What Makes a Good Iguana Habitat?

Iguanas can be difficult pets to keep due to care and attention requirements. An iguana is incapable of regulating its own body temperature, requiring iguana owners to build adequate habitats that provide both methods for cooling and heat basking. Healthy iguanas thrive in their habitats or enclosures, especially if their natural environment is replicated as much as possible.

  1. Habitat Size

    • A baby iguana can be kept in a large aquarium or enclosure, but iguanas grow quickly in size. An adult iguana can grow up to 6 feet long, making habitat sizes a serious requirement. An iguana habitat should be at least twice the length of the iguana. A habitat that is too small will stress the iguana and can cause serious injuries such as nose wounds and broken claws as the iguana tries to find a way out of the habitat.

    Cage and Height Requirements

    • Habitat height is a very important part of enclosure building and planning. Iguanas are natural climbers, and require climbing to build muscle and exercise. The minimum height recommended is 6 feet. Inadequate habitats limit the iguana's movement and ability to climb. Weakness in the muscles results when an iguana has no room to climb. Tree climbing also provides a sense of comfort for iguanas.

    Temperature and Lighting

    • Iguanas come from the tropics and are cold-blooded, requiring their habitat to be kept warm. The ambient temperature of the habitat should be no lower than 80º F during the day. The habitat should offer both cool and warm spots for body temperature regulations. The hottest area of the habitat, also known as the basking area, should be 90º-95º F. Warm habitat temperatures help iguanas digest their food and absorb nutrients. Malnutrition can result from inadequate or cold temperatures.