Iguanas are probable the number one fad pet on the market today as far as lizards is concerned. Many pet stores are now carrying iguanas at low prices and telling the world what wonderful and easy pets they are. Well, this is not the case. Iguanas do not always behave well and can be very difficult to keep. You iguana will require a very specific diet that must be adhered to at all time as well as very strict housing requirements. Any old cage just will not do, no matter what the pet store sales person tell you. They just want to sell you something. Iguanas can grow extremely large if cared for right. Many die due to lack of proper care. If you are thinking about an iguana as a pet you will really need to make sure you know this reptile well and what its needs are prior to purchasing.
Aggression
Iguanas are not the loving lazy lizards that the pet store people tell you about. Iguanas are very aggressive and will bit you and anyone else that sticks their hands near their cages. You will have to truly know how to handle this reptile from the very beginning if you plan to try and tame this aggressive nature. You would not want a large reptile with a very bad attitude and temper getting out of its cage and roaming your home. This can be especially dangerous if you have young children or other domestic pets in your home. The iguana will have no problem or fear in attacking either and can cause some serious harm. Many owners are completely not prepared for how large and strong these creatures are.
Many owners will claim how docile or quite their iguana is when they first bring it home. This gives an owner false hope that this is how it will be and taming will be easy. Usually the iguana is just nervous and trying to get its bearings on the new environment. This can really freak out the new owner when after a couple days their iguana is striking at him or her and acting very aggressive. This aggression can cause the owner to handle their pet less and further this behavior even more. Both female and male iguanas are equally aggressive, so thinking you can cut down on the aggression factor by purchasing a female is incorrect. Once the iguana reaches sexual maturity it will become even more aggressive and territorial. This can be compounding to the aggression it already has from it previous experiences such as abuse, neglect, and shipping.
Disease
It is a well-known fact that reptiles, including iguanas can carry disease that can be harmful to humans. Many carry Salmonella and could cause much harm if proper hygiene is not adhered to. If there are young children or pregnant women in the home this could become an even larger danger. Also those who have immune system compromise, such as the elderly, infants, or those with immunodeficiency are at very high risk and if they get Salmonella from your iguana, they can die. Hand washing is a great way to prevent the spread of disease causing bacterium, but many people do not wash their hands well enough. This is especially true of children. Not to mention if your iguana gets out or you let it out of its cage, it will them spread these bacteria all over your home and surfaces. You may not even know what surfaces they have touched and which ones they have not.
Damage
Iguanas come fully equipped with their own weapons and they are not afraid to use them. You use extreme caution when handling any iguana. Iguanas have very sharp teeth and frequently bite. Unlike other pets, this habit cannot be broken and will continue forever. This bite is not only painful; it can lead to mass infection. Your iguana has his or her own special whip as well, a tail. The iguana’s tail has very sharp dorsal spines and is extremely powerful. This can now only hurt but cut open flesh. Your iguana does not care that you are the one who feeds him, only that he does not want you to ouch him or come near him. You can also expect many scratches from their sharp claws as well. These scrapes are littered with bacteria and need to be cleaned appropriately to avoid infections.
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