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, those are just the basic parts of an iguana habitat. Although these factors alone will let your iguana survive, these may not necessarily allow your iguana to thrive.
The iguana habitat should have these accessories to assure the best of health for your iguana:
1) Substrates
Substrates compose the surface of the iguana habitat. In choosing a substrate for your iguana habitat, you should remember that iguanas constantly flick their tongues. This habit allows your iguana to process different types of information about its environment. Do not use anything small like wood chips, sand, or gravel as a substrate because of this reason. Anything that sticks to the tongue of the iguana is likely to be eaten. Sand and gravel would be very dangerous to the iguana if they are ingested. This goes for any particulate materials.
In choosing a substrate, you might want to try newspapers with non-toxic ink. You could also try to use other types of paper, as long as they are not toxic to animals when ingested. Some people prefer to use pieces of indoor and outdoor carpeting as substrates for their iguana habitat.
2) Basking and Climbing Accessories
Iguanas are arboreal. In the wild, iguanas spend most of their time upon trees. You need to provide some climbing material in your iguana habitat. Try including some shelves in an iguana habitat to simulate branches of trees.
If you include branches in your iguana habitat, you should provide some that are big enough for your iguana to lie on comfortably. You should also cover them with some material that will help them in climbing. One option is to cover the branches with carpeting. The branches will also serve as basking places for your iguana. These spots are where your iguana will go to relax.
3) Food and Water Dishes
You should provide your iguana with dishes for food and water. Although iguanas are not inclined to drink often, it is still important that you provide them with a source of fresh water daily.
Iguanas love to soak in a water dish, so you should provide one that’s just the right size for your pet. It should be big enough so that the iguana won’t tip it over when getting in, and it should be shallow enough so that the iguana won’t drown. You should also realize that after soaking, an iguana usually likes to poop in the water. You will have the responsibility to change the water in the dish and sanitize it regularly.
4) Hiding Places
There are times when an iguana likes to be alone and unobserved. You have to provide a suitable hiding place in your iguana habitat. You could place a log, a rock, or anything which your iguana could hide behind. Just like people, iguanas need privacy too.
When you add these accessories to your iguana habitat, you can be sure that your iguana will be living in an ideal enclosure. Then, your iguana’s health and well-being will be secured.
