Male Iguana

 Iguanas – What Are They?
Iguanas are considered as a relative of lizards. They are among the exotic animals that are kept as pets by some people in the present-day society. In fact, there are many pet shops now that sell iguanas at a fairly low price. The iguanas that are usually sold in these pet shops are those that are quite young. People see these iguanas as very cute that they become interested in keeping them as pets. But the fact is they are still reptiles that has the tendency to grow bigger and bigger and can become very aggressive.

Iguanas can be a good pet but you should not forget that like other pets they need proper feeding and care. To understand the proper way to care for iguanas, it is important that you have knowledge of the basic nature of iguanas, their feeding habits, their habitat, and other issues relevant to their existence.

What is an iguana? Are they similar to lizards? What are their characteristics? Are they harmful? Iguanas belong to the family of lizards. Specifically they are a member of the family Iguanidae. They are deemed to be invasive species that are mostly found along the shores of Gasparilla Island and the coastline of the gulf of Florida. They are commonly seen in the beach and attics of houses. But generally speaking, iguanas thrive best in the wilds especially in deserts and rain forests.

There are various species of iguana. They normally vary depending on the environment in which they live. Some iguanas dwell in dry lands while others grow best in rain forests. Some are even found in the sea. These iguanas are called marine iguanas. There are also iguanas that are called as green iguanas. They are very common in Mexico and the South American countries particularly in Brazil. By and large, iguanas are classified into four major kinds namely: marine iguana, green iguana, blue iguana and lesser Antillean iguana. In terms of the food they eat, iguanas are known as herbivores. They feed on leaves, fruits, and other parts of plants.
Iguanas have different features and behavior. In essence, a male iguana looks and acts in a different way compared to a female iguana. In terms of territorial behavior, a male iguana will fight tooth and nail with other male iguanas even if their life is at risk. They do this to win supremacy over the territory. A male iguana will find other males and wage in war. Just like humans, the male iguanas have ego, they want to be the only powerful male iguana in a certain territory. They seek out for other males to declare war and mate with females.
Hence, there are other things that you have to know about iguanas. These include the fact that iguanas are arboreal. They dwell in trees and it’s just natural for them to climb on some stuff as well. They lay eggs and they can stay alive for 30 years.

All in all, if you want to keep an iguana as a pet, you have to take into consideration the do’s and don’ts of caring for them. The cage of your pet iguana should be cleaned well regularly. And also the cage must be very big. In addition, you have to take into account that your pet iguana should have the appropriate kind of lighting, supply of heat and water. They should be fed on a daily basis. It is important to feed them properly so as to keep them on good physical shape. And most importantly, the iguana should be taken to the vet for a checkup at least once a year. When you have understood all these things, then you’re ready to house an iguana.

Iguanas

Man’s New Best Friend: iguanas
Dogs are man’s best friend.
That’s what we usually hear.
But would you believe if I tell you that iguanas can be your best friend, too?
Sure, we’ve heard a lot of stories about people treating dogs, cats, birds, and fishes as best friends. But how many would want large reptiles like snakes and lizards as best friends?
If you’re an ordinary pet owner, you might take a rain check on taking care of an iguana. But you’ll never know the joy being felt by those who dared to live up to the challenge.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons to have an iguana as a pet:

1. Iguanas are vegetarians.
If you’re a pet owner, chances are, you have to go to a pet shop and buy food. It’s bearable if you have to buy only the simple dog food or cat meal, but what if you have to buy mice? Or worms, cockroaches, crickets, and the like? Most of the time you have to hold these tiny creatures and feed them to your pet – may they be affectionate or seemingly uncaring.
You don’t have to go to a pet shop to feed your iguana. You can simply pick greens from your garden or buy fresh vegetables from the grocery. Isn’t that simple?

2. Iguanas usually hit it off with their owners.
Unlike some lizards and snakes, iguanas are known to interact with their loving caretakers. Some would sleep beside their masters – evidence that iguanas can be very close to human beings.
Some are calm when held by their owners, but would twist and bite when held by a stranger. Nevertheless, some are so tame that anyone can hold them.
Some iguanas would even allow their owners to dress them up in silly outfits.

3. Iguanas live long.
We all would like to have a pet that would live very long since you’re going to invest emotion, not to mention money for food, medicine, and veterinary services.
While rats, hamsters, or bearded dragons may live only a few years, iguanas, like cats and dogs, may live up to 20 years.
Actually, the oldest iguana on record lived up to 29 years!

4. No hair or fur will stick to your clothes or worse, get into your nose!
If you’re asthmatic, you very well know the difficulty of being around animals that would make you sick. Iguanas, however, being reptiles, have none of the fur and hair that would send you to the hospital.

5. Iguanas are very educational.
Children will learn a lot when they care for iguanas. They have to know about temperature, rainforests, animal husbandry, importance of proper care of lizards, etc.
It maybe good to take note too that these lizards are distant relatives of dinosaurs and taking care of them will provide children with a venue for study of the prehistoric creatures.
Iguanas are good subjects for Show-and-Tell, research work, and the like as well.
As you can see, there are lots of reasons to become an iguana owner. Why not live up to the challenge? Go to your nearest pet shop and get an iguana for you and your family now!

Albino Iguana

How to Feed Your Albino Iguana
Iguanas are sensitive creatures; most of them rely on their environment for survival. Having an Albino Iguana as your pet gives you the obligation to properly care for it and make sure that it survives under your captivity.
One of the most crucial factors in an Albino Iguana’s survival is food. So being the owner, you must appropriately feed it with the right food.
Iguanas are scientifically classified as herbivores so green leafy plants should not be in its main diet. Though some people still recommend on feeding iguanas with insects and other animal protein based food.

You may have seen iguanas eating insects on televisions and magazines but research studies shows that this thing occurs only by accident. Like for example, when an insect is on a piece of plant. An iguana slowly creeps over to eat it. Then leaf and insect are simultaneously consumed by the reptile.

Experts and veterinarians recommend more vegetables to be fed to your pet and lesser animal protein or insects. This will eventually lead to better physical health.
Albino iguanas also need water, so make sure to provide them with this. Iguanas usually dip their head on the water when drinking, so also make sure to have a tall glass that is full of fresh water. Sometimes they also lick off small water droplets from plants to quench their thirst.
Water should always be available for your iguana and make certain that they are fresh. Never feed your iguana with left over vegetables because this may cause disorders in its digestive system. It will then lead to sickness or even death.

It is highly recommended to feed your iguana every day and regularly. The ideal time for feeding your iguana is early in the morning usually an hour after it is awake. Succeeding feeding all through out the day can also be done but only in small quantity. Never feed your iguana immense amounts of food before sleeping time.
Feeding your Albino Iguana in the morning gives it time to properly digest food before sleeping. In addition, the morning temperature will give your iguana the right environment to properly digest its food.

The amount of food to be given literally depends on the size and bulkiness of your iguana. The main rule in here is to feed your iguana as long as it wants to. This kind of technique will allow you to note how much your iguana can take over one feeding.
Food for your Albino Iguana should be on a shallow bowl which should be made of ceramic, glass or plastic and should be regularly cleaned. The bowl to be used should be sturdy enough to hold your iguana and should not be tipped easily.
Variety of food is also important to make your iguana feel healthy and at home. Iguanas are known to eat a large variety of fruits and flowers in the wild so it is a good idea to also feed them this way while they are in your captivity.

Aside from proper food your iguana should also have the proper lighting and sunshine. Iguanas usually get calcium from the sun rays to help them properly digest their food.
So if you want your Albino Iguana to stay healthy and have a longer life span feed them with the right amount of food and the right kind of food.