How to Make Nesting Boxes for Green Iguanas

Signs of a female green iguana being gravid include weight gain, a decrease in appetite and increasing agitation. She will start digging in the bottom of the cage and try to make a nesting area for her upcoming young. It is best to make a nesting box for all females, as they do not need exposure to males to have eggs. Female iguanas at about 2 years old or 10 inches long will become gravid.

Things You'll Need

  • Small plastic trash can
  • Scissors
  • Potting soil
  • Sand
  • Vermiculite
  • Heating pad
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a hole in the bottom of a small plastic trash can with scissors. Make the hole in the center and about 4 inches in diameter. The hole should be large enough for the green iguana to enter the enclosure and move to either side while not being visible to people for her privacy.

    • 2

      Mix equal parts of potting soil and sand to form nesting material. Add a few handfuls of vermiculite to retain moisture in the nesting material. Make a total of the mixture to fill the trash can (while it is on its side) to 1 foot deep.

    • 3

      Add the nesting mixture to the trash can. Put a heating pad in the iguana cage in a corner. Turn the heating pad on low. Place the trash can on top of the heating pad so the can on is in the middle of the pad. Turn the trash can so that the open top is butting up against a wall and the cut opening in the bottom faces the inner part of the cage.