How to Play With a Pet Iguana

Pet iguanas can engage in two types of play: individual and partner play with a human or another animal. Encourage play by paying attention to what your pet iguana likes to do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rope or fabric
• Pillows, blankets or a pet hammock
• Tub of water

1. Hang securely mounted ropes or fabric that your pet iguana can swing from. Play with the ropes yourself, swinging them back and forth and pretending that they are yours, to encourage your pet to play with them.
2. Let your iguana climb over your arms or legs and move her around from spot to spot. Pay attention to your iguana and whether she likes this type of play. Your pet will be more receptive during some periods than others.
3. Spend time with your iguana. You can pet or feed him during this time, but the time itself will be a change of pace and activity for your pet.
4. Hold your pet iguana and take a walk outside. You can pick edible flowers or plants for her while you're out.
5. Create targets for your iguana to leap to. Jumping and leaping is natural behavior for iguanas and many like to jump toward "green" things, as they would to plants in the wild. Entice your pet iguana with pillows, hammocks made for pets or a mound of spare blankets.
6. Provide a tub of water if your iguana likes to dive in, but make sure that it is big and deep enough that your iguana isn't injured when she jumps in.

Tips & Warnings

• Fake plants should not be used for play as the wire that supports them is often thinly wrapped and it can poke out.
• Never leave a pet iguana to play unsupervised with another family pet. While they may generally get on well, injuries can happen at any time and they will likely be less serious if you are there.