Mary Allen
Green iguana
Green iguanas are fascinating lizards that not only captivate with their beautiful coloring but also with their fascinating appearance. The terrarium animals, which are popular in this country, are nimble climbers and can swim very well. In addition, their nature is considered to be very sensitive, curious, and stubborn. In addition, the animals become very tame over time.
In this guide, we will tell you what you should know about the green iguana and its appearance, its distribution area, its way of life, and how it is kept. We go into every conceivable point and have even created an FAQ area for the lizards. It’s worth reading, that much is promised!
This iguana species is still widespread in German terrariums. In addition, many people associate the term iguana with the green dragons from South America. Our profile tells you everything you need to know about the animals.
Subspecies: The nominate form Iguana iguana iguana is distributed in the Lesser Antilles and in South America. The second subspecies, Iguana iguana rhinolopha, is mainly found in Central America.
Appearance: Massive head with dewlap, dorsal crest from neck to tail, mostly greyish-green to brown in colour.
Size: Up to 2.3 meters in total length with a head-torso length of around 45 cm.
Weight: Up to 10.5 kilograms
Life expectancy: 10 to 17 years in the terrarium, a maximum of 25 years in nature.
Lifestyle: Diurnal iguanas that live in trees.
Distribution: Central & South America between Mexico and Costa Rica. Was introduced into Florida and Hawaii, which sometimes leads to major problems.
Diet: Herbivorous
Sexual Maturity: About 3 years
Reproduction: About 3 to 4 weeks after the sexual act, females lay 30 to 45 eggs in a burrow they dug themselves. The offspring usually hatch after 8 weeks.
Species protection: WA II, not subject to notification. However, proof of origin must be available.
Keeping: Solitary, pair, or group with a male.
Type of terrarium: humid terrarium with UV radiation.
Level of difficulty: Advanced & real professionals
Special features: Males are larger than females, various color breeds are available on the market and they can swim well.
Features and Appearance
Green iguanas grow far larger than most people think when they see their hatchlings. In exceptional cases, the animals reach a total length of up to 230 cm and a weight of around 10.5 kilograms. However, most specimens hardly grow longer than 150 cm. However, males are significantly larger than females and have larger spines on their tails and backs.
The massive head with the large dewlap is still characteristic of male iguanas. This is 30% larger in males. In addition, the scales under the eardrum are larger in males. This causes the cheeks to look very imposing.
Many people think that green iguanas can only get green scales. But this is not the case. Name bears namely. There are various color breeds and the animals can be red-orange or even blue.
The dorsal crest of the green iguana extends from the nape of the neck to the tail. Again, the males have the advantage. Their crest often grows up to 5 cm higher than the crest of female iguanas. In addition, males have larger femoral pores on the inside of the thighs than females. Spines made of a waxy material grow from the pores during the mating season. It is believed that these spikes are used for communication.
Male animals defend their territory with whip-like strokes of their tails. Since this can be up to 2/3 of the entire body length, it is quite a dangerous weapon that is responsible for serious injuries in turf wars.
Distribution & Natural Habitat
The green iguana is native to Central America and northern South America. However, it was also introduced into the USA. The lizards feel very comfortable in Florida, which causes problems for many garden owners. There are already reports of an invasion or plague.
In addition, the iguanas are not only found on the mainland, but also on the individual islands in Florida. There are even quite large specimens of over 2 meters in length, as there are no natural predators there. Furthermore, the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean are populated by the animals.
The preferred habitat is lowland forests near large bodies of water. In addition, the animals only rarely exceed an altitude of 1000 meters. So one can certainly speak of lowland dwellers. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t climb well. So much has already been revealed.
The green iguana has culinary significance in many countries. It is relatively common for hunters to kill wild animals. But there are also special farms that keep the animals solely because of their tender meat. The taste is reminiscent of chicken, which has given the iguanas the name “green chickens”. The dish Sopa de Garrobo is very well known in South America.
