Feeding Your Iguana

Diet is the area where most people fail their iguanas. Without proper nutrition, iguanas can suffer a variety of health problems. Because of the type, number and arrangement of their teeth, iguanas perforate but do not chew food. In the wild, iguanas chomp at leaves, tearing off tiny pieces and eating them. Therefore, pet owners should chop food according to the size of the iguana. A cheese grater or food processor is ideal for preparing food for small iguanas.

Food should be offered daily in a shallow dish, so the iguana can reach it easily while standing on the cage floor. The total diet should have a ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus.

A large amount of the green iguana's diet should consist of leafy green vegetables, such as collards, beet tops (and beets), radish, tops, dandelions (flowers, leaves and roots), turnip greens, Swiss chard, bok choy, broccoli, mustard greens, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, mulberry leaves, hibiscus leaves (and blossoms), clover, escarole and endive.

A smaller portion of the diet should consist of other vegetables, such as various squash, zucchini, sprouts, carrots, green beans, okra, pea pods, sweet potatoes and bell peppers. The remaining 10 percent to 20 percent should consist of fruits high in calcium, like mango, papaya, raspberries, figs and prickly pear cactus fruit.

In lesser amounts-or as treats-iguanas can eat apples, melons, grapes, peaches, blueberries, pears, tomatoes, cranberries, kiwis, guavas strawberries and bananas.

Since iguanas can detect certain colors (red, orange, yellow and green), they should be offered many colorful flowers and fruits. Never feed an iguana iceberg lettuce, as it has no nutritional value.

Animal protein (monkey biscuits, dry dog food, insects and so on) should be a very small percentage (1 percent to 5 percent) of a young iguana's diet. However, adult diets should be strictly vegetarian. Hatchlings may have crickets, mealworms and other insects, occasionally.

Wash all food thoroughly to avoid poisoning from pesticides or other chemicals that can be ingested.

Vitamin, mineral and calcium powder with D3 should be sprinkled on the food every other day for added nutrition.

Here's a quick cheat sheet for proper iguana diets.