Pet Iguana - Best Care Practices
Having a pet can be a very rewarding experience.
Many people think of a pet as a cat or a dog, and while those make wonderful pets, others feel they might like something a little more exotic.
Although there are many different types of animals to choose from in that category, one that always wins me over is the iguana.
They are an interesting pet to have, and with a little research into iguana care, you will have a pet that can be fun to care for, and that will also teach you more than you can imagine.
One of the things you will need to think about if you decide to get an Iguana is where it will live.
An iguana will need a large enclosure.
They need to have room enough that their enclosure provides them with varied temperatures and plenty of space to move around.
Many people mistakenly think that you can just have a small aquarium and the iguana will be fine, staying small and cute.
Wrong, the best iguana care calls for a much different enclosure.
If you were to have an aquarium, it would need to be a minimum of fifty gallons.
Ideally you would have an enclosure that is twice as long as your iguana, and a minimum of six feet in height.
An iguana will continue to grow, no matter the size of its enclosure.
Many pet owners think they can just toss in some lettuce in the cage, and the iguana will be happy.
Not true! For the best iguana care you will need to provide them with a varied diet of vegetables, fruits and other plant matter.
Iguanas are herbivores, meaning they really only want plants to eat.
One important thing to remember when choosing the diet for your pet is that they need calcium to keep their bones strong.
Foods that are high in calcium are a very important part of the diet and should be fed daily while not to the point of limiting the other varieties.
The lighting in the enclosure plays many different roles in the life of the iguana.
The lighting can provide heat, light, and even help the body absorb the calcium.
Both artificial lighting that gives off UVB and actual sunlight are important in iguana care.
Without proper heating they cannot digest their food, and without lighting from natural sunlight, their bones will not be as strong from their vitamin D and calcium intake.
It is all a complex system that works together to make the iguana as healthy as possible.
Many people think of a pet as a cat or a dog, and while those make wonderful pets, others feel they might like something a little more exotic.
Although there are many different types of animals to choose from in that category, one that always wins me over is the iguana.
They are an interesting pet to have, and with a little research into iguana care, you will have a pet that can be fun to care for, and that will also teach you more than you can imagine.
One of the things you will need to think about if you decide to get an Iguana is where it will live.
An iguana will need a large enclosure.
They need to have room enough that their enclosure provides them with varied temperatures and plenty of space to move around.
Many people mistakenly think that you can just have a small aquarium and the iguana will be fine, staying small and cute.
Wrong, the best iguana care calls for a much different enclosure.
If you were to have an aquarium, it would need to be a minimum of fifty gallons.
Ideally you would have an enclosure that is twice as long as your iguana, and a minimum of six feet in height.
An iguana will continue to grow, no matter the size of its enclosure.
Many pet owners think they can just toss in some lettuce in the cage, and the iguana will be happy.
Not true! For the best iguana care you will need to provide them with a varied diet of vegetables, fruits and other plant matter.
Iguanas are herbivores, meaning they really only want plants to eat.
One important thing to remember when choosing the diet for your pet is that they need calcium to keep their bones strong.
Foods that are high in calcium are a very important part of the diet and should be fed daily while not to the point of limiting the other varieties.
The lighting in the enclosure plays many different roles in the life of the iguana.
The lighting can provide heat, light, and even help the body absorb the calcium.
Both artificial lighting that gives off UVB and actual sunlight are important in iguana care.
Without proper heating they cannot digest their food, and without lighting from natural sunlight, their bones will not be as strong from their vitamin D and calcium intake.
It is all a complex system that works together to make the iguana as healthy as possible.
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