Male Iguana

Iguanas – 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.

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?

Iguanas 2

Interesting Facts about Iguanas



Here are some things you might want to know about iguanas:



1) They are better suited to eating plants – some sources still continue to say that iguanas are omnivores. To say that iguanas will benefit from eating both plant and animal products would be mistake. This is because the metabolism of the iguana is better suited to absorbing plant proteins. The proteins found in animal products are just too complex to be properly utilized by iguanas. This means that not all proteins can be absorbed by their bodies as nutrients.



So what happens to the unabsorbed proteins? Well, it is usually stored as uric acid. This uric acid can have very harmful effects on your iguana. A build up of uric acid can cause gout. Getting rid of animal protein can also be very hard work for an iguana's kidneys. This means that feeding animal products to your iguana may cause it to have kidney problems. This shortens the iguana's life.



2) Iguanas can be trained – many people think that iguanas are stupid animals. However, people who own iguanas can actually attest to the opposite. A pet iguana can be trained to do many different things. Some people have toilet-trained their iguanas. Other people have trained their iguanas to do different types of tricks. Some iguanas can even find their way home!



These feats attest to the fact that iguanas are far from stupid. Sometimes, people just tend to judge other creatures as being lower than them.



3) They can grow up to six feet long – most people think that iguanas will always fit their cages. However, when an iguana is properly taken care of, it will grow up to six feet long! This means that you will have to prepare a habitat that can accommodate an iguana's growth. Some people may not be able to immediately provide a large enclosure for a six foot iguana. However, you should realize that an iguana will grow to that size and so you must always plan ahead.



4) Iguanas are arboreal – Wild iguanas spend most of their time on trees. What are the implications of this? Well, an iguana owner has to simulate an iguana's habitat. This means that you need to put some climbing materials on your iguana's enclosure. Of course, you don't have to put real trees inside the enclosure. However, you should consider placing a post or something that your iguana can climb on.



5) Iguanas need sunlight – some people think that artificial lights are good substitutes for sunlight in an iguana enclosure. However, what you need to know is that iguanas need sunlight not just for the visible light. An iguana utilizes UVA and UVB light in absorbing nutrients properly. This is because the UVB light triggers a chemical reaction in an iguana's skin which helps it make the vitamin D3. This vitamin is used to properly process calcium in the bloodstream.



These are just some of the little quirks that you may want to know about iguanas. As you can see, taking care of an iguana is not an easy task. In order to take proper care of an iguana, people should learn as much about them as possible. By taking these little details into consideration while caring for an iguana, you would assure the continued health of the iguana.

Iguanas

Man’s New Best Friend: iguanas



Dogs are man’s best friend.



That’s what we usually hear.



But would you believe if I tell you that iguanas can be your best friend, too?



Sure, we’ve heard a lot of stories about people treating dogs, cats, birds, and fishes as best friends. But how many would want large reptiles like snakes and lizards as best friends?



If you’re an ordinary pet owner, you might take a rain check on taking care of an iguana. But you’ll never know the joy being felt by those who dared to live up to the challenge.



Let’s take a look at some of the reasons to have an iguana as a pet:



1. Iguanas are vegetarians.



If you’re a pet owner, chances are, you have to go to a pet shop and buy food. It’s bearable if you have to buy only the simple dog food or cat meal, but what if you have to buy mice? Or worms, cockroaches, crickets, and the like? Most of the time you have to hold these tiny creatures and feed them to your pet – may they be affectionate or seemingly uncaring.



You don’t have to go to a pet shop to feed your iguana. You can simply pick greens from your garden or buy fresh vegetables from the grocery. Isn’t that simple?



2. Iguanas usually hit it off with their owners.



Unlike some lizards and snakes, iguanas are known to interact with their loving caretakers. Some would sleep beside their masters – evidence that iguanas can be very close to human beings.



