The Essential Components of a Proper Iguana Cage
When people think about buying an iguana, different questions come to mind. More often than not, one of these questions is: Where do I keep it? People then try to find out the components of an iguana cage. If you are trying to find the best iguana cage for your pet, here's a guide for you:
1) Size – The first thing you want to know about is how big the iguana cage has to be. Some people have the misconception that the cage will limit the size of the iguana. This is not true. An iguana under ideal conditions will grow up to 6 feet long. This means that you will need to have a huge iguana cage in order to accommodate your pet. In fact, some people provide a whole room instead of an iguana cage for their pets!
Of course, if you are not yet ready to provide this space for your iguana, you could choose to delay until your iguana grows to its full size. However, the iguana cage that you provide should be large enough to contain the activities of your iguana. It should not cramp the animal in any way. If you choose to wait until your iguana has grown to full size, you should at least prepare and make plans for the time when you are going to need a bigger iguana cage.
2) Temperature – an iguana is cold blooded. This means that they need to regulate their body temperatures by making use of the environment. What are the implications of this? This means that you need to provide different temperatures in the iguana cage. This is so that the iguana can move from different spots to properly regulate its body temperature. You should also try to include a source of heat without light which will be used during the night time.
3) Humidity – iguanas require high levels of humidity to live comfortably. They are easily dehydrated because of the fact that iguanas aren't really inclined to drink much. This is because the native habitats of iguanas have high humidity and this keeps them from being dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure. This means that not having enough humidity can shorten the life of your iguana. Another reason to keep your iguana cage humid is the fact that humidity helps loosen skin. This means that an iguana will have an easier time shedding skin if it is kept in a humid environment. If you wan to keep your iguana healthy, you should provide an iguana cage that has a humidity of 65 to 75 percent of the air.
4) Lighting – iguanas need a source of UVA and UVB light. Of course, the best source that you can make use of is the sun. This does not mean that you should place your iguana cage in a sunlit area. The glass or plastic of iguana cages filter out the UV light much needed by iguanas for production of vitamin D3. This vitamin helps in calcium consumption. This means that you need to let your iguana bask in direct sunlight as much as possible. This helps in developing strong bones and preventing Metabolic Bone disease which is a very common cause of death among iguanas in captivity.
Other than the sun, your iguana cage should also include an artificial source of UVA and UVB light. This is in order to make up for days when the sunlight is not enough for your iguana.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cleaning And Maintaining Your Iguana
There is much to do to take care of your iguana, but you’ll also want to learn how to keep it healthy. There are several things you’ll need to do to provide for your iguana’s health.
Cleanliness Of The Habitat
First, you’ll always have to maintain the level of cleanliness with your iguana. Anything that can make you ill can do serious damage to your iguana. Therefore, the feeding bowls and anything that is used with your pet should be kept clean and sanitary. That goes for his food and water bowls, which should be washed every day. If you see that there are feces or waste in his habitat, clean it up. You’ll want to do this daily, too. Don’t wait!
Your iguana’s habitat also needs to be sanitized. That means that everything in there, including the floors, walls, climbing structure…everything, needs to be washed and disinfected every week. You can purchase cleaning supplies at your local pet shop to help you to maintain the health of your iguana’s habitat.
You also have to keep you clean. After touching your iguana or anything that belongs to him or his habitat, wash your hands with antibacterial soap really well. They can spread salmonella!
Cleaning Your Iguana
Yes, an iguana needs a good bath, too. To give your iguana a bath, you’ll need to place it in a tub of water that is quite shallow. You can use your bathtub, but for sanitary reasons, it is better to purchase its own tub for bathing. Never bath them in the skin or anywhere where the area can come in contact with food. Everything should be sterilized before and after your iguana has a bath.
Never use any type of soap on your iguana. Keep the water warm and allowing a soft shower to run is just fine as long as not much water stays in the tub. Give them a batch as often as you can, even daily. But, at least one time per week should be done.
Allow your iguana to get a bit of time in the water. About 30 minutes will allow it to soak and enjoy itself. Never walk away from your iguana at this time. It only takes a second for them to disappear on you!
Cleanliness Of The Habitat
First, you’ll always have to maintain the level of cleanliness with your iguana. Anything that can make you ill can do serious damage to your iguana. Therefore, the feeding bowls and anything that is used with your pet should be kept clean and sanitary. That goes for his food and water bowls, which should be washed every day. If you see that there are feces or waste in his habitat, clean it up. You’ll want to do this daily, too. Don’t wait!
