I'm new here and was wondering how to care for an Iguana (before I get one). ie: food, habitat, size of cage and where to find, and some other info. about it. I also want to know about "letting it out for a little while"

Welcome to HC. Please read our caresheet that is attached. Ig's are demanding and not the easiest herp to care for

Green Iguana Care Guide (Iguana iguana) - Reptile Information - Caresheets Database

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Welcome!

Ken gave you a good link to our caresheet. Take a look at it as well as look around at some of the IG topics. Get back to us with any questions you have.

(you might want to put specific questions in another topic because most people don't come back to intro threads once they have welcomed you)

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Welcome to Herp Center I agree...iguanas are not the easiest or cheapest to care for...but its a fulfilling experience to own one or several in my case ....good luck in your quest and thank you for researching first!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Welcome to herpcenter.

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

welcome! Also check out "help" threads to see what other ig owners may have been doing wrong, or what common problems can happen.

THANK YOU for doing the research FIRST!!!

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Welcome to HerpCenter!
Just be aware that iguanas are a handful! They are very demanding and specific in their needs. And since this is going to be a very large lizard, 6-7ft long, it is going to need a cage the size of a small room.
Check out our caresheet as well as the book, Green Iguana, The Ultimate Owners Manual, by James Hatfeild.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Also beware, they are a very long commitment.
Think about where you are at in life right now and where you want to be in 20 years. Do you still see that iguana by your side?
Things that can come up that most don't think about are like college, marriage, kids, enlistment, poor health, desire to travel, the rising cost of reptile food, space, expensive UVB lighting, possible health problems with the iguana which may be expensive to treat, etc.

What other reptiles have you owned?

Also, I encourage you to adopt when you are ready to get an iguana, there are tons of unwanted neglected iguanas out there!

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“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

~Lacey~

My Photos

I'm an infant when it comes to knowledge on Igs. So I'll just say welcome to Herp Center.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Hi, and welcome. Let me just say it's really amazing that you're doing your research first. Not many do, and it's great to meet the ones who are willing to.

In my opinion, the three most important things to know before you get the iguana are diet, lighting and cage requirements. These are going to be the bulk of your expenses for your iguana, and getting each one right is absolutely vital to maintaining a healthy iguana. If your ig is eating a bad diet, it could stunt his growth, or end his life prematurely (depending on how bad the diet). If he does not have good UVB, he won't be able to process his food as well as he should, and may develop problems like Metabolic Bone Disease, which can be fatal. If he does not have a proper enclosure set up, he will not be getting the heat, humidity or exercise he needs, all of which can hurt him.

Fortunately once you know the basics and get the cage set up right, it's just a matter of maintenance and routine. It'll be expensive and a lot of work at first, but after that, it gets a lot easier.

That care sheet is a good one, and should give you all the information you need about those things.

The other big thing you'll need to know going in is that iguanas take an extraordinary amount of patience on your part. Socializing them and dealing with them on a day to day basis takes a lot of work. You will have to basically become a devoted ig slave.

It's very rewarding, though! They are each so different in personality and behavior. Getting to know your ig is getting to know a friend... well, a friend who expects you to wait on them hand and foot, and periodically throws impressive tantrums.

I agree with Lacey, too. When you're ready, consider adopting one. There are so many that need homes.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.