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What do Iguanas Eat?



(May 6, 2010)

Although most people cringe at the very sight of a lizard, the Iguana is becoming an increasingly popular pet in not only the United States of America, but the rest of the world as well. The most popular species of pet iguana is the green iguana, which can grow up to about four to six feet when completely matured. This measurement includes the tail and can take up to about half of the body length and is also covered in black stripes from head to tail. The natural habitat of the reptile lies between the area ranging from southern Brazil and Paraguay all the way up to Mexico. The weight of the animal reads at around 10 to 15 pounds on average and its life expectancy is as much as about 20 years, if cared for properly. The best indoor housing for an Iguana would be to provide it with its own 50 gallon aquarium while it is still young. Make no mistake though, that the reptile will soon outgrow the enclosure in a few months, especially if it grows rather rapidly. Although a number of people choose to litter the enclosure with sand and bark, in an attempt to recreate the animals natural habitat, this could cause a number of problems, especially if the lizard ingests any of the small particles. Just as with any pet, the iguana diet plays a major role in deciding how healthy the pet will remain and for how many years it will survive.

The lizards are considered to be folivore reptile, meaning that iguana food will consist primarily of leaves. Another aspect to keep in mind when drawing out an iguana food list is the fact that they do not chew their food, but ingest it immediately. While protein content in food is beneficial to the animal, one should also be careful as excessive protein content will lead to kidney failure and metallic bone disease, eventually progressing to death of the animal if fed over a number of years. The best possible diet for iguana would consist primarily of mustard greens, parsley, collard greens, spinach and kale. It is important to play close attention to the environmental temperature within the pets enclosure because of the fact that they are cold blooded animals and do not possess the ability to regulate their internal body temperatures. Daytime temperatures should range between 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit while nighttime temperature should range around 110 degrees to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Submitted by N M on May 6, 2010 at 03:32

 
 
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