What To Feed Iguanas

Let's talk about what to feed iguanas. Iguanas are very interesting and unique pets. If you're thinking about getting one it is first important to understand what they eat. A pet's diet keeps it healthy and happy. If you can't keep up with its required diet, you should look into getting a different pet.

Iguanas are herbivores, in their natural environment they eat leaves as well as some berries and flowers. However, their teeth don't really allow them to chew or grind up their food. Therefore, pet iguana owners need to chop up their pet's food.

So, what exactly do they eat? The best diet for an iguana is about 60% leafy vegetables, 30% other vegetables, and then 5% each of fruits and cooked grains.

The majority of their diet can be things like turnip, spinach, collard greens, dandelion, carrot tops, and kale. Lettuce is also good, but not in large quantities. Try to switch up the different types of leafy vegetables you give to your iguana. Humans and animals both like some variety in their food.

The other vegetables you should give your pet are ones such as carrots, green beans, peas, asparagus, and squash. Avoid broccoli, beets, mushrooms, and cucumbers unless they are in occasional small portions.

Fruits you can give your iguana include anything that isn't citrus. Fruits should only be a small part of an iguana's diet because too much can cause diarrhea. Pets that eat too much fruit can sometimes also develop tooth problems due to the sugar in fruit. It may seem strange to give an iguana cooked rice and pasta, but you can in small amounts.

While some pets need protein supplements, avoid these for iguanas. They actually need plant protein, which you can give to them by feeding them rabbit pellets with alfalfa. The only supplement you may want to include in their diet is calcium powder put on their food.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.