Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Heating For Your Iguana

Iguanas are ectothermic, which means that they can't make their own body heat. That's why it's so important that you provide them with proper heating. Their immune system will suffer and they won't be able to digest their food properly if you don't.
Like all reptiles, iguanas have a mechanism called thermoregulation. This allows them to heat or cool themselves from their environment. They simply move into a warmer area when they're too cold. Conversely, they move into a cooler area whenever they're too hot.
With this in mind, it's important that your ig's enclosure has warm and cool areas. This allows him to regulate his body heat like he would in the wild. The warmer area should be between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler area should have a temperature between 75 and 85 degrees. You can allow the ambient temperature to fall no lower than 70 degrees at night.
The temperature should never go above 100 or fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep an eye on the temperature, you should have a few thermometers installed. It's best to place the thermometers very close to the area the you're trying to monitor. If it's too far away, you will get an inaccurate reading.
Now that you know your iguana's heating requirements, you will have two main options. You can use a ceramic bulb or a radiant heat panel. The heat panel is installed beneath the tank, while the ceramic bulb is installed in a socket. In a pinch, you can use the lowest setting of a heating pad designed for humans. You should avoid using heating or hot rocks. They can be very dangerous.
Providing proper heating is just one aspect of caring for iguanas. There are many more things you need to learn about green iguana care. If you want to ensure your pet stays healthy for a long time, head over to green-iguana-care.com. Learn about a range of topics such as common iguana health problems.

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