© Vegetarian-Fun.com
Green Iguanas
It's likely that either you are not thrilled that your dog or cat loves meat, or you don't have one of these pets. Those of you who do own dogs and cats probably also know that you can find vegetarian pet foods, but they are expensive and you know that these animals were born to eat meat.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a true vegetarian household? You can. There are quite a few pets that fit quite well into vegan and vegetarian households! For this reason, Vegetarian-Fun has decided to launch a series of articles on these pets and the first in this new series is the green iguana! A true veggie lover that when properly cared for can live to be 25 years old! Yup. Truth.
The absolute best site that we've found for taking care of our vegetarian reptiles is here at anapsid: http://www.www.anapsid.org/iguana Melissa Kaplan's site is the be-all end-all for iguana care and feeding, we think. If you take the time, the site has the answers for what it takes for your iguana to live to a ripe old age.
Best information we can get is:
That a pet iguana needs high quality greens, not just lettuce. Collard, dandelion and mustard greens along with alfalfa are what they need, not cat food or head lettuce. They also need supplements of the Centrum variety, not what the pet store would sell you! Again, do some more research to find out how often to offer these supplements and HOW to make sure your iguana will eat them!
Iguanas also need access to water into which they can immerse themselves -- sounds like an iguanapool, no? Dry skin will kill an iguana in no time flat. I'd sure hate to die from chronic dry skin, wouldn't you?
Given: iguanas are reptiles and as such, they need lots of real sunlight or the human-created indoor equivalent: UV total spectrum lamps with fresh bulbs every couple of months. That is the only way iguanas can get their Vitamin D -- NOT by pill!
Your iguana needs to have an environment that is graduated in temperature from cool-cold at night to warm-hot during the day and access to both temperatures on a daily basis is highly desired -- and necessary -- by your ig! Don't forget, your pet comes from a desert environment: hot during the day and frigid at night. The desert also provides shade during the blazing heat of a sunny summer day. Seriously, the skimpy shade that a mesquite bush provides can make a 15 degree difference on a hot summer day. If you haven't experienced it, you'd be absolutely amazed. I was.
Just like any other kind of pet, your iguana needs to see a qualified veterinarian periodically, especially if it is behaving peculiarly. Be sure you take the time to find a vet that knows about iguanas. It's life depends on it! Don't be the average iguana owner whose pet dies between age one and three! Be responsible and ... humane? Well, iguana, anyway!
Let us know any suggestions you have for a follow-up article -- or write one yourself and submit it!
To your ... and your ig's ... health!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a true vegetarian household? You can. There are quite a few pets that fit quite well into vegan and vegetarian households! For this reason, Vegetarian-Fun has decided to launch a series of articles on these pets and the first in this new series is the green iguana! A true veggie lover that when properly cared for can live to be 25 years old! Yup. Truth.
The absolute best site that we've found for taking care of our vegetarian reptiles is here at anapsid: http://www.www.anapsid.org/iguana Melissa Kaplan's site is the be-all end-all for iguana care and feeding, we think. If you take the time, the site has the answers for what it takes for your iguana to live to a ripe old age.
Best information we can get is:
That a pet iguana needs high quality greens, not just lettuce. Collard, dandelion and mustard greens along with alfalfa are what they need, not cat food or head lettuce. They also need supplements of the Centrum variety, not what the pet store would sell you! Again, do some more research to find out how often to offer these supplements and HOW to make sure your iguana will eat them!
Iguanas also need access to water into which they can immerse themselves -- sounds like an iguanapool, no? Dry skin will kill an iguana in no time flat. I'd sure hate to die from chronic dry skin, wouldn't you?
Given: iguanas are reptiles and as such, they need lots of real sunlight or the human-created indoor equivalent: UV total spectrum lamps with fresh bulbs every couple of months. That is the only way iguanas can get their Vitamin D -- NOT by pill!
Your iguana needs to have an environment that is graduated in temperature from cool-cold at night to warm-hot during the day and access to both temperatures on a daily basis is highly desired -- and necessary -- by your ig! Don't forget, your pet comes from a desert environment: hot during the day and frigid at night. The desert also provides shade during the blazing heat of a sunny summer day. Seriously, the skimpy shade that a mesquite bush provides can make a 15 degree difference on a hot summer day. If you haven't experienced it, you'd be absolutely amazed. I was.
Just like any other kind of pet, your iguana needs to see a qualified veterinarian periodically, especially if it is behaving peculiarly. Be sure you take the time to find a vet that knows about iguanas. It's life depends on it! Don't be the average iguana owner whose pet dies between age one and three! Be responsible and ... humane? Well, iguana, anyway!
Let us know any suggestions you have for a follow-up article -- or write one yourself and submit it!
To your ... and your ig's ... health!
Receive two FREE bonus ebooks!
1. Vegetarian recipes
2. Smoothie recipes
How? It's easy!
Privacy policy:
Your email address is safe;
we NEVER share our list.
1. Vegetarian recipes
2. Smoothie recipes
How? It's easy!
Privacy policy:
Your email address is safe;
we NEVER share our list.
