Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi people im new to iguanas i just picked up my first 2 yesterday i named them Cheech and Chong like the movie but anyways i was just wondering what they like to eat and play with???

www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html

iguanaden.com/

www.greenigsociety.org/

Please, do your new igs a favor & read these sites inside and out...

It doesn't sound like you researched iguanas before you got them. That is not a good thing. Iguanas need a lot of care and are very exspensive to care for. They grow to be about 6 feet long and can get aggressive. They need to have a strict diet. They need heat, humidity, and uvb lighting. They need vitamin supplements and calcium powder. You need to get the book"Iguanas for dummies" by Melissa Kaplan. You will need very large cages for them. I researched iguanas for over a year before getting my first one. I now have 4 and the care they need is almost overwelming sometimes, but I enjoy it. They aren't a pet that you can just tell yourself "oh I'll get to them later", when you are too busy to deal with them. I don't know how to explain how much work they are and how much care they need and how much time they take up. Iguanas are definately different and awesome creatures, but if they aren't taken care of properly they will not survive and they will cost a lot in vet bills. If you wanted a "fun" pet then you got the wrong critters. They won't fetch a ball or bring you your slippers. I don't want to sound like I am attacking you or trying to discourage you, but the fact is They are a lot of work. Most iguanas bought are either set free to die or end up in a rescue somewhere if they are the lucky ones. When people realize that they grow as big as they do they get rid of them. Or when they get sick and see how much the vet bill is they get rid of them. I hope you take the time to research your new pets and give them all the proper care they need.

well these buds were given to me for free from some guy that didnt want them so they were new to me but i know some i was just wanting to learn more about them. i have a good set-up for them and im in the process of building them their own new cage. so take it easy man you didnt have to lecture me like although you said you werent.

That wasnt lecturing, that was pointing out the truth. Everybody on this forum wants to see a new iguana owner learn and correctly care for iguanas. Trust me-internet forums are a wealth of irreplacable (?) knowledge. Most people on this forum have rescued one or more iguanas and it is just a sad fact that theyre the #1 dumped reptile in the US and you need to know what youre getting in for, whether you bought them or were given them.

Kudos for taking in those free iguanas. Thats one of the very few times I can use the word 'free' and 'iguana' in the same sentance
Read through this boards old posts and archives.
As to what iguanas eat, here are a few websites with lists of food:

http://www.anapsid.org
http://iguanaden.com/main.htm
http://www.greenigsociety.org
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Sarah
IgWhippedInFlorida
groups.yahoo.com/group/IgWhippedInFlorida/

yeah i guess it was just helping me learn but i felt like i had to take them cuz i felt they werent being taken care of and i am gonna keep them even when they're really big i love the 2 guys/girls and im planning on spending alot of $$$ on them so its ok THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your opinions.

Sorry if it sounded like I was lecturing you, but this kind of thing happens a lot and the iggys suffer. I think it was the way you posted that got me going. When you said what do they LIKE to eat and PLAY with. You will find out that they will try to eat almost anything especially things that can hurt them. I am glad you took the iggys to help them and posted to get info to care for them. You will be pleased with them as pets, and they really do become a part of the family in no time. Do you know how old they are? If you could post pictures that would be great. I'm sure everyone would love to see them. I wish you and them the best of luck. Keep us posted and ask questions when you need to. There are lots of people here who can give you advice and answers.