Lifestyle of the green iguana
The diurnal iguana lives mainly in trees, but can also swim fast and very far if necessary. Especially when fleeing from attackers, he drops into the water from overhanging branches and simply swims away from the threat. However, the animals are very site-loyal. They especially like high and dense vegetation with lots of moisture as well as sunny and shady places.
Like lizards, green iguanas can shed their tails in extreme emergencies. However, it usually grows back only partially. This is why the tail in free-living specimens is often so short compared to captive animals.
Despite previous claims to the contrary, green iguanas are strictly herbivores. They don’t feed on insects. Several studies now show that the animals in the wild mainly feed on leaves.
If male animals want to impress the females, they succeed with their impressive threatening behavior. For example, they puff out their dewlap or nod their heads constantly. The lateral flattening of the body in order to appear larger can also often be observed during courtship.
Green Leugan attitude
The animals were an absolute hit on the European reptile market for years. Even today, more than 5,000 copies are imported to Germany every year. However, many keepers were not aware that green iguanas can grow to be over 2 meters long.
Most people were also not aware of the high life expectancy of 10 to 17 years. As a result, many animals were given up after a few years of keeping. Many animal shelters and reptile sanctuaries can sing a song about it. However, if you have enough space and time to keep green iguanas, you are interested in an exciting terrarium animal.
Terrarium
Green iguanas are very good climbers and therefore live in trees. The terrarium should therefore be higher than it is wide. However, it makes more sense to rebuild an entire room for keeping. In the wild, dominant animals have a freedom of movement of up to 1 hectare.
A large pool of water is recommended as a facility, as the animals like to bathe. Because of this, green iguanas are often kept in very large wet terrariums or even in real aquatic terrariums. The soil substrate should be slightly moist and consist of sand, gravel or humus. When building the terrarium, you should also make sure that the air circulation works well.
Horizontal perches and climbing branches are the be-all and end-all. The diameter should at least correspond to the torso diameter of the animals. But hiding places such as cork tubes or cork sheets are also very important.
The finishing touches are given to the terrarium or the room by planting non-toxic plants. After all, the animals like to nibble on them. Many keepers therefore even have a second set of plants in order to regularly replace the eaten parts.
When planting, you should make sure that it is not too tender or small-leaved. Artificial plants should be avoided. Hibiscus trees or bushes, yucca palms, mango trees, papaya trees, and banana trees are recommended. If you want, you can also plant nasturtiums, bindweed, or bindweed in hanging baskets or pots on the ground.
Climate design
Green iguanas need a temperature between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius during the day. It can be quiet but also 45 to 48 degrees Celsius on the sunny island. At night, on the other hand, the animals like it a little cooler and 22 to 25 degrees Celsius are sufficient.
The humidity should level off in a range of 60 to 80% during the day. At night, on the other hand, 80 to 95% is recommended. In order to be able to achieve these high values, a sprinkler system is required.
The animals love the sunlight. Irradiation with UV light for 14 hours a day is therefore essential. Despite all the technology and the values, one must not forget that the animals like to drink from a water bowl. Licking off the rope is enough to absorb liquid, namely often not enough.
Green iguanas are pure herbivores and therefore like to eat clover, alfalfa, buckhorn, dandelion, and various salads. The animals also like to eat chopped-up vegetables such as carrots, peppers, or zucchini. From time to time, a bit of fruit and one or the other fruit does not hurt.
When it comes to green iguana food, it is important to ensure that there is enough variety on the menu. Experienced keepers swear by 6 to 8 different types of plants so that the animals are supplied with all the minerals and vitamins they need. In addition, however, you should feed them minerals in the form of cuttlefish and use vitamin supplements.
If you still pay attention to the ratio of calcium to phosphorus, you are doing everything right. Both substances should be in a ratio of at least 1.3:1. This is the best way to prevent metabolic diseases of the bones. Gout in particular is a widespread disease in green iguanas.