Your iguana’s habitat also needs to be sanitized. That means that everything in there, including the floors, walls, climbing structure…everything, needs to be washed and disinfected every week. You can purchase cleaning supplies at your local pet shop to help you to maintain the health of your iguana’s habitat.
You also have to keep you clean. After touching your iguana or anything that belongs to him or his habitat, wash your hands with antibacterial soap really well. They can spread salmonella!
Cleaning Your Iguana
Yes, an iguana needs a good bath, too. To give your iguana a bath, you’ll need to place it in a tub of water that is quite shallow. You can use your bathtub, but for sanitary reasons, it is better to purchase its own tub for bathing. Never bath them in the skin or anywhere where the area can come in contact with food. Everything should be sterilized before and after your iguana has a bath.
Never use any type of soap on your iguana. Keep the water warm and allowing a soft shower to run is just fine as long as not much water stays in the tub. Give them a batch as often as you can, even daily. But, at least one time per week should be done.
Allow your iguana to get a bit of time in the water. About 30 minutes will allow it to soak and enjoy itself. Never walk away from your iguana at this time. It only takes a second for them to disappear on you!
Training Your Iguana
It’s important to mention some training here. That’s because you’ll want to be able to bring your iguana home to a nice, ready home and allow him to get acclimated to the area. There are many things you’ll want to take into consideration when it comes to training your iguana. First, realize that your iguana needs time to get adjusted to his home. It may take some time!
Allow your iguana to visit his hiding place without being bothered or pulled out of it. In addition, when you do pick him up and take him out of his habitat, watch for signs of stress. If he doesn’t like what you are doing, he’s stressed and he fears for his life. Place him near his hiding place and leave him alone.
The process of taming your iguana will take time and patience. Use smaller sessions at first to get them used to you. One way to help provide the right level of care to your iguana is to allow him to watch you. Start out by watching him watch you from a distance and for a short amount of time. Then, add onto this slowly until you are sitting near him and watching him.
After he’s used to watching you, you can begin working with touching him. Don’t pick him up yet! He’s not ready for that. But, put your hand close enough to him. Don’t touch his head or his tail. Touch for a second and then move away. Little by little, you’ll be able to increase how long you can touch him. Don’t push it because if he doesn’t like being petted, it will take a lot of work to get him to allow it again.
Once your pet begins to allow you to pet him, including his head, you can begin to see that he’s comfortable with you. It’s advisable not to actually pick up your iguana for some time. He’s just going to take a while to adjust to you. Once you’ve gotten to the point where he doesn’t seem bothered at all by your petting, you can consider it. Never grab his tail! The tail can actually break off in order for them to escape.
By petting its underbelly, it may rise up and want to be petted there more so. When that happens, you’ll be able to slowly pick him up. But, for these first few times, pick him up slowly and then put him back down. By doing this it will help to make the process easier and keep your iguana happier, longer. With lots of practice, you’ll be able to pick him up for longer periods of time.
Allow your iguana to visit his hiding place without being bothered or pulled out of it. In addition, when you do pick him up and take him out of his habitat, watch for signs of stress. If he doesn’t like what you are doing, he’s stressed and he fears for his life. Place him near his hiding place and leave him alone.
The process of taming your iguana will take time and patience. Use smaller sessions at first to get them used to you. One way to help provide the right level of care to your iguana is to allow him to watch you. Start out by watching him watch you from a distance and for a short amount of time. Then, add onto this slowly until you are sitting near him and watching him.
After he’s used to watching you, you can begin working with touching him. Don’t pick him up yet! He’s not ready for that. But, put your hand close enough to him. Don’t touch his head or his tail. Touch for a second and then move away. Little by little, you’ll be able to increase how long you can touch him. Don’t push it because if he doesn’t like being petted, it will take a lot of work to get him to allow it again.
Once your pet begins to allow you to pet him, including his head, you can begin to see that he’s comfortable with you. It’s advisable not to actually pick up your iguana for some time. He’s just going to take a while to adjust to you. Once you’ve gotten to the point where he doesn’t seem bothered at all by your petting, you can consider it. Never grab his tail! The tail can actually break off in order for them to escape.
By petting its underbelly, it may rise up and want to be petted there more so. When that happens, you’ll be able to slowly pick him up. But, for these first few times, pick him up slowly and then put him back down. By doing this it will help to make the process easier and keep your iguana happier, longer. With lots of practice, you’ll be able to pick him up for longer periods of time.
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