Feeding a Green iguana: diet, supplements, food refusals
Green iguana : Strictly herbivorous: calcium-rich leafy greens (kale, dandelion, watercress), varied vegetables and a little fruit. Animal protein, even occasional, damages its kidneys over time.
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In short: 1.5 to 2 m including tail as an adult, 15 to 20 years of lifespan, expert level. Cute as a juvenile, it becomes a powerful, sometimes territorial arboreal giant, reserved for experienced keepers. Reaching 1.5 to 2 m, it ultimately needs a room-sized custom enclosure: it is this adult size that makes it unsuitable for most households.
The Green iguana diet, precisely
Strictly herbivorous: calcium-rich leafy greens (kale, dandelion, watercress), varied vegetables and a little fruit; animal protein, even occasional, damages its kidneys over time. Temperature governs digestion: a Green iguana kept below its 35-40°C basking spot digests poorly and eventually refuses food — faced with a refusing animal, check the thermometer before the menu.
Supplements and meal rhythm
Respect the species’ rhythm: prey sized to the head, a normal digestive fast after meals, and monthly weighing to make the curve objective — an occasional refusal is trivial, weight loss never is.
Water and hydration
The 70 to 90% humidity is part of hydration: regular misting alongside a clean water dish changed daily. Dehydration shows in skin folds and sunken eyes: that means the exotics vet, not the mister alone. The full profile is on the full Green iguana profile.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Green iguana eat?
Strictly herbivorous: calcium-rich leafy greens (kale, dandelion, watercress), varied vegetables and a little fruit; animal protein, even occasional, damages its kidneys over time.
Why is my Green iguana refusing food?
Check temperatures first (basking spot at 35-40°C): too cold means no digestion. Then shedding and settling-in stress — but measured weight loss calls for the exotics vet.
The guides that apply to you
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