How to Buy an Iguana Terrarium

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (8 Ratings)

Iguanas make great pets for children over 8 years old. Pet iguanas love to roam loose around the house, but for when you're not around, and to provide the proper heat and humidity, you'll need a terrarium home for your lizard. (Iguanas can grow to be 6 feet long and can live for 20 years with proper care. Be prepared.)

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Humidity Gauge
Terrarium
Terrarium Heater
Terrarium Humidifier
Terrarium Lid Cover

Step1

Choose a 30- to 50-gallon terrarium for a young iguana. The taller the terrarium the better; iguanas love to climb.

Step2

Understand that young iguanas will develop stronger immune systems if raised in glass terrariums.

Step3

Look for a terrarium that's at least 1 1/2 times the length of the lizard if you own a young iguana, and at least 2/3 the length of the lizard if you own an adult iguana.

Step4

Make sure the terrarium's height is greater than the length of the lizard so he can't climb out.

Step5

Be sure to have a specialized light in your iguana's terrarium. The light should be on a timer - 12 hours on, 12 hours off - and should not be the primary heat source.

Step6

Keep the terrarium at a constant temperature of about 80 to 90 degrees F.

Step7

Be sure the terrarium provides a basking spot that can be heated to 95 to 100 degrees F. Heat the basking spot with heat tape or an undertank heater.

Step8

Keep your iguana in check with a tight terrarium lid so that he cannot push the lid off and climb out.

Tips & Warnings

To help prevent metabolic bone disease - a potentially fatal condition - feed your iguana a balanced diet. Never let your iguana subsist on just one favorite food.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 animal protien causes kidney and liver failure!!!!
otstanding info at www,anapsid.org and the james hatfield the complete green iguana owners manual

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Iguana's are not easy to correctly care for. Iguana's are great wild pets, if you can devote the time and energy, and especially if you live where they can spend the majority of their time outside in the natural sun. My iguana is only snuggly when she's cold, she is well and happy in the Florida Keys, but I can't imagine keeping up with her needs in cold climates.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Consider letting your iguana roam your house freely or plan on devoting an entire room to him. Being anywhere from 4 - 6 feet long (when full grown), living in a cage is unsettling. My iguana is 4 years old and has free roam of my entire house. He is much more sociable than any other I have seen, even sleeping on the bed with my 7 year old. I have edible plants scattered around for feeding anytime and have special basking areas with UVB lights and access to REAL sunlight which is much healthier for him. If properly socialized, iguanas can be good family pets.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Iguanas are difficult animals to keep and are not suitable for most people. They can grow 4-6 feet in length and become highly aggressive. They require specialized diets and habitats. Please check out http://www.sonic.net/melissk/ig_care.html for info.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Iguanas need UVB light, or will develop Metabolic Bone Disease. Cages should always be at least 1 1/2x the Iguanas length. Never feed Lettuce! Collards, mustard greens, bok choy, kale and endive are good. (All, not just one)

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