Iguana at home

Iguanas grow to 1.5-2 meters in length and canlive up to 15-20 years. Iguanas are large lizards that feed on plant foods and live on trees. The waking period is daytime. In nature iguanas live in Central and South America.

Iguanas have a calm character, quiteare accommodating - that's why they became popular exotic pets. To keep iguanas at home, it takes a lot of money and effort, so before you start the iguana, you need to think carefully.

The first thing you need to keep the iguana inat home, is the terrarium. It should be of a very decent size, because the animal must move freely along it. The terrarium should be equipped with a special lamp that will provide the necessary duration of a daylight, a heater to maintain the optimum temperature, a humidifier, a UV lamp.

In the terrarium must be a largeA snag or a branch pointing upwards towards the lamp. On such a branch the iguana will be able to crawl, choosing the optimal place for itself. Above, at the lamp itself, the iguana gets warm, and if it wants to cool down a little, it can go down lower. The temperature in the terrarium should vary from 25 to 35 ° C.

In the terrarium also must beA container with water occupying not less than 25% of the bottom area. From this capacity the iguana can drink and it also allows to maintain the minimum required level of humidity. At the bottom of the terrarium should put a special plastic mat, on it - a layer of paper napkins or towels (but not newspapers), and on top of the napkins should evenly expand the oak bark plates.

Daily cleaning in the terrarium is reduced to replacingpaper napkins and washing in hot water oak plates. Wash with a soap and water bowl and "pool" in the terrarium should be twice a week, and once a month it is necessary to clean and disinfect the entire terrarium.

The iguana itself also needs to regularly bathe inwarm water. Bathing is useful for iguana, because during swimming, the iguana is actively moving, molting is easier and faster, the iguana skin gets the necessary moisture. To bathe an iguana it is possible in a usual bath, having placed there preliminary a subject on which the iguana at will can get out of water. The temperature of the bathing water is 30-35 ° C.

In nature iguanas eat plant food. There are also cases when iguanas ate insects, small rodents, carrion. However, at home, it is better not to conduct food experiments and feed the iguana only with plant foods. In the diet of iguanas, it is also desirable to include vitamin-mineral supplements.

Experts recommend making for iguanasa varied menu, 80-90% of which consists of greens and vegetables, such as cabbage, beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, dandelion leaves, parsnips, alfalfa, lettuce, etc. The teeth of the iguana are not intended for biting and chewing food, so it should be given a crushed food, for example, on a conventional grater.

You can teach the iguanas to take food from their hands orgive her food in a special feeder. Feed the iguanas, especially the young, should be daily, better in the morning (at 11-12 hours). Evening feeding can harm the digestive system of the iguana. Undernourished food must be discarded.

Tamed iguanas willingly allow themselves to iron,sit on the owner's shoulder, take food out of his hands. However, to achieve this, it is necessary to make efforts, because at first the iguana can be very afraid of a person and unfamiliar situation. Iguana can not be beat, scream at her. Talk with her in a calm, even voice, avoiding sudden movements.

Iguanas can bite and spank the owner with their tail,if they are dissatisfied with something. Bites of adults can be quite painful. Therefore, it is better not to take an aggressive iguana in hands, and to communicate with young individuals use leather gloves.