Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to have finally found a good desert iguana resource, I'm reading all the posts and they've been so informative.

I have a few questions--I got a desert iguana last october and I love him to bits. I would like to get a buddy for my iguana and house them together. Is this possible? I've seen posts describing up to three housed together, but do they have to be introduced by a certain age, or does sex matter? My iguana is around a year old and I *think* it is a male. Would I be able to safely introduce one new iguana of either gender? If not, is there a reptile of similar temperment with similar needs that would do well with him?

Secondly, I'm just looking for some feeding suggestions. My guy lives primarily off dandylion greens (and the flowers during the summer) and baby bok choy, with occasionally a bit of romaine or peas. Is this okay? I've tried offering collard and mustard greens but he refuses them, he also doesn't like shredded carrot. I want to find other flowers I can offer him that are easily obtainable--is there a complete list somewhere of safe flowers? He likes yellow, but are daffodils or daisys safe?

Thanks so much, I look forward to your answers!

Desert iguanas can be housed together as long as only one male is kept. You can add as many females as you like provided the cage is big enough. Also I am not one that really likes to mix species but they seem to do really well with chuckwallas as tank mates. I have kept them together for years with no problems. If you are really interested in breeding though it is best only the iguanas together.

Thanks so much! This is very helpful! I'll keep trying with the food, and I agree, I'd rather keep one species to a tank. Hopefully the breeder will have some females! How old do they need to be to be reliably sexed?

It is tough to say when the dipsos are sexable. I have a hard time with them but things to look for are femoral pores and hemipenal bulges. I would say about 8-10 inches. I try not to say an age because their growth can be really variable from one lizard to another. Good luck. What country are you in and who is the breeder. I don't think anyone in the US breeds them due to their abundance and cheap prices. I know someone in the Netherlands that breeds them and if interested I could give you his contact info because I believe he knows of a few more breeders there. Their breeding is spoadic though-they do not get eggs every year.

Thank you for the answer! I am in the US, and in truth I don't know the breeder personally or if they even have desert iguanas right now, but I'm hoping they will (hence I'm preparing). I met the vendor where I got my last lizard at the new england reptile expo, and since they're a regular I'm hoping they will have iguanas again. The vendor told me they bred their own reptiles, but I have no way of knowing if this is true...I also know expos are not the best place to get a healthy lizard, but like you said, nobody seems to breed these guys so there aren't many options. (If anyone knows of a better option locally, I'd be happy to listen!). My iguana was in good shape when I got him so it seemed they were well cared for.

Dasies are ok but not sure about dafodils. Try clover as they really seem to like that and fresh alfalfa. Keep offering the greens they don't like. Mix it withj what they like first just a little then as they get used to it add more. Try everything you know as safe-the wider the variety the better.

Try Nasturtiums, both flowers and leaves, and Sweet Alysum.

You can try escarole and endive both good staple greens.

Doesn't like carrots? Try shredded acorn squash.

Here's a link to a great food info chart. Breaks down about every fruit and veggie with nutritional and feeding info.

Food Information Chart

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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
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