I have a pet iguana from Mexico! Not as cuddly as a dog, but I love him anyway. His name is Ignacio, Iggy for short.
Are Iguanas good pets? They sound pretty easy to care for.
Well, you have to be careful. Diet, lighting, and other housing for a green iguana like mine causes too many to die in captivity too soon.
What is the average lifespan for an iguana?
Green iguana in captivity
The Green Iguana ("Iguana iguana") has become popular in the pet trade – over 800,000 animals were imported into the United States alone during 1995, primarily originating from captive farming operations based in their native countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and Panama). They can live to be 30 years old as reported by owners. In 1998 a National Iguana Awareness Day (NIAD) was established to discourage consumers from viewing iguanas as "disposable pets". Despite the low cost and
"mass market" appeal of these animals they are demanding to care for properly over the course of their lifetimes. More often than not, diet, lighting, and other housing conditions for green iguana are inadequate, causing 70% of green iguanas in captivity to die within their first year of life.
Size.
People purchase iguanas due to the small size, low price, and apparent low cost of feeding of juvenile iguanas. Though small as juveniles, iguanas can grow to 6 feet in length and weigh about