rock iguanna enclosures

[kurtle55]

what are the cage requirements? and also how hard are they to tame in comparison with tegus?

 

[DaveDragon]

They are much slower growing than Tegu's or Green Iguana's. It might take 10 years to reach their full size. Ultimately females grow to about 4ft and males about 5ft. Normally you want the cage to be at least as wide as their length and as long as 2X their length. So an adult would need at least a 5ft x 10ft cage. But you could get away with a smaller cage as long as you make use of some vertical space. But you'll have plenty of time to plan as they grow.

Our 3ft male is in a 6ft x 3ft cage. That's OK for now and he gets out (literally!!) almost every day and gets some exercise. Eventually he'll probably be in a 8ft x 4ft with 2 levels.

I don't have much experience taming them (yet) but it's said they are just as rewarding as a Tegu, as long as you work with them often. I'm looking forward to totally trusting our 3 footer, he's coming along nicely in the last week or 2.

 

[mschuld]

I agree with Dave on the cage requirements. They also love natural light and to look out the window. If you have a place like that for your enclosure they will appreciate it. Another thing to consider is gender. Males can be a little pissy during breeding season and the females need a place to bury their eggs when the time is right. Pick your poison I guess!

As for training (taming) them, that depends alot on the age, history, and individual personality of the iguana. If you don't have experience with them, I would go with a one to two year old. They are high strung at first, but they become calm over time when handled properly and eventually become quite tame. They are incredibly rewarding to own, and well worth the investment in the time that is required. As a general rule you should spend a minimum of 15 minutes a day handling them. Slowly introduce the iguana to different areas of your house and different experiences. When they are young they can spook easy and may leap from you and run, so it's wise to keep doors shut.


What kind were you thinking of keeping?