Green Iguana Breeding

By Mikhail Dino

Many people were fond of taking care exotic animals. Green iguana is one of those exotic animals pet lovers have because it is not aggressive in captivity and easy to tame and handle. Keeping green iguana as pet requires proper living environment otherwise it may end up untimely death. Another factor that makes green iguana popular as pet is its ability to reproduce, that is why it is essential to know and learn the proper way of breeding green iguana.

Breeding green iguana starts from choosing pairs. It is ideal that both sexes are of the same size. Obviously, the male iguana is smaller than female iguana and this may end up hurting the male. Nevertheless, no matter how perfect you match pairs still injuries comes along due to being hyperactive especially younger green iguanas. This behavior may also disappear, as green iguanas get older.

Before the mother iguana laid eggs it is essential to prepare the nest. Consider the condition of the place; it should be peace and quiet. Plastic containers, wooden boxes and pots can be used as nestling box. You can also put soil or play sand where mother iguana digs around and lay eggs. The play sand is more beneficial as it helps incubation without fungus contamination and the eggs were clean. Green iguana should lay all eggs in one sitting and if you are in doubt that some eggs are not laid thus requires x-ray. Eggs that were not laid hides in the rib area that is why it is difficult to see although green iguanas are skinny. Some females expend more time in digging and exploring nest boxes and usually lay eggs at night.

Next step is incubating the eggs with the use of containers, incubators and other media. Look for containers that would fit an incubator and microwavable. Use media for incubation that has appropriate moisture content such as vermiculite and perlite. Adding much water can cause fungus problem to the eggs while little water slows the development of eggs. Digital incubator is the easiest to use and always test the thermometer. The digital thermometer can lessen the time opening the incubator to check the temperature.

Utmost care and right placement of hatchlings is also a contributing factor of breeding green iguana. During the hatching period a cut in the eggs shell is noticed and the first baby iguana to hatch emerge. Most baby iguana cut the eggshell, pokes its head and sleeps again. Not all the eggs hatch for some reason and needs to be opened up especially deformed baby iguana. Hydration is important for caring of hatchlings. After feeding place the hatchlings in the tub with water to help them digest food, enhance their appetite and helps in taming process. Finding homes for the hatchlings is a difficult thing because of its number. If you are not able to take care all of them give them to your friends, neighbors but be sure that those people are a potential owner and has enough time to handle baby iguana.

Breeding green iguanas in captivity has great chance to reproduce good personalities of green iguana. Sometimes green iguanas that have serious problem also yield healthy baby iguana.