How to Breed Desert Iguanas

Desert iguanas are medium-sized reptiles with blunt faces and long tails. They have white or pale gray skin with brown or tan patterned scales. They are native to the southwestern United States but are increasing in popularity as pets. Pet desert iguanas primarily eat fruits, vegetables and iguana food pellets, though they can also be fed eggs, tofu and dry dog food. Little is known about the reproductive habits of desert iguanas, and they are renowned for being difficult to breed in captivity.

Things You'll Need

Nesting box

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain and healthy male and female desert iguana. Unhealthy iguanas will not breed, so make sure both your parent iguanas are in top shape. Provide them with proper food and water at all times. Consider taking them both to a veterinarian for a check-up before you try to get them to breed.
- 2
  Provide a designated nesting box. Female desert iguanas need a nesting area to lay their eggs. A large rubber or wooden container filled with play sand is ideal, because it provides a sizable private space for the female to nest. Play sand is easy for iguanas to dig into and doesn't cling to the eggs when it's time for you to remove them from the box.
- 3
  Keep the male and female separate until breeding season. Healthy male desert iguanas typically attempt to breed regardless of whether it is mating season. This often results in injuries to both iguanas, which may require veterinary care. To avoid unnecessary injury, keep the iguanas in separate habitats.
- 4
  Introduce the two during breeding season and let nature take its course. Breeding season for desert iguanas lasts from April to May. Maintain supervision over the breeding iguanas to ensure that neither is injured. A male iguana bites the neck of the female during mating, so do not be alarmed by this behavior. You should intervene and separate the two if they engage in any other injurious behavior, especially when the female appears to be rejecting the male's advances.