Choosing an iguana tank can be very difficult. Many different kinds of tanks or cages might seem appropriate for a pet iguana, but there are a number of associated complications that come with the choice of an iguana as a pet. For this reason, there are a number of factors that must be considered when choosing an iguana tank. In order of importance, these are size, heating, lighting and humidity. Keeping these things in mind will make choosing the best iguana tank much easier.
Size is the first and most important thing to consider when choosing an iguana tank. Many of the other aspects of the iguana's home can be easily changed or moved from home to home, but the physical size of the iguana's tank will be with it for some time. A rough estimate for a tank's minimum size is that it should be six times longer than the pet and three times taller.
To be able to keep up with the growth of a pet iguana, it is important to make sure that the tank is larger than needed for the iguana's current size. A baby iguana might begin at less than a foot in length, but a full grown iguana can be longer than 6 feet. An iguana's growth will be most rapid in the first three years of its life, so the best iguana tank will be as large as possible. If a big tank is not affordable, be sure to save for a larger tank as the iguana grows, so that its home can maintain at least the minimum dimensions.
Heat and lighting are the next most important parts of an iguana tank. An iguana needs its tanks temperature to stay about 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) during the day and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) at night. It is ideal to have a place for the iguana to bask, such as a heat rock, and it should stay a constant 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Most of the heat for an iguana's tank can come from external or floor heating, but it also is important to include lights that produce ultraviolet B (UVB) light that is necessary for the iguana to synthesize vitamin D.
Finally, an iguana's tank must keep a high level of humidity. Iguanas drink very little water, so most of their hydration is absorbed through the skin. To keep an iguana from becoming dehydrated, its tank should maintain a humidity level between 75 percent and 80 percent. A humidity gauge should be kept in the tank to monitor humidity levels. Humidity can be achieved by spraying mist into the tank a few times a day, by placing an air bubbler in the iguana's water or by placing a humidifier near the tank.
