditions wildlife? What does it eat and where does it live?

Common iguana, which is also called the green iguana, is a reptile belonging to the order Squamate, the iguana family.

What does a green iguana look like?

Among all the representatives of its family, the common iguana is the largest. The length of its body can reach 1.5 meters, while an adult weighs on average 7 kilograms.

The body of the animal has a variety of colors, despite the name “green”. The common iguana can be bluish, lavender, pink, red, bluish and even black. The iguana is a cold-blooded animal. Therefore, it is very susceptible to temperature changes.

As for the sense organs of this reptile, we can note excellent hearing and acute vision in bright light. In addition to two eyes, the animal’s head is also equipped with a third one, located on the top of the head. Thanks to this eye (it looks like white scales), the iguana detects the approach of the enemy in time and hides. The iguana is an excellent swimmer, and its rather flexible tail helps it with this. The tail also serves as a defensive weapon - with it the animal deals heavy blows to the enemy.

It is impossible to say that iguanas are only green. Their color can be very varied

Where do common iguanas live?

The habitat of this animal is quite wide. The green iguana is found almost throughout the territory Latin America, in some countries of South America (for example, Brazil), and also inhabits some states of the United States. In addition, this representative of the iguana family gets along well on the Caribbean islands.

Iguana lifestyle

The green iguana is an arboreal animal: most of its life activity takes place in the trees. He chooses wet ones for his stay. rainforests, woody thickets, but is also found on open sea coasts.

Active during the daytime. When the weather becomes inclement, the iguana comes down to the ground and spends time there, this helps it better maintain the temperature balance of its body.

What does the tree iguana eat?

The common iguana is an exclusively herbivore. As food, she chooses shoots, flowers and fruits of plants growing in tropical zones.

Iguana breeding

The mating season for these reptiles begins in January - February. At this time, males become quite aggressive; iguanas can often fight in the fight for a female, although in ordinary life this animal is quite peaceful.

65 days after mating, the female digs deep hole and lays from 20 to 70 eggs in it. The eggs have a soft but very durable shell. After 3–4 months (if the temperature throughout the incubation period was 30–32 degrees), small iguana cubs are born. Outwardly, they are very similar to adult iguanas, differing only in size. The cubs are quite independent. But for the first year of their lives, all hatched “babies” try to stay close together in order to be able to protect themselves from enemy attacks. In the third or fourth year of their life, iguana cubs reach full maturity, including sexual maturity.

Scientists have noted that in conditions natural environment animals can only live up to 8 years, while as a pet, an iguana can live two and a half times longer.