🦎 How to Set Up a Green Iguana Enclosure (Plan Big)
Green iguanas are not a starter lizard: they grow to 5 to 6 feet and need an enormous, often custom-built enclosure — many keepers dedicate a closet or a whole room. Plan for that adult space before you take one home.
They need intense light and heat. Iguanas require a strong T5 HO UVB bulb and a basking spot of about 95 to 100°F, plus high humidity (60% or more) to stay healthy. Without strong UVB and calcium, they suffer metabolic bone disease.
Go vertical with sturdy branches. As tree-dwellers, iguanas climb and bask up high, so include thick, secure branches and shelves. They are a big, long-term, advanced commitment — be sure before you commit. See our beginner reptiles guide for easier first lizards.
🛒 Recommended supplies
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🧽 Cleaning & maintenance
Spot-clean daily: remove droppings, shed skin, and uneaten feeder insects as soon as you see them, and refresh the water dish. Wipe the glass and disinfect the food and water bowls weekly. Every month or two do a deeper clean — replace or sift the substrate and scrub the enclosure and décor with a reptile-safe disinfectant (such as diluted chlorhexidine or an F10 solution), rinsing and drying fully before the iguana goes back in. Avoid household disinfectants and strong fumes, which can be toxic to reptiles, and always wash your hands after cleaning to prevent germs like salmonella.
Cleaning supplies for this habitat. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission. The $/$$/$$$ badges are a rough budget guide, not live prices.