Unsuitable food for green iguanas
Green iguanas do not tolerate oxalic acid at all. This leads to diarrhea and even kidney damage.
Therefore, you should avoid this green fodder:
- wood sorrel
- sorrel
- spinach
- red cabbage
- rhubarb
Furthermore, you should not give any grain as food and refrain from early bloomers. Onions, garlic, tomato leaves, and corn are also not a good idea.
Socialization
In the wild, green iguanas live in groups with a large and therefore dominant male. There are also 1 to 3 medium-sized males, 1 to 3 small males, and 4 to 6 females in such a clique. Outside of the mating season, living together in such a constellation works very well.
However, if the mating drive becomes stronger, territories are formed and the dominant males fight for the females. This phase in particular quickly leads to problems and aggression in the terrarium. It is therefore advisable to keep groups with a single male in the terrarium. Castration of male iguanas can also help to minimize aggression and strong dominance behavior.
Breeding
If you are interested in breeding green iguanas, you have to familiarize yourself with it in great detail. With the following information, we would like to give you a brief overview of breeding green iguanas. The females usually lay up to 40 eggs in a burrow.
After carefully retrieving the green iguana eggs, they can be placed in an incubator at a temperature of 30°C. The incubation period is usually 90 to 110 days. The newly hatched young are already relatively large at 20 cm.
At the beginning, rearing can still take place in a large group if the size and equipment of the terrarium allow this plan. Later you have to separate the animals into smaller groups. In order to be able to breed green iguanas successfully, you need a lot of space. Therefore, this project must be carefully considered.
Diseases in green iguanas
Mites are a common disease in green iguanas. If you don’t want to go straight to a vet who knows about reptiles, you can mount a dog flea collar in the terrarium. This is usually left hanging for 2 to 3 weeks. However, it is better to visit a veterinarian in the event of a mite infestation to have the iguana treated professionally.
In the case of worm infections, a specialist must be consulted immediately to initiate a worm treatment. Common signs of this disease are apathetic behavior, diarrhea, and constipation. If worms are detected too late or not treated at all, this can lead to the death of the green iguana. Such diseases cannot be prevented. However, it is advisable to have regular fecal examinations carried out.
Iguanas often sneeze. However, this is not always a sign of a respiratory disease, but is usually just a natural reaction. But if it is a cold or even pneumonia, you should see a veterinarian immediately. Easily recognizable features are slimy mouths and a pale gray coloration.
There are a whole host of other diseases that green iguanas can suffer from. This can lead to mouth rot or eczema. The animals often suffer from tail necrosis, intestinal diseases or laying difficulties. Green iguanas also occasionally become constipated.
Taming
These iguanas are considered to be extremely sensitive. However, they are also very curious and stubborn. If you have acquired young animals, you should not attempt to tame them at the beginning. Patience is required here. The animals should first get used to the new home.
You should also avoid classic beginner mistakes, such as grabbing an iguana from above. The animals have a good memory and feel the greatest fear of death when they are gripped in this way. In addition, you should initially move slowly and without hectic movements in the vicinity of the animals.
Once the lizards have settled into their new home, you can start taming them. But you can see right at the beginning whether they take food out of your hand. If this does not succeed, you have to try the whole procedure with tweezers. The distance to the hand is then shortened every day until the tweezers become superfluous. Now the iguana has been accustomed to hand feeding.
Of course it is also possible to pet him. However, one should keep in mind that the animals do not enjoy this. They endure it more because of their peaceful nature. Carrying it around on your shoulder is also not a good idea. After all, the climatic requirements are not right, neither in the apartment nor outside. We advise against such experiments!
