Iguana Diet
An Introduction
Iguanas should be fed daily, as much as they will eat. Chop food into small pieces, or use a food processor. (Not mush, just small) This way your iguana can't just pick out his favorites, and gets a healthy mix.
Diet should contain mostly vegetables (30%) and greens (60 - 70%), and a 10% maximum of fruit. Add vitamin supplement, calcium supplement, and alfalfa hay, or pellets (soaked or ground). Always offer water.
If you choose to freeze a large batch of food, add some (1/4 tsp) crushed brewers yeast to replace vitamin B lost during freezing process. Thaw the food to room temperature before feeding.
The occassional treat won't hurt. Only give treats once every couple of weeks, not everyday. My iguana loves bread crusts, basil and macaroni. I have read they like curry powder too, but haven't tried it.
Provide proper heat to aid digestion. Iguanas must heat up to 95 degrees to properly digest foods.
Good Iguana Foods List:
collard and turnip greens, mustard and dandelion greens & flowers, watercress, arugala,
parsnip, leeks, radish, okra, escarole, endive, winter squashes*,
snow peas, green beans, pole beans, bush beans, snap beans, snow beans,
raspberries, pears, blackberries, pricklypear, figs (fresh, or dried then soaked to
reconstitute),
pears, strawberries, dates, cantaloupe, papayas, plums, kiwi,
soaked raisins, mangos, apricots,
supplements*, vitamins*, alfalfa hay or pellets*
*Winter Squashes
Butternut is reportedly most nutritious, Kaboucha is rumored to bring out the pinks and blues in iguanas skin.**Summer squashes are good also, but less nutritious
*Alfalfa Hay or Pellets
Alfalfa hay is necessary for protein. Rabbit food pellets ground and sprinkled (up to 1/2c depending on iguana size) on food everyday (mix it in) are good source of alfalfa. Alternatively, pellets can be soaked while you are chopping the rest of the meal, and added at the last minute. **NOT the same as alfalfa sprouts! Iguanas derive protein from Mature Alfalfa.*Vitamin Supplement
HERPTIVITE Multivitamins*Calcium Supplement
Use one that does not contain phosphorus. Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3*Brewers Yeast
For previously frozen foods only. Freezing food depletes vitamin B, 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of crushed brewers yeast tablets per 3 1/2 cups food replaces the vitamin. (mix it in)*Water
For some reason many people insist that it is not necessary to give iguanas water. This is not true. Always offer clean water.Bad Iguana Foods List:
commercial store bought dried mixes, cat or dog food, monkey chow
spinach, beets, beet greens, celery stalk, swiss chard (when over-used), brussel sprouts,
broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, cauliflower, bok-choi, kale (when over-used), cabbage,
onions, lettuce, radishes, carrots (when over-used), spinach, sprouts, cucumbers,
zucchini, mushrooms,
rhubarb, grapes, bananas, watermelon,
*MEAT
No meat of any kind should be given to an iguana, including bugs. This means NO: crickets, mealworms, mice, chicken, eggs, moths, spiders, etc. Iguanas are vegetarians and do not need meat.An Explanation of "Bad Foods"
Most of the foods mentioned in the bad foods section are there because they lack nutrients, or they impede the absorbtion of nutrients.Meat is not properly digested, and no nutrients are derived from them. Feeding an iguana meat can, over time, lead to kidney failure.
Many commercial foods have been shown to have very poor nutritional value, and the cat, dog, and monkey foods may also contain meat.
Junk foods may be appealling to the iguana. But some become finicky, only eating bad foods. Feeding non-nutritious foods also fills iggy up, so there is less good food being eaten.
An extra caution: NEVER give iguanas or any other animal CHOCOLATE. It is toxic to most animals even in small amounts!
Edible and Toxic Plants:
Edible plants include:
- hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
- nasturtium (flowers and leaves)
- rose petals
- geraniums
- wandering jew
- pothos spider plant
These are safe to keep around a free roaming iggy, and look nice in the greenery garden too. If you are not sure about a plant, don't let the iguana eat it! This is only a very small list and doesn't include toxic plants.
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