Wizard is classified as an Iguana iguana. He is a year and a half and measures
4 feet long. Merlin is 15 inches long.
Iguanas iguanas do get very large. Approximately 4 to 6 feet long and 15 to 20
pounds. They also live long lives, 12 to 15 years. Just imagine a 5 foot iguana
weighing 15 pounds roaming around your house! Consider this if you are thinking about
getting an iguana as a pet.
Iguanas are loving, quiet pets with individual
personalities and lots of charm. They are curious and inquisitive and the cutest things
when exploring new territory. But...they are not an easy pet to care for.
Because they get very large, they need a large space to live in, either a large habitat
or free roaming in your home. Iguanas need lots of heat and light to live a comfortable,
long life. An iguanas living space needs to be between 85 & 100 degrees during the day
and 80 to 90 degrees at night. Iguanas need 12 to 14 hours of light per day and 10 to
12 hours of darkness at night. Iguanas sleep just like humans do at night. They also
need ultraviolet light (UVB) to maintain proper calicum levels and natural sunlight or
UV light to help digest their food. Heat, light and diet are the 3 most important factors
in raising a happy, healthy iguana.
Iguanas are very clean animals. They need to
have their living quarters cleaned of feces and skin sheds daily.
Iguanas also need
some type of humidity. Either from frequent baths or by misting a couple times a day.
Iguanas are herbivores/folivores, meaning they eat strictly vegetation, mainly leafy greens.
An iguanas natural diet consists of leaves, flowers, and fruit. Their food should be
chopped or shredded and given daily. Be sure to offer a wide variety of foods to keep
your iguana interested and eating properly.
As I am a fairly new iguana owner
myself, I am still learning all the ins and outs of iguana care. Below are links to
some of the best sites on the web for iguana care and feeding. Be sure to check them
out, there is a wealth of information on these pages.
Another great source of
iguana information is from James Hatfield's book: Green Iguana - The Ultimate Owners
Manual. This book covers everything you will ever need to know about raising iguanas.
I recommend reading it BEFORE you decide to get an iguana as a pet.
Remember, owning
a pet iguana is a lot of work but it can be a rewarding experience. So, do your
research and consider all factors before purchasing one.
IGUANA RELATED LINKS
Melissa Kaplan's Herp Pages
The Iguana Den
Little Boku's Iguana page
Desiree and Vega$
Wongs Green Iguana Heaven
Email: mckimrk@pinetel.com
