Latin:
Life Span: 6 to 8 years
Size as an Adult: 5 to 6 feet
Feeding Requirements: Strictly a vegetarian, which might eat bugs occasionally
Iguanas are one of the most popular reptiles kept as a pet. One must
always remember that these animals can get to 5 or 6 feet in length (Including their tail)
within a few years. This requires you to make sure that you make an educated
decision to own one of these creatures. They will rely on you providing them with a
proper home for the duration of their life, which can be as long as 7 or 8 years.
You will find that there are not homes for these critter when they get larger, zoos and
aquariums have no place for them.
Having said that, we need to address their proper care and maintenance.
When you purchase an Iguana it will most likely be a baby about 12 to 16 inches in length (30 to 45 cm). Hopefully it was a captive raised iguana, such as the type we purchase from Fluker Farms. These animals are raised in a humane and controlled environment, ensuring that you get a happy and healthy animal.
In the past iguanas that were sold in pet stores were wild caught. This made is difficult to care for and raise this type of animals, as they were extremely stressed, refused to eat, and commonly carried many parasites. This is no longer the case with captive raised animals.
All the iguanas in the Pet Habitat Stores are fed on the same food that they are reared on. That is the Fluker Farms Iguanas foods. These is a carefully prepared diet meeting the daily nutritional requirements of your new pet. Make sure to get the appropriate diet for the age of your iguana. By feeding your pet on a prepared diet, you insure raising a happy and healthy iguana. Some people do not believe in the feeding of prepared diets to iguanas, (not natural), so we have included a formula, created by an expert iguana keeper, to feed your iguana.
Make sure to keep your iguana in a clean environment. The food dishes will need to be cleaned daily, and the cage itself will most likely need to be cleaned every other day. This is due mainly to the diet that the iguana is fed.
Iguanas can be kept alone or in groups, just make sure that the iguanas are of about equal size. If they are raised from a young age, iguanas will tolerate most people. Older iguanas that have not been handled as they have grown can be quite aggressive. Be careful, an iguanas tail can give you quite a sting, plus the claws are very sharp.
If you don't think you want an iguana, why don't you check out a Leopard Gecko. If you still want an iguana, the following are the requirements for keeping one.
Good Luck in selecting a great pet.
Aquarium - Baby iguanas require a minimum of a 27 Gallon Aquarium for a 12 Inch (30 cm), which will last for a year or two. As the Iguanas grow, they will need larger and larger environments. This is the largest determining factor in choosing an iguana as a pet. As an adult. and Iguana will need at least a 4 foot by 4 foot by 6 foot enclosure, plus and area to exercise.
Fluker's Under Tank Heater - If you are keeping an Iguana in Canada, and most areas in the US, a heater is required to keep the metabolism up in the iguana, to allow it to digest foods and perform most bodily functions. Hot Rocks are not recommended, as they can cause burns.
Food - Feed fresh food daily to ensure a happy and healthy iguana. Prepared foods now make it simple to care for iguanas.
Ceramic Food & Water Dishes - Because foods can go bad when left unattended, we recommend ceramic bowls that can easily be disinfected. They are also weighted to prevent the animal from tipping them over.
Appropriate Terrarium Substrate - Iguanas are rain forest animals which require high humidity. Fluker's Farms and Four Paws Brand Reptile Bark are a great way to create a natural looking environment. Make sure to change the bedding when it get soiled. Gravel is not recommended, as when it gets wet, it can cause the iguana to get infection s on its belly, plus iguanas can accidentally ingest the gravel, which it cannot expel.
Vitamins - Regular vitamin supplementation will help ensure that you have a healthy iguana. Fluker's Brand Vitamins give the required nutrients.
Thermometer - Iguanas must be kept at high temperatures in order to digest their foods. Daily temperatures should be about 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and a 5 degree drop at night. As an iguana gets older these high temperatures are not as crucial to maintain.
Wire Mesh Cover - No tank would be complete without a proper screen cover, as an iguana would surely escape without one. Four Paws Brand Screen Covers will fit most aquariums. We also carry they higher end units from Hagen, which snap on tightly to the aquariums. These are better suited for tanks that require a heat lamp above the aquarium.
Heat Lamp - Heat lamps provide the required means to heat the air of the aquarium. They cannot be the only source of heat, as there would be too great a drop in temperature when the light is turned off. Most incandescent lights do not provide the UV light required by iguanas to process Vitamin D3. Duro Test Vita Light 150 Watt bulbs do have the required UV Light
Fluorescent Light with UV in spectrum - because most incandescent bulbs do not have the required UV spectrum, a fluorescent bulb is also required to provide the necessary UV light. Making sure that your iguana gets its regular supplementation of vitamin, may supercede the need for Fluorescent lighting. NOTE: Glass filters out most UV light. Placing an Iguana outside for a couple hours each day will not be an adequate substitute, especially here in British Columbia.
Rocks, Hardwoods, and Plastic Plants - do not use woods and rocks found around your home, as they may contain parasites that can harm your pet.
"Wipe Out" - Iguanas can carry Salmonella on their bodies, as do many animals, and household items. Washing your hands is the best way to prevent transmission. "Wipe Out" is a disinfectant safe for the use around the animal.
Books - Knowledge is the best thing to insure that you care for your animal in the best possible fashion. We carry many titles in the store to help you make an informed decision, in purchasing a suitable animal.
Fluker Farms Iguana
$49.99
Fluker Farms Iguanas are captive born in El Salvador.
They are fed on a prepared diet from the time they are born
to insure that all animals are healthy. Each Iguana comes
with a certificate certifying it as a captive raised Fluker Farms Iguana.
| Fluker Fruit / Fluker Original Pet Habitat offers Original Formula Iguana Diet and Fruit Formula Iguana Diet by Fluker Farms. This is a staple diet that is being fed to all iguanas in our stores.
The Original Formula comes in a flake form and is available in:
The Fruit Formula comes in pellets and is available in:
This is intended as a treat supplement to the regular diet for your
Iguanas.
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Revised: April 23, 2008.
