Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I was just wondering how old iguanas usually live to be? Every book I have says something different. My babe is already 15 and I just saw a web page saying they only live to be 10-12 years. One of the books I have says late 20s, another one says up to 30, and a third one says late teens. I'm just wondering if my babe is young, old or really old. My vet said that she honestly hasn't seen any iguanas come into her office that live past 10.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

I believe it is late 20's. But it really depends on the care they are given. Many igs are lucky to reach 10 even 5 yrs old because of improper care. Having your ig be 15 shows that you are doing a pretty good job.

Yeah, it is really sad that a lot of people get iguanas not knowing what they are getting into. My cousin had actually had his iguana put to sleep because it was getting too big. I tried to adopt it, but I was only 16 at the time, and the decision wasn't really up to me. I'm 25 now and I would love to get another iguana, and I'm looking into it right now. My vet always tells me how surprised she is to see how healthy my ig is whenever we take him in for his yearly check up. He's my babe, and like all my pets, I give them top notch care.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

Iguanas *CAN* live to their 20's.

However most do NOT ever make it past 1 year and of those even less make it past 10. My oldest iguana was 14 when she passed away of severe renal failure. She was fed dog food for the first 3-5 years of her life.

THe problem is too many people think an occasional "treat" wont kill. Others just dont care. I cant honestly tell you the waiting list for iguanas into my rescues at this point.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Um, sorry to hear that... I actually talked to someone yesterday and the longest living iguana age recorded was 32 years. My ig is still my babe no matter what his age is. And he's a very healthy 15, so he should live well into his 20s.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)

Quote: "THe problem is too many people think an occasional "treat" wont kill. Others just dont care."

I'm not so sure about that. My ig has occasional treats all the time that include cooked turkey (on Thanksgiving), senior cat food, he used to like pepperoni, and sometimes cooked chicken. He gets a blood test done at every yearly checkup, and it always comes back that he's getting all the nutrients he needs. The only health issue he has ever had was that when he was young he got his claw caught on the fabric cover on the couch when we were out, and he pulled it back.

I don't think occasional treats are the problem. I think daily nutrition is the problem. If you're feeding your ig right, you really shouldn't have any problems. And for the people who don't care, which I don't understand how they couldn't care, then they should have no right to keep any animals. I volunteer at the SPCA as a receptionist, and you should see the animals that come in that people make up dumb excuses for neglect.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), and Kayko (0.0.1 leopard gecko)