The call common iguana or green iguana, is actually green when it is young. Around the age of two, it reaches adulthood, gradually losing its characteristic green pigmentation and turning gray or brown.
The feeding of the young iguana differs in some aspects from the adult iguana for this reason, in this article on our site we will comment on everything related to the feeding of the iguana green.
While a young iguana should eat every day, an adult iguana only needs to eat every two or three days. Keep reading to know more.
The young iguana
The Green Iguana or Iguana Iguana, is the most common species among the iguanas considered as pets and although there are many types of some iguana are in serious danger of extinction.
The characteristic and beautiful green coloration disappears as it becomes an adult while there are other iguanas that retain their green color for longer, but are either endangered species, or are considered too delicate to be able to become pets of unspecialized people.
Plant nutrition
Domestic iguanas should only consume vegetable food, never food of animal origin, because iguanas fed correctly can live up to 20 years. If they are fed incorporating crickets or worms, they will rarely live more than 8 years.
It is very difficult to find the native vegetables that iguanas consume in their natural habitat. Therefore, we must feed our domestic iguanas by supplying their own food with appropriate alternatives that are easy to obtain.
We must also use food supplements and preparations commercial specific for iguanas. It is essential to know the vegetable foods that should be given to our iguanas.
Vegetables suitable for our domestic iguanas
alfalfa and parsley are suitable vegetables as a food base for domestic iguanas. Other bases are:
- Celery
- Cantaloupe
- Zucchini
- Pears
- Figs
- Cilantro
- Turnips
It is convenient to prepare salads made up of a base (alfalfa, for example), adding small amounts of other vegetables and assorted fruits.
Some Complementary vegetables can be:
- Watermelon
- Carrot
- Watercress
- Bean sprouts
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Apple
- Lettuce
- Endive
Unsuitable vegetables
As with most animals, there are a number of unsuitable vegetables that should not be fed to domestic iguanas under any circumstances. We list them below:
- Grape
- Banana
- Onion
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Coles
- Cauliflower
These foods should never be offered to our domestic iguanas.
Food supplements
Your iguana must occasionally consume food supplements. Your veterinarian must control and prescribe the usual diet and also the complementary foods, or suitable vitamins for the best he alth of your iguana.
In specialized reptile stores they will inform you about the many varieties of food prepared for iguanas.
