What Do Iguanas Eat?
Feeding iguanas is not as complicated as you might think. However it is important to learn about all the different aspects involved in the feeding process before purchasing this pet. So what do iguanas eat?
1) Vegetables and fruit: Iguanas have digestive systems that can only absorb plant proteins. This means that feeding your iguana insects and cat and dog food is very dangerous. IGUANAS ARE STRICTLY HERBIVORES! Thus it is very difficult for an iguana to digest animal proteins and doing so would put strain on his kidneys, which can lead to kidney problems. Animal proteins cannot be absorbed properly and the unabsorbed material will be stored as uric acid which can lead to gout. Vegetables should contain high nutritional values such as mustard greens or collards. Other vegetable like lettuce should only be fed occasionally due to its low nutritional value. Besides vegetables, you can also feed your iguana fruit and certain flowers.
2) Water: Even though iguanas do not drink a lot of water, you should always make sure there is a clean fresh supply available. Lack of humidity in the living area can lead to partial dehydration which is dangerous. So make sure that the humidity levels are also correct. It is recommended to try and encourage your iguana to drink as much water as possible. One way to assist this is to spray water on the food before feeding it to your iguana. Another tip that might be helpful is to place a treat at the bottom of a water dish, making your iguana more motivated to drink in the process of getting the treat. As time progress your iguana will learn to drink more from his bowl on his own without the use of any special tricks or tactics.
3) Temperature: Iguanas are cold-blooded and therefore the heat from their environment will assist in all bodily functions. Food cannot be properly digested without the adequate temperature. Therefore the temperature in the eating environment should be around 85 Fahrenheit as this will help to aid in digestion.
4) Calcium and phosphorus: Iguanas require calcium and phosphorous at a 2:1 ratio and therefore foods should be chosen with this in mind.
5) Light: In order for iguanas to produce vitamin D3, they require sufficient exposure to UVA and UVB rays. This vitamin will aid in absorbing calcium in the body and is therefore essential. Artificial lighting is available for your iguana habitat or enclosure, but the ultimate source is always the sun. So make sure that your iguana spends time in the day basking in the sun light.
Again make sure to never feed your iguana any insects or any other meat. Iguanas are strictly herbivorous and must be given a solid vegetarian diet. Also be sure to provide plenty of food for your iguana and remember that as they grow so will their appetite.
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