Hi, I'm getting into rescuing herps in the Massachusetts area. Undoubtedly, someones going to ask me to rescue their iguana, even though I said I can't handle them. Well, I have a feeling when that time comes I just won't be able to say no and let the poor guy stay with his current owner and meet whatever demise. So, I'm getting a jump start. Does anyone know of a good guide to building an iguana enclosure? From what I understand the cage should be a frame with some sort of safe screen for walls. I own other herps, so I know all the UVB/etc. stuff. (BTW, on UVB --- Will regular uvb bulbs do, or do you need to have mercury vapor since they're a larger lizard?) Mainly need cage ideas. I'm planning to just use PVC to build a frame and attatch a proper mesh.
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Starting to Rescue
Replies (2)
On UVB I use Reptisun 5.0. You can get them at half price online 
In my cages I have 2 per cage and replace them every 6 months.
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish
Well, whether you use a regular UVB or a Powersun all depends on the size of the enclosure and how close to the light they can get - and some part of it is just personal preference. We use powersuns exclusively with our beardies, but our iggies both live in huge outdoor enclosures.
If our iguanas were living indoors permanently, we'd definitely have them under mercury vapours.
Skittles' enclosure is 8'x3'x8', and Annie's is 10'x5'x7'. As far as UVB goes, they get whatever Florida sunshine throws out, for supplemental heating, we use 500Watt halogen lamps on the cooler days.
When we need to bring them indoors, we use flourescent UVBs, although they're usually only under the for a month or so when it's too cold for them outside.
As for building an enclosure, yeah, you're right, it's basically just a wooden frame with mesh or screen wrapped around it. The most important bit is choosing the right kind of mesh...
Either get VERY fine holed stuff (like the porch screen), vinyl coated mesh, or the large-holed chicken wire.
Providing the iggy isn't a youngster that can fit through the holes in the chicken wire, it shouldn't be a problem, just with most non-coated small-holed meshes, a lot of iggies have a tendency to tear their nose up real bad.
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Axe
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