There are several types of lizards, but the largest is Iguana. An unusual and rather large reptile, the red Iguana, attracts many people.
Do you want to learn about red iguana’s appearance, habitat, nature, reproduction, captivity, and diet? You are at the right place. Here we will discuss all these things.
Because of their interesting features and appearance, it is quite common to have red Iguana as pets. You can purchase them from a pet shop for your garden and sometimes for the house.
Appearance:
Size: The length of an adult iguana is 5′ – 7′ feet (2.13 m), bodyweight is up to 7 kg.
Body: The body is thin, the tail is very long and laterally compressed, the back and tail with a longitudinal ridge.
Sac: On the throat, there is a large compressed sac. This sac plays a significant role in thermoregulation and the mating behavior of males.
Paws: The paws are short and equipped with sharp claws that help the lizard quickly moves among the woody vegetation.
Head: The head is tetrahedral, covered with scutes, the body with scales arranged in transverse rows.
Habitat:
These reptiles are inhabitants of the American continent, but iguanas also live on some tropical islands, preferring areas with a warm and humid climate.
Nature of Red Iguana
Red Iguana leads a daytime lifestyle, spending most of the time in trees.
They have a fine hearing, see perfectly in bright light, and much worse in the dark. Simultaneously, the Iguana has a “third eye” located on the top of the head, which is sensitive to changes in light intensity, able to recognize movements, and helps the lizard react in time when a predator attacks from above.
The Iguana has a massive spiky comb and a flexible tail that can deliver hard blows for additional protection from enemies. It also helps her/him swim well. An iguana can leave a tail in the teeth or claws of a predator during a fight and eventually grow a new one.
The red Iguana is diurnal. The period of activity of the animal falls in the morning and evening hours before sunset.
The character of these frightening-looking animals is not always so bad. The Iguana’s lifestyle is quite peaceful, and this creature does not pose a particular danger.
Breeding:
- Sexual maturity reaches when your Iguana is 3-4 years old.
- Gestation lasts about 65 days, at the end of which females lay 20 to 71 eggs in a hole in the sand.
- Incubation lasts 90-120 days.
They lay their eggs in the ground, and in the struggle for a convenient territory, they can fight with anyone.
Life expectancy in captivity is up to 20 years.
Keeping in captivity
Due to their arboreal lifestyle, iguanas require an upright terrarium.
Terrarium horizontal or vertical type. The minimum terrarium size for 2 young iguanas is 31x24x20 inches ( 80x60x50 cm ) . The size of the rooms should be at least 79x40x79 inches ( 200x100x200 cm ) for adult iguanas.
The bigger the cage is the better.
The best option for a terrarium substrate is a lawn mat, which will give the decoration an aesthetic look and keep it clean since such a mat is quite easy to clean. For adults, you can use cork chips (crushed cork oak bark). It looks attractive and absorbs moisture well. At the same time, remember that you must change such a substrate regularly so that parasites and mold do not start in it.
The presence of a spacious pool is necessary for the red Iguana, since it is in the water that the bowel movement will take place.
Daylight hours for a red iguana should be 10-12 hours. A prerequisite is the presence of a lamp with UVB radiation. This will contribute to the normal production of Vitamin D in the Iguana’s body, which promotes the absorption of calcium.
Temperature
The background temperature in the terrarium should be 78-82 F (26-28 ° C, at the point of warming up 95 F ( 35 ° C ). At night, a decrease to 68-70 F ( 20-21 ° C ) is permissible. Place a lamp at a safe distance for the reptile (15-20 cm) above the terrarium’s uppermost branch.
Like any other tropical animal, the red Iguana needs a high humidity level, a minimum of 80%. It is also necessary to spray the terrarium with warm water 2-3 times a day: for this purpose, an automatic rain installation is suitable.
Please try to avoid heat rock as their heat source !!!
Decoration
The only type of decoration that just needs to be placed in a terrarium with a red iguana is thick enough branches and driftwood. That helps the lizard to move inside the terrarium, choosing comfortable conditions for the pastime.
Any living plants will be spoiled, and therefore their placement is meaningless. For these purposes, an automatic rain installation is suitable.
Another substrate recommended for iguanas is rabbit pellet food (it absorbs moisture well). However, hungry iguanas willingly eat such a substrate (without harm to their health).
Diet
The red Iguana is a herbivorous animal and needs to be fed daily. He/she eats lettuce, dandelion, clover leaves, dandelion flowers, various fruits, to a lesser extent, vegetables. However, it all depends on the taste preferences of each individual. We do not recommend to feed cabbage to your Iguana.
The recommended diet for young iguanas (under 2.5 years old):
Feeding regimen: 2 times a day. You must chop the feed.
Composition: 85-90% – vegetables, fruits and 10-15% – mealworms, zoofus or granulated feed.
The recommended diet for adult iguanas (over 2.5 years old):
Feeding regimen: once a day. Coarsely chopped feed.
Composition: 95% vegetable food and 5% of animal proteins or granulated feed
- You must wash and cut all fruits and herbs into separate pieces. Peel the bananas. Cut it into small pieces.
- All vegetables should be fresh or frozen, chopped, at room temperature, or slightly warm.
- Add vitamins and sprinkle live food with additives such as Reptivite twice a week.
Adult iguanas should be given water 2-3 times a week. Young individuals – every day. The drinker should be placed in the terrarium for several hours, then remove. The drinker should be cleaned and disinfected regularly as iguanas defecate in the water.
Bottom Line
By following the points discussed above, your Iguana can live a long and happy life. They should be taken great care as a child.