Iguana Skin Problems

The green iguana is a tree-living lizard commonly found around rivers and streams from northern Mexico to central South America. Iguanas can make good pets, but proper diet and hygiene are essential to their skin's health.

  1. Iguana Skin

    • Iguana skin is made up of tiny scales that can become darker if exposed to sunlight. Young iguanas are pale green and have black-ringed tails. As they grow older, iguanas change to a more earthy color and may have dark vertical bars on the body and tail. Iguanas also shed their skin in pieces--not all areas may be ready to shed at the same time. If your iguana is shedding skin, peeling off dead layers may irritate its skin and damage new skin that is not ready to be exposed to light or air.

    Bacterial Infection

    • Iguanas may develop blister disease, also known as vestibular dermatitis, if exposed to bacteria in a damp and dirty environment. These blisters, generally found on the underside of an iguana's body, may in turn develop into more serious skin lesions such as ulcers. Abscesses may also form if bacteria spread to other parts of the body, causing swelling and pus. If abscesses are present, surgery may be necessary.

    Skin Blackening

    • Skin blackening is a condition that develops when an iguana is under severe stress. Its skin will slowly turn from green to dark brown and black. Generally, color change begins on the iguana's body and head, and then spreads to its tail, belly and legs. Because iguanas are solitary animals, this type of color change is most commonly seen when an iguana is put together with another one.

    Burns

    • Your pet may also develop skin burns from heat sources such as overhead lights or exposed light bulbs. Like on human skin, iguana burns appear as fluid-filled blisters or clusters of blisters. In more extreme burns, you may also see darkened skin, blackened patches of skin or peeling scales.

    Prevention

    • Proper diet and hygiene are crucial to your pet's skin health. Since iguanas are plant-eaters, a diet rich in plant material, lettuce and other leafy green vegetables is essential. Vitamin and mineral supplements are another good way to ensure a healthy skin since deficiencies are common in captive iguanas. Making sure your pet's cage is cleaned regularly and kept dry also prevents skin problems. Last but not least, regular visits to your vet may help in detecting and treating skin problems early.