Currently, the growing popularity is gaining in the home of certain exotic animals: turtles, dwarf monkeys, snakes and, of course, iguanas, called tame dragons. It is noteworthy that in all this variety of tropical animals, domestic iguanas are in special demand among people.
Iguana is a real tame dragon
In nature, the iguana inhabits the tropics of Central and South America. This reptile easily moves through trees, on which they simply adore being near river creeks. Iguana can reach a length of 2 meters and weigh up to 5 kg. Its powerful tail and sharp claws give it a dragon-like appearance. For its peaceful nature and friendly attitude towards humans, the iguana was dubbed a tame dragon.
The tame dragon, of course, does not have wings and does not breathe fire, but this does not prevent it from being an amazing and unique favorite in many homes. The most important decoration of a domestic lizard is its back ridge, which stretches from the very back of the head to the middle of the tail. On the throat of the tame dragon there is a leather bag, which, depending on the situation, can swell. This usually happens in order to intimidate your opponent.
Maintenance and care of the iguana
At home, iguanas can live up to 15 years. The approximate age of a reptile can be determined by its color: in young individuals, the skin has a light green tint, and in their older companions, it is dark. Unfortunately, not entirely correct care of domestic iguanas, their improper feeding, as well as a violation of the temperature regime of their maintenance, do not allow these creatures to live half of their lives.
That is why, before you start a tame dragon in your house, you must carefully familiarize yourself with the conditions and requirements for its content. It is better to purchase an animal in nurseries or in specialized clubs for reptile lovers. You should not stop your choice on an individual that is too young, since at an early age these animals are most vulnerable to mistakes from inexperienced keepers. But you don't need to take an adult either! The appropriate age to buy an iguana is around 1-2 years old.
If the iguana is purchased at a pet store, then you need to choose the right animal: a healthy lizard behaves calmly, its skin is clean (no scars, no scratches or scars), and its eyes are free of discharge. A healthy iguana has a thick and powerful tail and is not afraid of people. Keeping a tame dragon is unthinkable without the presence of a terrarium in the house. Naturally, you need to acquire them in advance - before buying an animal.
The most comfortable home for a young iguana will be a terrarium with a volume of up to 200 liters. But after a year, the terrarium should be replaced with a more spacious one - up to 500 liters. A terrarium is no longer suitable for an adult domestic lizard, since the iguana will need a spacious wooden enclosure with a glass front wall. You can do with a completely glass enclosure.
Iguana is a reptile, i.e. cold-blooded animal. That is why its content is unthinkable without special ultraviolet lamps and incandescent lamps. For day and night heating, mirror incandescent lamps of appropriate power are used. The ultraviolet lamp is used for health: without UV rays, the reptile will not be able to fully absorb vitamin D and calcium, which will significantly shorten its life: bones will become fragile, rickets will develop.
Do not forget about a special place for warming up the animal: a domestic iguana in the terrarium should have driftwood or large stones placed under a mirrored incandescent lamp. The temperature at which the tame dragon warms up should not be less than 35 ° C. It must be remembered that reptiles also need a cool place. High humidity is one of the conditions for their healthy lifestyle.
To create sufficient moisture, it is recommended to spray the terrarium with water twice a day using special humidification devices. Since these creatures live in trees in the wild, several snags need to be placed in their terrariums. Tame dragons love to swim, which is why they live in nature near rivers. Consider this and place a bathing container next to your home iguana.
