Green Iguana
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Iguana iguana |
| Origin | Central and South America, Caribbean |
| Size | 4-6 feet (including tail) |
| Lifespan | 15-20+ years |
| Temperature Range | 75-95°F (24-35°C) |
| Humidity | 65-80% |
| Enclosure Size | 8x4x6 feet minimum for adults |
| Care Level | Advanced |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Temperament | Variable, Can Be Aggressive |
Recommended for Green Iguanas
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ZooMed - High-output UVB and heating | ExoTerra - Large enclosure components | Fluker's - Calcium supplements | Repashy - Calcium Plus and supplements
A 6-foot herbivore that starts as a souvenir
Green iguanas, Iguana iguana, are arboreal lizards from Central and South America and the Caribbean. Adults reach about 4 to 6 feet with the tail and live 15 to 20 years or more. Care level is advanced. The enclosure for an adult is a room-sized project, on the order of 8 feet long and 6 feet tall, with climbing branches, a basking spot near 95 to 100°F, a warm side in the mid to high 80s, humidity around 65 to 80 percent, and UVB that is replaced on a schedule. A 40-gallon tank is a hatchling box you will outgrow in a year.
They are strong, they tail-whip, and intact males in breeding season can be dangerous to the person who thought the lizard was tame. Spaying and neutering are real surgeries with real risk. They are not a personality fix you book casually, and they do not turn an iguana into a lap pet.
Greens, bone, and the door you do not open
Diet is plants: collards, turnip greens, squash, and a planned salad, not lettuce and banana as the whole week. Metabolic bone disease is what happens when UVB and calcium are skipped. A swollen jaw and rubber legs are late. Kidney disease follows high-protein diets. Salmonella is a household fact with any iguana. Wash. Do not release a pet iguana outdoors. Florida already has the pictures, and other states and Hawaii restrict them. Check the rule where you live.
A lizard on the floor, eyes sunken, not eating, needs a reptile vet the same day. ARAV is the list. Use the not-eating page and the checker.
Green iguana questions
How big do green iguanas get?
About 4 to 6 feet including the tail, and a heavy body. The hatchling on a shoulder is the advertisement. The adult needs a room or a custom cage on the order of 8 feet long and tall.
Are they friendly?
Some tolerate a familiar person. Breeding-season males bite, whip with the tail, and defend a perch. They are not dogs. Temperament is variable, and they can be aggressive.
What do they eat?
Dark greens and other plants. Insects and dog food are the wrong diet and a common path to kidney disease and a deformed jaw. UVB and calcium are part of the meal plan even though you cannot see them in the bowl.
Decision Guides for Green Iguana
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.