Caring for an Iguana

Iguanas can be a wonderful addition to your family, if you do your research first and take the time to consider if an exotic pet is right for you.

I've had a female iguana for 9 years. Her name is Buddie and we got her when she was about a year old. She was given to us by a neighbor, whose daughter won her at a fair and later lost interest in her. Unfortunately that happens quite often, which is why it's so important to spend some time thinking about the responsibilities of owning an iguana before you get one.

First, find a veterinarian that handles reptiles and iguanas. They can be an invaluable source of information for you in caring for your pet.

Some things to consider are:

Lighting:

In the wild, iguanas spend most of their day basking in the sun. Captive iguanas need unfiltered sunlight for vitamin D, which processes calcium in their bodies. UV lights are helpful and should be used in addition to natural sunlight, not instead of it. Since we live in Florida, Buddie gets a very good amount of natural sunlight and spends most of her day hanging out in a sunny spot.

Diet:

Iguanas are herbivores. Dark green leafy vegetables such as collard, mustard, and turnip greens are good foods for them. Iguanas also require a calcium supplement. Buddie especially likes green leaf, and collards but will never turn down a banana or strawberry.

Your other pets:

We got a puppy (Mini) after we had Buddie for two years. We introduced them gradually, over a period of time. We would sit with Mini, very calm while keeping Buddie nearby and we would pet and interact with both of them at the same time.
After a while Mini realized how to act around Buddie and she would walk by her slowly and not try to play with her. Now, seven years later, they coexist peacefully and have never had a problem.