AdvancedIguanaCare.com Blog

Before buying an iguana many different queries arise in the mind of the buyer. One of the most common questions would pestering the mind is how are you going to accommodate it. What would be the different components necessary for its proper accommodation? If you are still struggling over this, this article will be a good help for you:

1) Dimensions - The first thing to work out in the field of accommodation is the size of the iguana’s cage. Many people still hold the myth that growth of an iguana will be limited by the size of cage in which it is kept . This is only a myth and it absolutely contains no bit of truth. Ideal conditions for an iguana will allow it to grow to a length of six feet and this means that a huge cage will be required to accommodate your iguana when it has grown completely. A few people even accommodate their pet iguanas in rooms rather than just cages.

There can be a little delay in providing this much space for the iguana, you may wait until the iguana grows to its maximum size. However the cage initially provided for its accommodation should be big enough also to contain all activities of the iguana. It shouldn’t constrain the iguana in any of its activities. If you are planning to wait until the iguana grows to its maximum size, then the time when the bigger cage is to be provided should be thought of and planned well in advance,

2) Heat levels - iguanas are cold blooded animals. So the external conditions play an important role in controlling the body temperature of an iguana. What does this imply? It means that different temperatures are required to be provided in its cage, so that your iguana will be able to move to different places of different temperatures in the cage for the proper regulation of its body heat. At night a heat source without light will be required to maintain its temperature without any disturbance its sleep.

3) Moistness - high humidity levels are required by iguana to live a comfortable life. They don?t have a habit of drinking much, therefore they get dehydrated easily. Their native habitats have high moisture content which avoids them getting dehydrated. Kidney failures are caused by dehydration. Therefore low humidity can decrease the life span of your iguana. Moreover high humidity helps them in shedding of their skin. Higher moisture content will help them in keeping their skin loose. 65 - 75 percent humidity in air should be provided to keep the iguana healthy.

4) Luminous levels - UVB and UVA light sources are required by iguanas. The best source for these is the sun which is easily available. For this you need not keep the cage in sunlight areas only. The vitamin d3 which is very much needed by the iguanas is produced by the UV lights, but plastic or glass cages filter out this. This vitamin is needed in calcium consumption. Therefore an iguana should be allowed to bask in the sun as much as possible. This avoids Metabolic Bone disease, which causes common deaths of iguanas in captivity and helps them to develop strong bones.

Artificial UVB and UVA light sources are also required by the iguanas in the cage other than just sun light. This is especially needed when ample sunlight is not available for the iguana.