This article is a few ideas on how to provide your green iguana with a healthy diet. If he doesn't like the items you are giving him, try some different ones until you find out what he likes, and what will keep him healthy at the same time. It is estimated that a million green iguanas are sold in pet stores every year, but unfortunately, the vast majority of them never live to be a year old. The main cause for this high mortality is a poor diet that in the past (and in many instances still) has consisted of lettuce and little else. Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value; Romaine has some, but nowhere near enough to maintain your pet iguana. So here are some ideas on feeding I hope will help you, and your iguana.

So many people every year buy a cute little hatchling green iguana on the assumption that they will stay cute, little and green.

WRONG

...well, most iguanas do stay green...

Greeen iguanas have specific care, and because they are vvegetarians, their diet should be carefully monitored. Lettuce doesn't provide anything to your iguana's diet.

50-60% of an iguana's diet should be green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, spinach, collard greens, Swiss Chard, parsley); 25% of their diet should be other vegatables (carrots, squash, green beans); 15% should be fruits (mango, grapes, apple, banana). They also should have a daily sprinkling of calcium powder. If you use a commercial pelleted mix, it should be 10-15% of his diet. This are all just approximations, so you have an idea what to work with.

If your iguana is less than a year old, feed them every day. Every other day is good for adults (unless of course they are scrambling to get to their meal and are finished in a few minutes.) Provide an amount they will finish in a short time, however, say less than an hour. Otherwise, it could spoil and make them sick. The pieces should be chopped small enough so it is easy for them to chew up.

Clean water should be available at all times, and therefore will need to be changed at least once a day, as iguanas tend to bathe, then defecate in their water dishes.

Sunlight is essential to a green iguana's health, as is proper temperatures (85-95 degrees F). As I've said before, research your potential pet first, before you bring him home. His life depends on how well you take care of him.

One final note - green iguanas have gotten a bad reputation for spreading Salmonella. Common sense will keep this from happening. If you have small children, watch them carefully and make sure they wash well after touching the iguana. Always wash your hands after handling your iguana. Never share food with him, no matter how much he begs. Don't kiss your iguana, even if he's your best friend!