Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was considering buuying a green iguana and was wondering if anyone has any tips on care besides what is found in care sheets. Also i was going to house him in a 75 gallon aquarium while I convert a closet into a new home is this going to be suitable?

Thanks, Shlaba

a 75 gal will do for a young iguana for some time. However, eventually you will need a very large enclosure. Green iguanas get pretty big, as big as 5' or more. Thus they need very large enclosures, at least 6'x6'x2' or larger. Not sure if a closet will be large enough, really depends on how big your closet is.

If you buy a baby green iguaua, it will take 3-4 years before it reaches adult size. However they do grow fast for such a small baby, it can easily reach 2-3 feet in the first year.

One thing I recommend with these lizards, research as much as you can about them. Buy a few green iguana books, there are plenty of good ones out there. Make sure you have access to good healthy greens and vegetables to feed him, the money to buy UVB bulbs, caging supplies, food, vet checks etc also the time to spend with your green iguana to ensure you socialize him enough when young. A nervous 5' iguana who doesn't like to be handled is not a fun thing to try and handle. They have a strong bite, long whip like tail and sharp claws.

Make sure you are able to care for this lizard for 20 years and won't tire of it after a couple years. Also, if you think you may be moving around alot, especially if you live in apartments, keep in mind you may not be able to bring your iguana with you. I definitely suggest anybody planning on going to college etc. in a few years not to get a green iguana. Dorms won't allow pets for the most part and a big iguana is not easily transported. Nor is it easy to find them good homes should you have to sell him.

If you thought long and hard and willing to put the effort and money and have the space, green iguanas can be excellent pets. I think they are awesome myself and would love to have one sometime in the future. Right now I don't have the space for one, and also they are banned where I live too, so double strike for me at the moment against owning them.

Nor do I recommend these lizards for first time or beginning reptile keepers. It is like buying a big dog when you never owned one before and don't know anything about training dogs. (ie house breaking, training to behave on leash, obey basic commands etc) and the dog you get is one that tends to be independant and strong willed.

Thanks for the advice and like you i've been a proud owner of a ball pyton for 7 years and also a bearded dragon for 5 and I just purchased an asian forest scorpion. I appreciate any help now and in the future(canada)
Thanks, Shlaba

I would recommend that you don't purchase a Green Iguana. They require a great deal of space as adults and they are very high maintenance. You would probably be much happier with a smaller lizard that is easier to care for. People who buy iguanas soon discover how hard they are to care for and then search for another home for them, however, most places are not willing to take in a Green Iguana. Then they find themselves stuck with a very large lizard that they can't adequitely care for. I would suggest not to get one. Good luck.