Information about Iguanas that can stop you from getting one
Having some basic information on iguana will make your decision whether to take one or not. Take note that having them as a pet is not because it is what your friends have. You should not only make the wrong assumption of thinking that it is the easiest pet to take care of and to have around.
Iguanas are cold-blooded animals who need to absorb their heat. In their natural habitat they would do this by lying in the sun. Unfortunately, they can’t do this in your home. Exposure to unfiltered sunlight or a UVB-producing bulb, is necessary to facilitate Vitamin D3 production. This is the vitamin that turns calcium into a usable material for bone and nerve cell building and repair. So, without it, an iguana will quickly end up with a condition similar to osteoporosis, and possibly nerve damage. Sunlight that passes through glass or Plexiglas does NOT transmit UVB, and cannot be substituted. When using a UVB bulb, it must be placed 12-18 inches from where your iguana will spend the most time, and it must NOT have glass or plastic between the bulb and the iguana. (The glass in the bulb is a special glass for this reason).
Iguanas like to bathe. An easy way to bathe your iguana is to fill your tub about half full of room temperature water and let them loose. This helps with molting as the water will moisten their skin and aid in the peeling process. Also, because they walk in his food and waste, a bath will help keep bacteria out from under their nails and scales. Iguanas carry salmonella, so be sure to use antibacterial soap after handling your iguana.
