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The green iguana (Iguana iguana) has always been one of the most
popular reptiles kept in captivity, but recently interest in these
beautiful animals has increased even more. Approximately 2 million
baby iguanas were legally imported into the United States between 1989
and 1994. Iguanas attain impressive size and coloration, are easy to
maintain, and many become "tame" with proper handling. The escalating
popularity of this big, beautiful lizard may be explained in part by
the influence of the film Jurassic Park and by current popular interest
in dinosaurs and reptile keeping as a hobby. In recent years, healthy
hatchlings raised on Latin American iguana farms have become quite
affordable and widely available.
If you are serious about owning an iguana, invest in a good care book
and read it thoroughly. With proper care, iguanas are hardy and
long-lived in captivity, and may provide endless opportunities for
students to study the biology and complex behaviors of one of the
more fascinating and spectacular lizard species (Fig. 1).
Figure 1 You'll find students are interested and curious about
keeping reptiles in the classroom.
Background
Over the past 20 years, numerous populations of green iguanas declined
because of habitat destruction and local overhunting for food and
leather. The past decade has seen the establishment of iguana farms
in Central and South America. Farm-raised iguanas have become a
sustainable resource that benefits local economies. Among other markets,
farm-raised iguanas are exported to the United States for pets. These
young, healthy animals adjust to captivity with much greater success
than the previously wild-caught iguanas.
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The green iguana is an herbivorous member of the family Iguanidae.
Distributed widely throughout Latin America, the green iguana is found
in semidesert to tropical habitats. Iguanas are most commonly found
near rivers, where they rest on limbs overhanging the water. When
disturbed, they do not hesitate to drop into the water, often from
considerable heights, and they are very strong swimmers.
Figure 2 An Adult iguana may reach a length of 4 to 6 feet.
The green iguana (Fig. 2) is one of the largest of the New World
lizards. A large, mature male may measure over 6 feet in length and
weigh 15 pounds, while females are generally much smaller, seldom
attaining over 4 feet in length and 7 or 8 pounds. Young iguanas are
typically some shade of green, and older animals tend to be duller in
color than young ones.
Handling
If you have a healthy, alert young iguana, you probably will be able
to handle and "tame" it. Don't become dismayed if the young iguana
seems timid and flighty. Remember, this flight response is an adaptive
behavior for these small, vulnerable lizards. Many iguanas mellow as
they get older if they have been treated in a calm and consistently
nonthreatening manner. On the other hand, the extremely aggressive or
constantly panic-stricken hatchling may grow into a beautiful animal,
but it may never have much pet potential.
Pick up your iguana carefully, as the claws can be sharp. Do not
attempt to work with a new iguana until it has acclimated to its new
home and is eating well and basking normally. Keep the sessions of
interaction short and no more frequent than several times a day. Work
with the iguana in a quiet place without distractions. Stroke the
lizard gently on its sides or back, or encourage it to move from hand
to hand. Eventually (in days or weeks) your iguana should be noticeably
calmer. How tame your iguana becomes will be determined in large part
by how much time and effort you invest in your interactions with the
animal.
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