Iguana Housing
If you are wanting to keep an iguana as a pet, you need to set up an environment which is very similar to their natural habitat. In the wild iguanas mainly live in trees, and use the ability to climb up high for survival. Tall trees allow them to escape from predators and hide in the leafy canopy.
So the best enclosure you can create needs to be much taller than wider, with lots of resting spots throughout the whole height. Lots of shrubbery, either artificial or real, will supply many hiding spaces. If you use real plants make sure they are not toxic, as your iguana will most probably eat them. Any artificial greenery should not be edible.
I found the following video, which will give you some useful ideas and suggestions.
This is a setup for a young iguana of about 14 inches long. However, as he gets older and grows, he will need to have a much taller and larger enclosure.
The important things to take from this video are:
- The height is a lot greater than the width.
- Lots of greenery for climbing and hiding.
- Proper lighting particularly for UVB.
- Ceramic heat emitters for good temperature control, remember these guys come from tropical regions.
- A large water bowl on the base level to keep cool.
- A good bowl for frequent fresh food.
- The sides were enclosed with Plexiglas to help maintain humidity in the enclosure.
If you get all these things in place then you will find that your iguana will settle in happily, eat well and be a happy pet for you to enjoy.
