How big of a responsibility is taking care of an iguana?

My cousin and her soon to be husband have this little iguana for a pet. but they are so busy they never can take care of it. the poor thing has almost died twice because of neglect and they are asking me to take care of it for them. I love animals and have had lizards before but my parents are a little iffy on whether or not they want ANOTHER animal in our zoo…i mean home. so im researching junk about iguanas. have any useful information???

How do you raise a Desert Iguana?

I’ve researched and researched and I’ve found nothing on how to care for a Desert Iguana as a pet. Can someone who has/had a Desert Iguana give me all the info I need to know? Or can someone direct to me a good web site with accurate pet care info on caring for a Desert Iguana. I have a Leopard Gecko, and I know that it only eats at night because it is nocturnal. Even the little info like that would be much appreciated!

Marine Iguana – What are Marine Iguanas?

As its name suggests, the marine iguana is set apart from the rest of its relative mainly because it has a unique attribute of being capable to forage and live in the seawater. The marine iguana is in truth only to be found thriving within the Galapagos Islands that is why its existence in the island has branded the reptile the name “Galapagos marine iguana”. The natural habitat of the marine iguana is on the rocky shores of the Galapagos Island but they can likewise be seen in the mangrove and marshes beaches.

Some people such as Charles Darwin describe the marine iguanas as the black lizards thriving on the sea. But the truth is that the marine iguanas are not usually black in color. The younger marine iguanas take the dorsal stripe color whereas the adult ones are grayish. Their color may be really dull but there is a reason behind this. Such color allows them to easily absorb heat right after they emerge out of the water. Their food is usually the marine algae. They expel the remaining salts from their nasal glands as they go on with basking under the heat of the sun. The salt contained in their bodies makes their faces appear whiter.

More so, the matured male marine iguanas have a varying color—all of which depend on the existing season. During the breeding seasons, the adult male marine iguanas become teal-green or reddish in colors. Those thriving in Santa Cruz appear in black and red brick while those found in Fernandina come in dull green and brick red colors. Their sizes likewise differ which depends on the island that they live in. Those found in the whole of Isabela and Fernandina are the largest marine iguanas in the entire island of Galapagos. Meanwhile, the smallest marine iguanas are to be found in Genovesa.

As said to be poikilothermic animals, the marine iguanas can only spend very little time out in the cold sea whenever they dive for their algae food. Thus, they commonly swim within the very shallow water of the island. After swimming, they proceed to bask under the sun to have their bodies warmed up again. During the cold days, the marine iguana cannot effectively move thus making them too vulnerable for their predators. Since they cannot move fast, what they do is to strike their tails up in the air and bite their enemies. During the entire breeding season, the male marine iguanas mate with the females and likewise guard them against the rest of the male reptiles.
Moreover, the marine iguanas adjust their sizes to be able to adapt to the food condition in existence. There was a time during the onset of the El Niño when the algae decreased in number so the marine iguanas actually decreased in their lengths too. When the food supply started to normalize, the reptiles returned to their normal condition. The marine iguanas are not as fast as the rest of its relatives. When taken as pets, their predators become the dogs and cats. They can be easily attacked by these predators since they are too slow and much tamed.

To date, the government of Ecuador has set up laws that aim to protect the existence of marine iguanas. There are artificial nestling sites which had been made in the smaller islands so that there will be lesser predators that can harm them.

are iguanas good pets what about bearded dragons?

im thinking of getting a iguana are they good pets give me information about them please
how big does their tank need to be

are they better then bearded dragons
how big do bearded dragons grow how much are they
how big do they grow how big does their thank need to be

Male Iguana – What Are They?

Iguanas are considered as a relative of lizards. They are among the exotic animals that are kept as pets by some people in the present-day society. In fact, there are many pet shops now that sell iguanas at a fairly low price. The iguanas that are usually sold in these pet shops are those that are quite young. People see these iguanas as very cute that they become interested in keeping them as pets. But the fact is they are still reptiles that has the tendency to grow bigger and bigger and can become very aggressive.

Iguanas can be a good pet but you should not forget that like other pets they need proper feeding and care. To understand the proper way to care for iguanas, it is important that you have knowledge of the basic nature of iguanas, their feeding habits, their habitat, and other issues relevant to their existence.

What is an iguana? Are they similar to lizards? What are their characteristics? Are they harmful? Iguanas belong to the family of lizards. Specifically they are a member of the family Iguanidae. They are deemed to be invasive species that are mostly found along the shores of Gasparilla Island and the coastline of the gulf of Florida. They are commonly seen in the beach and attics of houses. But generally speaking, iguanas thrive best in the wilds especially in deserts and rain forests.

