Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have been looking into getting a new pet lizard and have taking into liking of the Green Iguana. I am NOT a beginner in keeping herps so dont say something like "iguanas are not good pets for beginners". I do have some questions though...
#1: what do you expierenced iguana keepers feed your iguanas and how much does it cost you a week?
#2: i will be building a cage from scratch, wut do i need to build, how big (minimum) and wut materials and steps do i need?
#3: do you let your iguana free roam?
#4: how much a year does it cost to own an iguana, (food, enviroment, vet bills, on average)

#1: I follow the MK diet, which is I feed him collard & mustard greens ($0.99 ea) a "salad" comprised of yellow squash, zuchini, parsnips or asparagus, carrots, and other types of squash in season. All in all, this costs me about $8-10/week at Safeway.

#2: I'm sure others here can help you on this one... I was going to try to make an enclosure for my water dragon but instead I am ordering one thru www.cagesbydesign.com, which is expensive but oh well, beats attempting to build something I have no clue about!

#3: My ig is a free roamer in my 720 sq ft, 1 bed/1 bath apartment. He mostly hangs out on the sofa (where his heat pad & UV lamp are), in the sun by the sliding glass door or windows, outside on the patio or in my bedroom on my bed. He never goes in the kitchen or bathroom & he knows to poop on the tile by the front door.

#4: Not sure on an exact amount of $ but since he free roams, I did not spend $ on a tank w/the accessories. My vet bills are $30/visit, $17/follow up, $16/fecal.

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Danielle
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1.0 Chinese water dragon, 0.3 leos, 1.0 adopted iguana, 0.0.2 beardies, 2.0 green anoles, 1.0 blue anole and 2.2 bettas ~My Pets~

#1: what do you expierenced iguana keepers feed your iguanas and how much does it cost you a week?

I feed a typical Ig salad. Mustard, Turnip, Dandelion, Collard greens, and escrole. Zuccini (sp?), Bell peppers, Different Squashs, etc etc etc. Um..... Probably in the 8-10 range... Never really added it up....

#2: i will be building a cage from scratch, wut do i need to build, how big (minimum) and wut materials and steps do i need?

My Big guy lives in a former walk-in closet. It's 8' high, 8' long, and 3' deep. MINIMUMS for an adult should be 6' tall, 6' long and 3' deep.... But some people give entire rooms to their igs. Bigger is ALWAYS better.

#3: do you let your iguana free roam?

No. I bring him out to play sometimes and He gets to roam around a little while. But Usually He stays in His house, His territory.

#4: how much a year does it cost to own an iguana, (food, enviroment, vet bills, on average)

The Closet took about a grand to re-due for him, I just spent 98 bucks on a vet visit cause of mites..... (grrrr.....) But on Average I only spend maybe 60 or so on annual vet visit, and like I said 8-10 a week on food...
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2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.2 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garter, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses (soon to be three {Baby next May!!!}), 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

The most important things are feed foods that are small enough for the Iguana to eat and direct sunlight or UVB lighting. I feed my Iguanas (80% greens)Collard Greens is my prefered, tunip greens, Hibiscus leaves, mustard greens, etc. and then add(20%) grated carrots, squash(any Kind), pumkin, calabasa, etc.
As the Iguana gets larger I will introduce fruits; grapes, strawberries, melons, etc.

You will have to cut the main stem from the collard greens and cut the leaves into 1/4" to 1/2" strands if you are feeding a baby or yearling. If not they will exhaust them selves trying to down a large piece of food they will not be able to devour. Another inexpensive way of feeding iguanas while giving them a variety is buying a bag of dry beans and planting them in a tray. When they sprout, I just put the pot in the cage and let them eat the young leaves. I have found that the one of the most nutritiuos beans to feed is Black eye cow peas, but any bean will do. Just try different ones.

I also buy two or three potted Hibiscus plants that produce bright red flowers. The iguanas love the flowers and will eat the leaves. I alternate the plants and let one recover from being eaten, while the other is in the cage.

In the wild, Iguanas feed continuosly through out the day, especially babies.

I have at any given time about 20 to 60 Iguanas of various types and sizes. Feeding them amounts to $8 to $10 per week using the methods I explained.
So it should be no more then $3 to $5 per week.

To save time, I will cut up a week worth of food and store it in a zip lock bag or shoe box.

Sorry for writting so much. I got carried away.Lol
Manny