subject: Iguana Supplies - Giving Your Iguana The Best Habitat Possible [print this page] If you have met the basic light, heating, space and humidity requirements of an iguana habitat, you might think that your work is all done. However, it should be stated that those are just the basic parts of an iguana habitat. This means that although these factors alone will let your iguana survive, these may not necessarily allow your iguana to thrive. In order to assure the best of health for your iguana, the iguana habitat should have these accessories:
1) Substrates - this is the material used to cover the surface of your iguana's habitat. The number one thing to keep in mind for the substrate is your iguana's safety. You should never use any kind of material that might harm your iguana if it should accidentally (or on purpose!) eat it. Remember that iguana's flick their tongues constantly to test their environment. Anything like gravel, sand or wood chips can stick to the tongue and be ingested by your iguana, and this can be very dangerous.
Instead of these materials, you might try blank news stock or some other non-toxic paper. Another common substrate is indoor/outdoor carpet, or artificial turf. Many people prefer using linoleum tiles for the ease in cleaning.
2) Basking and climbing accessories - Iguanas are arboreal. In the wild, iguanas spend most of their time up on trees. This means that you need to provide some sort of climbing material in your iguana habitat. Try including some shelves in an iguana habitat to simulate branches of trees.
The branches you provide for your iguana should appropriate for the size of your iguana, and should provide support for him to rest comfortably. You may want to consider wrapping larger branches in carpet to facilitate climbing. This will give your iguana comfortable spots where they can bask and relax.
3) Food and water bowls - Iguanas need to have dishes provided for their food and water. While iguanas don't typically drink water often, it is still necessary for you to provide clean, fresh water for them every day.
Apart from drinking water, iguanas also like to soak in it. It's best if you can provide a tub of water that is big enough for the iguana to get into without tipping over. You'll also want to make sure that it's shallow enough to avoid drowning. Remember that iguanas will often prefer to do their bathroom duties in the water, so you must be responsible for keeping the water clean and the basin sanitized.
4) Like people, iguanas sometimes like to have their privacy too. To that end, you should provides some sort of hiding area in the habitat. This could consist of a large rock, a log, or even a small leaning piece of plywood; any sort of shelter that provides the iguana a little bit of privacy.
By providing your iguana with these accessories, you'll be giving it the best possible habitat. With it's physical and mental needs met, the iguana will be able to live a happier and less stressful life.
