Think before you act, is act! This is especially true when it comes to wanting to buy a baby green iguana. Although they might look like a small animal very easy to take care off, realize that can adult iguana can grow up to six feet in length and that caring for an adult iguana is a whole different ballgame than looking after that cute looking baby iguana you purchased at the local pet store.

If however you have carefully considered the pros and cons of keeping a pet iguana, you should still be cautious about which baby iguana to pick. Make sure to look for a healthy-looking, active animal living in a clean enclosure. Iguanas are very susceptible to bacteria, which easily breed in cages or tanks that have not been kept clean.

Proper iguana care starts with a a decent sized enclosure. A tank of about 50 gallons might be sufficient in the early stages but your iguana pet will soon outgrow that tank. Remember that a green iguana can grow up to 6 feet long so you should provide an enclosure large and high enough to comfortably accommodate the animal.

Iguanas naturally live in trees which is why you should set up some branches, artificial or not for your pet to climb on. One of their main activities in the wild is basking in the sun and that is another reason why a branch in the cage is essential. Not only will it give the cage a nicer overall look it will also contribute to the general health of your pet iguana.

Another important factor in iguana care is heat. They like to bask in the sun because this allows for proper digestion of their food and protects them against diseases. A basking spot can easily be created by hanging up a special spotlight or ceramic light. Be sure to carefully monitor the temperature of the enclosure as this plays an important role in the well-being of your pet.

Green iguanas are vegetarians and this naturally means that you should not feed them meat. Feeding them animal protein might easily cause your pet to develop diseases.

David H. Jansen is an Amazon.Com Published Author of the book Raising Iguanas. His book will not only teach you the basics of iguana care, It also provides many hints and tips that other iguana specialists WILL NOT share with you.