Some are calm when held by their owners, but would twist and bite when held by a stranger. Nevertheless, some are so tame that anyone can hold them.



Some iguanas would even allow their owners to dress them up in silly outfits.



3. Iguanas live long.



We all would like to have a pet that would live very long since you’re going to invest emotion, not to mention money for food, medicine, and veterinary services.



While rats, hamsters, or bearded dragons may live only a few years, iguanas, like cats and dogs, may live up to 20 years.



Actually, the oldest iguana on record lived up to 29 years!



4. No hair or fur will stick to your clothes or worse, get into your nose!



If you’re asthmatic, you very well know the difficulty of being around animals that would make you sick. Iguanas, however, being reptiles, have none of the fur and hair that would send you to the hospital.



5. Iguanas are very educational.



Children will learn a lot when they care for iguanas. They have to know about temperature, rainforests, animal husbandry, importance of proper care of lizards, etc.



It maybe good to take note too that these lizards are distant relatives of dinosaurs and taking care of them will provide children with a venue for study of the prehistoric creatures.



Iguanas are good subjects for Show-and-Tell, research work, and the like as well.



As you can see, there are lots of reasons to become an iguana owner. Why not live up to the challenge? Go to your nearest pet shop and get an iguana for you and your family now!

Iguanas Lizards Photos

Proper Iguana Care Tips



One of the most exotic animals that are kept as pet nowadays is the iguana. Many pet shops do offer some iguanas at reasonable rates. Iguanas are now considered as among the extraordinary favorite pets of people of all ages. They see iguanas as cute strange pets, something weird and wonderful and out of the ordinary.



Just like any pet, iguanas need proper care and attention. Now people would think that it’s just easy to care for a pet iguana, but it’s not. There are some important things you have to consider when housing an iguana. In fact there are several iguana caring tips that you can find in the internet. These tips usually come with iguanas lizards photos to make the discussion more interesting and clear to the readers.



Some of the basic iguana care tips are discussed below:



Cage



A cage is needed to house the iguana unless you want them to roam freely in your house. The cage must be large enough to house your pet. The size will also vary based on the exact size of the iguana pet but the ideal size is up to 6 feet long. It is also important that there’s a sufficient supply of water in the cage, some stuff for the animal to climb on and a hiding place. The cage should be twice the size of the iguana since they are considered to be arboreal, meaning they love to climb.



Food



Iguanas are herbivores. They eat different kinds of green leafy vegetable and fruits as well. Basically, their diet should be composed of tofu at least twice a week, lettuce, broccoli, berries like blackberries and raspberries, and oranges. Fresh food and water is the foremost thing that you have to take into account in taking good care of an iguana lizard. The water and food that should be served to the iguana should be fresh at all times. Unclean water as well as spoiled food can cause some health problems to the iguana that’s why it’s so important to choose the right food for your pet. It’s best to feed your pet lizard early in the morning. This is in view of the fact that food in the morning enables proper digestion.



Temperature



The cage of your pet iguana should have proper heating. It is of high importance that the iguana should be heated by a light or heat pad. Hot rocks are not necessary for they can lead to the killing or burning of your pet iguana lizard. The ideal heating for the cage is approximately between 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. If the iguana is not heated properly, it may lead to the iguana’s food indigestion.



Lighting



Proper lighting is also of the essence in caring for an iguana. Iguanas when deprived with UV lighting usually become ill with a disease known as MBD or Metabolic Bone Disease. It’s important that your pet lizard is allowed to laze around under the sun. The cage should have special fluorescent that are usually purchased in pet shops that sell some pet supplies.



Sanitation



The cleanliness of your friend iguana is also of the essence. Your iguana and its cage should be cleaned regularly. Proper hygiene of your pet should be practiced so as to prevent it from getting sick. Iguanas are identified to be carrying bacteria known as Salmonella. To keep your pet iguana safe from the threats of these bacteria, it’s best to keep them clean all the time.