There are various species of iguana. They normally vary depending on the environment in which they live. Some iguanas dwell in dry lands while others grow best in rain forests. Some are even found in the sea. These iguanas are called marine iguanas. There are also iguanas that are called as green iguanas. They are very common in Mexico and the South American countries particularly in Brazil. By and large, iguanas are classified into four major kinds namely: marine iguana, green iguana, blue iguana and lesser Antillean iguana.  In terms of the food they eat, iguanas are known as herbivores. They feed on leaves, fruits, and other parts of plants.

Iguanas have different features and behavior. In essence, a male iguana looks and acts in a different way compared to a female iguana.  In terms of territorial behavior, a male iguana will fight tooth and nail with other male iguanas even if their life is at risk. They do this to win supremacy over the territory. A male iguana will find other males and wage in war. Just like humans, the male iguanas have ego, they want to be the only powerful male iguana in a certain territory. They seek out for other males to declare war and mate with females.

Hence, there are other things that you have to know about iguanas. These include the fact that iguanas are arboreal. They dwell in trees and it’s just natural for them to climb on some stuff as well. They lay eggs and they can stay alive for 30 years.

All in all, if you want to keep an iguana as a pet, you have to take into consideration the do’s and don’ts of caring for them. The cage of your pet iguana should be cleaned well regularly. And also the cage must be very big. In addition, you have to take into account that your pet iguana should have the appropriate kind of lighting, supply of heat and water. They should be fed on a daily basis. It is important to feed them properly so as to keep them on good physical shape. And most importantly, the iguana should be taken to the vet for a checkup at least once a year. When you have understood all these things, then you’re ready to house an iguana.

What do to when an iguana will not let you near him?

I bought a adult iguana from the pet store last weekend. When I bought him he will let me hold hm. I held him all the way home. Since then him will not let anyone around him. I have never had an iguana before and I bought him for my son. We have tried to just leave him alone. We also tried to just pet him. But anytime we get around him, he’ll swipe his tail at us. I don’t know what to do.

Information On Iguanas – Information about Iguanas that can stop you from getting one

Having some basic information on iguana will make your decision whether to take one or not. Take note that having them as a pet is not because it is what your friends have. You should not only make the wrong assumption of thinking that it is the easiest pet to take care of and to have around.

Below are some informations that will help you decide why you should NOT have iguanas in your home.

1. Iguanas are not cheap.

The minimal amount that you pay for an iguana is only the beginning. What follows next are the series of equipments and accessories that is needed in caring for your iguana. There is the special cage with special lighting installed to keep its body heat.

You will also need some shelves for them to climb on and a timer to monitor changes in temperature. Feeding them is also a consideration. You need to buy green and leafy vegetables that are rich in calcium and vitamins to keep them healthy.

If you do not have the budget set aside for these things, then you should consider against having one as a pet.

2. Iguanas are not low maintenance pets.

They may look small enough not to cause you trouble or problems. That is just their appearance. As miniscule as they seem, they also need to be handled with care and given proper treatment just like any other pet.

Their places needed to be washed and cleaned. You also need to tame them yourself so that your iguana will grow up disciplined and manageable.

These things should be done on a daily basis so that the iguana will be trained early on. In addition, you may find it difficult to tame them once they are bigger and restless already.

3. Iguanas are not “huggable”.

You cannot hold your iguana in your lap and cuddle with them like you do your cats, dogs or rabbits. Although you can put them in your shoulder or hold in your arms, you should adhere to some restrictions that will prove vital to your health and well being.

This is especially if you do not have a tamed iguana. Chances are, they will bite or scratch you at the first sign of contact.

4. Iguanas are not sociable.

Notice that no matter how much you try, you will not be able to build rapport between your iguana and other pets in the house. This is because iguanas consider other animals are enemies. For them, these animals are predators waiting to eat them up.

Since iguanas are not as big as any other kinds of pets, there is a big possibility that they might be stepped on or squashed when other pets start playing around in your home. That is why you find these iguanas all by themselves in a quiet and dark corner.

5. Iguanas are not the kind of pet for small children.

Do not agree with your child if ever they decide to have an iguana for a pet. This is because these reptiles are not suitable for minors who do not know about proper handling and caring.

Stick to dogs or cats if ever your child is not big enough to understand what iguanas are like as pets.

So, what information about iguana is stopping you?

Is an Iguana the right pet for me?

I was thinking about getting an iguana and was wondering about some stuff. People say they’re not really for beginners, but I had a Green anole lizard about five years ago, a gecko a few years ago, and I recently lost my green snake. I was wondering how much more difficult iguanas are then these other reptiles, and if iguanas weren’t for me, what other lizards would be good pets? Any info is appreciated. 🙂