One of the first things a proud new owner of a pet iguana may think about is where they will keep their pet. There are several factors that need to be considered when either buying or making your own iguana cages. The main ones are as follows.

The size of your iguana cage is of utmost importance. When fully grown a an adult iguana can reach around 6 feet long. A common misconception is that by housing your pet in a small enclosure you will stunt it’s growth and stop it growing any larger. This is not true and will only lead to problems as your pet iguana matures.

This does not mean that you must provide a huge cage right from the start. Iguana cages need to be large enough so that your pet can undertake all it’s normal activities and not feel cramped. It is perfectly fine to enlarge your cage as your pet grows and it is highly recommended to plan ahead.

Iguanas are cold blooded so the temperature of their surroundings are vitally important to their health and well being. Spots of differing temperature need to be provided within your pets cage so it can freely move between the two in order to regulate its body temperature. It is also wise to include a source of heat that is not a light so your pet can remain warm at night time, but still be in the dark.

Humidity refers to the percentage of water vapor in the air and this too is important to consider in your iguana cage. Iguanas need a relatively high level of humidity to be comfortable, somewhere between 65 to 75 percent. This will help them to stay hydrated and will also help them to shed their skin, which is important as they grow.

Another important consideration is the lighting available to your pet. Iguanas need both a source of UVA and UVB to remain healthy. Naturally, the sun is the best possible source of these wavelengths, however they are easily blocked by both glass and plastic. This means situating your cage inside in a sunlit area will not provide your iguana with its needs. Your pet will need to bask in the sun while outside in order to produce the vitamin D3 which will help it absorb calcium and keep its bones strong. It is also a good idea, when providing proper iguana care, to provide an artificial source of UV light to compensate for the time spent indoors by your pet.

 Further reading on iguana cages;