Many people buy iguanas on a whim before knowing what proper care really entails. Iguanas require very special care. There are many things you need to consider before you make the decision to buy a pet iguana. This article will discuss some of them.

Enclosure

You may see these small lizards in the store and think they'll stay the way forever. Wrong! Iguanas grow very fast. At a minimum, you will need a 55 gallon tank to house them. They can grow up to six feet long when cared for properly. After a while, the proper enclosure for them can easily take up half a room. Make sure you have enough space.

Money

Taking care of iguanas isn't all that cheap. They require a special diet, heat, and light. It's also important that you go for regular vet visits, which means even more money.

Vet

Speaking of vets, it's important that you don't take your pet iguana to just any vet. They need to be seen by a qualified reptile veterinarian, not one that mainly sees cats and dogs. If you live in a smaller city or town, you may have to drive a long distance to see this type of veterinarian. Definitely something to think about.

Time

It's also important that you'll have plenty of free time on your schedule to take care of your new pet. You will need to clean his enclosure on a daily basis to ensure he stays healthy. You should also make time to spend socializing and taming your iguana.

Comfort

As mentioned earlier, these reptiles can grow quite big. You need to be sure you will be comfortable handling a large pet iguana. It's also common for them to become quite aggressive each breeding season, so you'll need to be prepared for a yearly behavioral change. This can be a problem if you have small children in your household.