If you are thinking of adopting an iguana as a pet, you should know that one of the main problems may be the space it will need to live happily and healthily. Iguanas can weigh up to eight kilograms and measure more than two meters in length. That is why you should think that the terrarium that will be its habitat should be big enough for your iguana to feel comfortable in it.
In addition, iguanas are arboreal reptiles, but they are also excellent swimmers. In their natural state they usually move among tree branches and live near water sources.
In captivity, you should provide your iguana with a space at least three meters long by two meters high. The cage should be at least one meter deep. You may notice that it is a fairly large habitat, so you should make sure before adopting an iguana as a pet that you will be able to give it what it needs.
Habitat for a pet iguana
In many cases, the terrariums you can get in stores are too small for iguanas. These reptiles prefer to spend most of the day in trees, lying horizontally. Therefore, if the terrarium is tall but narrow it will not work well. Nor will those that are wider but not high enough to place branches or at least resting platforms give good results.
On the other hand, although it might seem sufficient to place a resting platform on a table, giving a sense of height, it won’t be the same because you won’t have room to climb. In any case, space is necessary to keep an iguana as a pet. Otherwise, you may end up getting sick and dying very young. You must keep in mind that by adopting an animal of any species, you are making a commitment to look after its welfare. And wellness means having your pet in the right conditions so that it can develop a healthy life and feel good in that artificial space.
Create a suitable enclosure
Now that we are clear about the dimensions that the terrarium for your iguana will need, let’s see what other things it will need to make it a suitable habitat.
In addition to the size, which must have the height, depth and width mentioned above, it must also have large branches that the iguana can climb. You can add resting platforms at different heights. These platforms could be upholstered with interchangeable synthetic turf. This way you can improve the hygiene of your pet’s habitat.
You can place natural plants, but you must make sure that they are not toxic. It is very common for the iguana to nibble on leaves and it could get sick if it were a toxic plant.
Another important point is the temperature that the terrarium should have. The ideal temperature is between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius, with humidity between 70 and 85%. Both temperature and humidity must be controlled to keep it stable.
Iguanas also need natural sunlight, at least for some hours of the day, and a diet based on leaves and fruits.
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