All species
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Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
The poster child of big lizard pets — sold small, but grows into a six-foot, high-humidity, high-UVB commitment.
5–6 ft15–20 years
Habitat
Enclosure
Adults need 6×6×4 ft or larger — often a dedicated room
Temperature
Basking 95–100°F · ambient 80–90°F
Humidity / Water
60–80%
Heating & lighting
Intense halogen basking plus the strongest linear UVB available (10–14%) — without it they develop metabolic bone disease. High humidity with real airflow, not a soggy glass box.
Diet
Feed these
- Collard, mustard and turnip greens
- Squash and green beans
- Hibiscus leaves and flowers
- Occasional papaya or mango
Never feed
- Animal protein — causes fatal kidney disease
- Dog or cat food
- Iceberg lettuce
- Spinach and oxalate-heavy greens (block calcium)
- Citrus
Strict herbivores: a varied leafy-green salad daily. Adults get territorial and unpredictable in breeding season, and all iguanas carry salmonella risk — wash hands every time.
Cohabitation
Can live with
No one — house this species alone.
Never house with
Other green iguanas — serious fighting Any other species
Solitary and territorial. Males in particular can be dangerous to each other — one iguana per household zone.
