Video posted to YouTube by expertvilliage.
“Ah, oh! Watch out. Big kid on the block .. . better remind him protein will give him kidney problems.”
They’re certainly a handsome lizard. While it might be tempting to purchase one for a pet, it does present special problems:
“The American pet trade has put a great demand on the Green Iguana; 800,000 iguanas were imported into the U.S. in 1995 alone, primarily originating from captive farming operations based in their native countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and Panama).[27] However, these animals are demanding to care for properly over their lifetime, and many die within a few years of acquisition.[5][28]
Although, in captivity, Green Iguanas will eat meat if presented with it, excessive consumption of animal protein results in severe kidney problems and possible premature death.[5][26] Misinformed pet owners tend to feed iguanas iceberg lettuce, which provides iguanas with water but has no other nutritional value.[14] A captive Green Iguana’s diet should consist of fresh leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion, arugula, or kale and access to fresh water.[5]
Green Iguanas will thrive only in temperatures of 79 °F (26 °C) to 95 °F (35 °C) and must have appropriate sources of UVBand UVA lighting, or else their bodies cannot produce vitamin D that promotes calcium absorption, which can result in a metabolic bone disease that can be fatal.[5][14] In some locales (New York City and Hawaii), iguanas are considered exotic pets, and are prohibited from ownership.[29][30] Due to the potential impact of an introduced species on Hawaii’s ecosystem, the state has strict regulations regarding the import and possession of Green Iguanas; violators can spend three years in jail and be fined up to $200,000.[31]“ MORE
Photograph of reddish-colored green iquanta courtesy of Cary Bass under GNU Free Documentation License.
