Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone,

I’m new to this forum. Well new to iguanas all together as well. Right now I do not own one but wanted one for a long time. I really didn’t know much about the iguanas then so I spend the last 5 months learning as much as I can about them so when I do bring one home,(in a month once the weather outside gets nicer for the trip home) I can provide the best possible care it needs. My question is this. The iguana I’m going to be getting is about 12” STL. The cage that I have build is 4’ wide, 4’ tall and 3’ deep. I have build a shelf, 8” wide and about 3’ of the ground, for him/her to use for basking. I have been reading a lot about small iguanas falling of things and breaking their legs and such so I wondering if I should lower the shelf little. Is having the shelf 3’ of the ground too high for a little iguana like that? Last think I would want is for it to fall and break something .

Welcome aboard. Too bad they had the wise guy idea of changing the forums, and so removing the past messages. Lots of good info was in those posts. Oh well.

At 12", ur future iguana is still a juvenile, so that's good for taming and socializing.

The cage dimensions are ok...not thrilling, but ok. Personally, either it was better to make it a foot larger all around, or start from day one with a cage for an adult iguana. The reson is, it is better to spend $$$ on one final big enclosure, then spending money on a small/medium, and then a large one once the animal gets big. And if that iglet turns out to be a male, it is gonna be big! Adults igs are housed in 6-7'L, 6-7'H, 4-6'D enclosures. Bigger is better.

As for dangers of height...These are arboreal animals, they have claws and strength to help them hang on tight. Of course, if the shelves are smooth and polished, it is inevitable that the animal will slip and fall. By the way, three feet can't kill a insect. So don't worry.
Carve ridges, smooth outh any dangerous splinters or sharp edges that can cut or hurt it. Make it natural looking, with branches and ropes and fake plants. Be creative. These animals need stimuli to be healthy and happy.

Another bonus for having/making a large enclosure is that it helps the animal to thermoregulate itself, and for you to make basking areas and cooler areas.

Coincidentally, there were a lot of posts regarding enclosures, height etc. But now that it's all changed, you have to wait 'til they put it all in archives format (how annoying).

Keep us posted on your progess, and let us know when you pick up the iguana!
Regards,

-IJ

Actually what you need to worry about is where the shelf is in relation to your UVB light source. If you are using Flourescent tubes it needs to keep the ig within 12 inches of the tubes to be effective.
Merlin
This is weird isn't it!