Buy Green Iguana
If you want to buy a green iguana, you should be aware of various pitfalls when purchasing it. First of all, you should allow yourself enough time for the assessment and never let the dealer put you under pressure. If in doubt, it is better if you refrain from purchasing it. You can now find out what to look out for when buying a green iguana:
- Well fed
- Clear, shining eyes
- No injuries
- Strong tail root
- Clean cloaca
- No mucus inside the mouth
There are also a few characteristics where it is better not to buy: hyper-nervous behavior, external & internal parasites, apathetic behavior, crusted, inflamed or sunken eyes, deformities of all kinds, stiff joints or limbs, emaciated appearance, and swelling under the skin or in the jaw area.
At this point, we strongly advise against buying wild-caught fish. These are always associated with animal, species, and nature conservation problems. In addition, such iguanas are usually in very poor general condition. This means parasite infestation, dehydration, and emaciation.
New iguanas should always be placed in a quarantine terrarium for about 2 months at the beginning. Here the animals should then be thoroughly examined for ectoparasites (mites and ticks) and endoparasites (worms and protozoa).
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can iguanas get?
General: The green iguana comes from tropical areas in Central and South America. It can be over 20 years old and up to 2 m long. He is diurnal and very active. The green color, to which it owes its name, is mainly displayed by young animals.
What are large iguanas called?
Wanted Iguana
| size | up to 2 m |
| speed | up to 35 km/h |
| weight | up to 9 kg |
| lifespan | 15-20 years |
| food | Omnivores, plants, insects, snails |
| enemies | Hawks, Eagles, Snakes |
| distribution | South America, Central America, Europe, Central Asia |
| habitat | soil, trees, rocks |
| class | reptiles |
| Order | scale reptiles |
| family | iguanas |
| scientific Surname | Iguanidae |
| features | Lizard with a long tail |
How big does a terrarium have to be for an iguana?
An adult animal should not be smaller than 150 cm x 200 cm x 250 cm (length x width x height). It is best to calculate the space required individually: 4 x 3 body lengths with a height of 4 body lengths for one or two animals.
Is an iguana dangerous?
Lea Schmitz from the German Animal Welfare Association: “No, the green iguana is quite dangerous. He has strong teeth with which he can bite painfully. He can use his powerful tail as a striking weapon. ”
Can you eat an iguana?
While the eyes first have to get used to the unfamiliar sight of skinned, ready-to-cook iguanas, the tongue has it easier. When cooked, the meat is reminiscent of a well-cooked soup chicken. Slightly fibrous and tender.
How heavy can a green iguana get?
4kg – male adult
1.2-3kg – female, adult
How long can a green iguana grow?
30 – 42 cm
When are green iguanas mature?
A green iguana is fully grown at around six years of age, but that doesn’t mean it can’t continue to grow. However, growth slows down significantly from this age and decreases steadily.
How much does an iguana cost?
Adult iguanas cost between $100 and $300. Juveniles are sometimes a bit cheaper.
How expensive is keeping the green iguana?
The monthly costs are higher than many people think. So you use a lot of electricity and organic green fodder also costs a lot of money over time. You should definitely reckon with $30 to $50 per month. In addition, the acquisition costs for the complete equipment are very high.
A terrarium can quickly cost $800 or more. For the technical equipment, another $300 or more will be due. All the furnishings are also quite expensive. Depending on your taste, you can spend another $200 or significantly more money here.
Do green iguanas lay eggs?
Females lay about 30 to 45 eggs in a burrow they dug about 3 to 4 weeks after mating in December or January. The young hatch after about 8 weeks.
How old does the green iguana get?
According to various studies and the experiences of keepers, green iguanas live to be around 10 to 17 years old in captivity. In the wild, on the other hand, the animals are said to live up to 25 years.
What can a green iguana eat?
Green iguanas are vegetarians. They, therefore, feed on leaves, herbs, seedlings, vegetables, and fruit. As a rough feed recommendation, you can give 80% leaves, 10 to 15% grated carrots, and 5 to 10% fruit.
You should also administer feed additives such as calcium and vitamin supplements. If everything runs optimally in terms of green iguana food, you can achieve a calcium/phosphorus ratio of at least 1.3:1. This is the best way to prevent metabolic diseases such as gout.