Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 8 year old got an Iguanafrom her uncle for x-mas. I don't know anything about iguanas.This is what I have for it:
About a 5 gal tank
water dish
bark for bottom
fake plant
fake log
a stone
and a 50 watt infared bulb ( I think... it's red)
and a dome for the bulb.

Help.. I don't know if the tank is big enough, or what I need.
I know it's friendly cause it likes to be held.
Thanks,
Tracie

OUCH! what a present for an 8 year old. SOme people need some education.

First, you need a 55 gallon tank. Ditch the bark and use newspaper. It needs UVB light (florescant) and a heat light. These are night and day bulbs.

Collard, mustard, dandelion and turnip greens, green beans, snow peas, winter squash. A food processor will chop it up fine.

Iguanas are NOT recommended for children This is an adult's pet.

Friendly baby iguanas may be sick. A healthy baby should be fiesty!

okay..I can get a uvb light and i bought some dandelion greens.Do I need to blend it up or can it bite pieces off.It will take some time to save for the tank. And the new papaer will no problem.
Does it have to be a tank because my neighbor gave me a screened in housing unit for lizards which is alot bigger.

No, it doesn't have to be a tank. That screen will do just fine, but I'm afraid it won't hold in the heat very well. You can even build one out of plywood...it will hold in heat much better if it has solid wall and doors.

Well I put the Iguana in the mesh tank.With a heating pad on the underneath of the tank.And the light a 150 watt. I think it seems happier it is playing in the tank. It is running around and climbing the mesh. It has a hot spot and a cool spot. Ranging from 90 to 71 degrees. I hope this is an improvement.

and keep humidity up to at least 60%.

Feed him a whole variety of foods. Feeding him just one kind of green will not keep him healthy. He needs a variety. Please order the book "Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owners Manual" by james hatfield III

Cover the outside of the screened cage with a shower curtain or something similar. This will help hold in the heat and humidity.

i just adopted a iguana a month ago .

how big is the iguana ?
as said a 55 gallon works best ( try to find a random yard sale or a place selling one for cheap)

needs uvb 5 or 7 bulb costs about 20-30 dollar's ...
( plus the unit to hold it in about 40 ? all in one ) .. then a basking light . anout 15-20-30 dollar's depends.. and the light bulb.about 8 dollars? depends too

should have newspaper , carpet ? something easy to clean.. as a substrate ..

( buy the book iguana's for dummies sold at .. a pet shop its very helpful )

foods ..
dark greens .. including collards , dandelion, mustard , escarole, turnip greens .. ( chopped up )

include green's .. like i feed green beans , for starts

then 10 % could be fruit like .. strawberrys grapes melons ... pears

( iguana's need to be taken seriously .. they all have changable moods ) they have tails that wip teeth that are sharp and nails .. that can cut you ) ... they should be holded every day
they like to roam .. as well be carful with other pet's .. as dogs and iguanas dont tend to like each other ..

good luck and read that iguana book

christina