Common Myths About Iguana Care

Many individuals are interested in owning an iguana, but they may have refrained from doing so due to some common misconceptions. The following are some truths about iguana care that have nothing to do with what one might have heard.

Myth #1: Lettuce is the best food source for your pet iguana.

Although dark and leafy greens should be fed to iguanas, the nutritional value of lettuce is almost non-existent. Foods with high nutritional value should be fed to iguanas instead of lettuce as it will not do much for the health of the pet in the long run.

Myth #2: Iguanas can’t get too big for their cages.

Some individuals believe that keeping an iguana in a small cage or aquarium will stunt its growth. They might choose the smallest enclosure possible to have a pocket-sized pet for its entire life. This is untrue, as iguanas will continue to grow throughout their lives. Keeping an iguana in an enclosure that is too small can cause stress and listlessness, leading to an unhealthy pet.

Myth #3: Iguanas should eat gravel.

Using gravel as a substrate might be appealing for its looks or potential digestion benefits. However, iguanas are constantly sampling their environment by flicking their tongues out, and anything accidentally swallowed can be harmful or even fatal. It is best to avoid putting anything in the enclosure that the iguana can accidentally swallow.

Myth #4: Hot rocks are a must for any iguana’s home.

Hot rocks are only beneficial for heating and do not provide the varying degrees of temperature that iguanas require to regulate their body temperatures. Iguanas are cold-blooded and need proper lighting in their homes to regulate their core temperature. The use of a hot rock can lead to overheating and even death.

Myth #5: Iguanas must eat insects, pet food, or other animal products.

Old iguana books might advocate feeding animal proteins such as crickets to iguanas, but their system is best adapted to eat plant proteins only. Feeding animal proteins can negatively affect their digestion system, leading to an unhealthy pet, possibly developing gout, or causing kidney disease. These are just some random myths about iguanas that i found browsing this website