Most people considering getting an iguana for a pet will opt to get themselves a baby green iguana, with the plan to raise it, fully aware that this little animal will one day grow to almost six feet in length and live for up to fifteen years. Some people on the other hand, may see a cute little baby iguana somewhere and think that this cute little thing would make a great pet.
There also seems to be a popular misconception going around which says that if you raise a baby green iguana in a small cage or enclosure, that it won’t get very big. Let me assure you that this is not the case. A baby green iguana will grow up to be a big green iguana, whether you keep it in a small cage or not. It would just be cruel to keep a big green iguana in a small cage.
So before getting yourself a baby green iguana, do think things through – you don’t want to be one of these people who gets a baby green iguana on the spur of the moment, finds out later that they made a bad decision and has to get rid of it.
Looking after a baby green iguana
So once you’ve got your baby green iguana, how do you look after it? It will probably be quite nervous in its new environment, so you’ll need to do your best to soothe it and put it at ease. Lots of human contact is good and helps to make sure that it grows up to be a social creature, used to human contact. However, try not to upset it by trying to handle it all the time – when it seems to want to be left alone, leave it alone.
What do you feed a baby green iguana?
Baby green iguanas need a lot of dark green vegetables and fruits. Try and cut the vegetables up into small pieces, as iguanas swallow their food without chewing. Calcium is very important as with all growing animals, and you also need to ensure that your new pet gets plenty of sunlight (or artificial UV). This will ensure adequate production of Vitamin D, which helps in the absorption of Calcium. You will also need to ensure that the temperature in its cage or enclosure does not drop too low.
With a bit of luck and tender love and care, your new little friend will probably grow into a healthy, big iguana and keep you company for the next fifteen years.