What To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana – Part 1

Just before you go shopping for your first green iguana, you have to equip yourself with the right information and knowledge about this exotic pet. You have know what to look for and what to avoid. Keep in mind that getting a healthy green iguana in the beginning is crucial so as to prevent future health and temperament challenges and complications.

Even though we know more about iguana care now than we did 10 years ago, there are still a lot of misinformed iguana owners and pet stores out there. Unfortunately, there are still some iguanas for sale that aren’t properly cared for. Some of them have thermal burns, deformed faces, or body parts that are missing. You have to be aware of certain body features to be able to tell a healthy, normal green iguana from a sick and damaged one.

If you’re uncertain and have further questions or concern, ask the iguana seller before making your final choice. Better option, do more research and get unbiased opinions from forum or experienced iguana owners. Especially for pet store seller, do not let them pressuring you into buying their iguana—not all but sometimes their opinions are biased.

There are certain qualities and characteristics to look for when selecting the right green iguana. Don’t just go with the biggest one in the cage. Often times, offsprings from the same cage arrive at different times and from different sources and the biggest young may just be an older iguana that has been in the cage longer than the others.

Characteristics To Look For In A Healthy Green Iguana

Facial Features of Green Iguana

Eyes: The eyes should be clean and bright. Watch out for any discharge, tearing, crusty residue, or drooping or swollen eyelids. Iguanas’ eyes must be alert, moving back and forth as if they are watching your every move.

Nose: The nose should be clean and free of any mucous or runny discharge. However, healthy iguanas have a clear, watery fluid discharge from their nostrils. Because iguanas don’t sweat, this is how they regulate their body’s salt balance. When this watery fluid touches the glass of its habitat, it dries and forms into salt crystals. An improperly housed iguana will try to get out by banging and rubbing its nose the cage, causing an abrasion. If you see one with a nose that seems to be damaged, do not buy it.

Stay tune for more on green iguana characteristics. There is a total of three parts to this article. The following article will cover the remaining facial features—mouth, jaw, and vent.