Green Iguana

General Information

 * Scientific Name: Iguana iguana
 * Lifespan: 15-20 years
 * Male Length: 6-7 feet
 * Female Length: 4-5 feet
 * Herbivore
 * Diurnal
 * Arboreal

Geographic Range and Habitat
The native range of the Green Iguana is from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Bolivia, and the Caribbean. They have been introduced to Grand Cayman, Puertco Rico, Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands. In the wild, Green Iguanas are usually found in trees that are near water.

Availability
Green Iguanas are the most common species of iguana in the reptile-keeping hobby and are available at some reptile stores and a few pet stores.

Behaviour and Handling
Green Iguanas do not make good pets for inexperienced reptile keepers for many reasons. Baby iguanas are generally very skittish until they get to know their owner. Green Iguanas are very intelligent, can recognize their own keeper, and can become very tame, but they can also be dangerous and aggressive. If they feel threatened they can scratch, bite, or most commonly, whip their tail.

Housing and Substrate
A 20-gallon long tank can be used to house a baby Green Iguana. Adult Green Iguanas need a large amount of space because they can quickly reach 6 feet long. The enclosure for an adult should be at least 12ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high. A height of at least 6 feet is needed because they are a primarily arboreal lizard.

Acceptable substrates for this species of iguana is cypress mulch (recommended), rabbit pellets, or alfalfa pellets.

Heating and Lighting
Green Iguanas need a lot of heat because they are so large. Strong UV lighting should be used to be effective. A hotspot of 120 degrees Fahrenheit should be provided by a number of heat lamps. The cool side of the enclosure should be 80-86 degrees.

Diet and Vitamins
The best food for Green Iguanas are collard greens, turnip greens, dandelions, yellow squash, green beans, etc... Fruit should be added to the diet of the iguana once a week. The pieces of food given for adult iguanas should be larger than the pieces given to young iguanas. Commercial foods that these iguanas can eat are made by Zoo Med, Mazuri, Rep-cal, and others. Food for green iguanas should be dusted with calcium and vitamin D3 once a week. Hibiscus flowers are also a favourite of the Green Iguana.

Water and Humidity
A large, shallow water dish should always be available for babies. In the wild, green iguanas are good swimmers, so a larger source of water can be given to adults. If not, they should be misted twice a week to keep them hydrated.

Sites Used

 * http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Green-Iguana/