Iguana information

The Green Iguana

If you are just thinking about getting your first reptile, read our article about buying your first reptile.

First of all, shop around. Look for a vendor that you feel comfortable with. They should be willing to spend time to answer all your questions, and not ruch you into making your purchase. If possible, avoid stores that specialize in dogs & cats with only one or two lizards on display. Don't just look for the lowest price - the 5 or 10 dollars you save will not mean much if you get an unhealthy animal.

Make sure you are buying a captive bred iguana, otherwise the risk of getting one with parasites is higher. Make sure that it has spent at least a few weeks with it's mother - young iguanas get antibodies to fight disease through the stools of adult iguanas. If they are seperated too early, your iguana may not have the immunities required.

Make sure that it has been kept only with other captive bred iguanas. Ask the vendor if they have been checked for parasites, and when. If you are biuying an older (and more expensive) iguana, it may be worth your while to obtain a stool sample and have it checked by a vet before making your purchase. While have the sample analyzed, ask the store to keep it seperate from any other animals. If you are buying one in the 100 dollar price range, they should be willing to do this for you.

The iguana you choose should be bright, lively, and alert. It should move quickly,and have clear eyes and skin. Check to make sure that there are no missing or broken toes.

At a young age, the sex of the iguana is usually unknown. If they are older, you may have a choice. Male iguanas are generally more aggressive that femals, but they are also somewhat less likely to develop health problems as their anatomy is less complicated.

The final, and most difficult thing to evaluate is the iguanas personality. Choose one that stays reasonably calm when reaching into the cage (but not one that just sits there!) Try to avoid any that snap at your fingers - this will probably just get worse as it gets older. Some are very easily panicked, and will continue to run around frantically. Others get so stressed that they go into a "frozen" state with their eyes closed.