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Lizard Ownership: What to Consider Before Getting an Iguana

Owning a dog or cat can be pretty enjoyable, but they’re not as unique as owning a lizard. Lizards are considered exotic pets, and they are particularly rare pets in the US. One interesting and rare lizard pet is the iguanas.

Iguanas are pretty interesting lizards to have. They are one of the largest lizards worldwide. Moreover, their speed and ferocity are unmatched in the wild. However, having an iguana as a pet can be a lot more calmful than you think.

Are Iguanas Good Pets?

This question highly depends on what you mean by a ‘good pet.’If you’re looking for someone to guard or defend your home the same way dogs do, then iguanas aren’t good pets. However, if you’re looking for a pet that’s unique, interactive, and are calmer than dogs and cats, then an iguana is just for you. Other traits make iguanas great pets, such as their overall life expectancy.

They Live Pretty Long Lives

Iguanas are known to live fairly long. The expected life expectancy for iguanas is between 10 to 12 years, quite similar to many dogs and cats. However, many are also known to live for more than 20 years. Aside from their expected life expectancy, iguanas are fairly resilient as well.

They Don’t Need Extensive Care

The resiliency of iguanas means that they don’t require extensive care compared to other pets. Moreover, lizards are very resilient species and can live particularly anywhere globally. So regardless of wherever you live, your iguana can live with you.

Additionally, when compared to other exotic pets, iguanas don’t require a unique diet. They are herbivorous, so you can feed them all sorts of leaves in the wild and some fruits. Moreover, there are mixed foods for lizards in pet shots that you can feed as treats.

So overall, iguanas don’t require extensive care. They also have a much simpler brain, so they don’t require much attention or affection. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t do cool things.

They Can Learn to Love Interacting with People
green iguana on a shrubbery

Iguanas that live in a good household can learn to love interacting with people. They can even learn to be more affectionate than most pets. Moreover, you can teach them cool tricks. However, the main reason why people get them as pets is because of their calm temperament.

Dogs and cats out there enjoy scratching and biting everything that comes their way. They also love running around, causing chaos and havoc in your household. Although these things make dogs and cats good pets, they also are fairly annoying. But most lizards such as iguanas are satisfied staying inside their homes for the rest of their lives until you want to get them out.

So if you’re tired of hyperactive pets, an iguana can be a great addition to your household.

Two Unique Breeds of Iguanas

Lizards have some of the best breeds in color and overall aesthetics. Here are two unique breeds of iguanas you should try getting.

Desert Iguanas

Desert iguanas are some of the best-looking breeds of iguanas out there. They tend to have a grayish color on their scales or depending on where they live. They might have a sandy brown color. They are one of the rarest breeds of pet iguanas, but thankfully, they live nearby.

This particular breed of iguanas is known to live in the deserts of the US. It’s pretty hard to find one yourself, but experienced survivalists and pet hunters can easily find one for you. The best part is that you don’t need to spend too much on transportation.

Fiji Banded Iguana

Another breed of iguanas that have an interestingly color scheme is Fiji-banded iguanas. These iguanas are native to the Fiji islands and are well-sought out as pets in the US. But it’s particularly hard to get one into your household because they are endangered. Exotic pet dealers might have some in their shops, but they can be relatively expensive compared to other exotic pets out there.

These interesting and unique breeds are pretty cool, and they’re great to have. However, if you’re looking for a much rarer breed of iguanas, you might need to hire a pet transportation service to get them into the country. It will ensure that your lovely pet will get to you safely as possible.

Iguanas are great pets to have, but this depends primarily on what you’re looking for as a pet. However, if you’re looking for a new pet in your family and one that isn’t as hyperactive as your other pets, then an iguana is a great addition.

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