Photo © & Credit Larry Johnson

NOTE: The following considerations may be applied to all species of animals, especially those considered exotic.

• To be a nerd. I do not want to purchase an iguana just to have one. I must buy books about iguanas so that I shall know more about them.
• To become a responsible exotic pet owner because I understand that my iguana's life and well-being are in my hands. Since it is a captive, it must rely on ME to feed and care for it properly. When I go away on vacation, I shall find a responsible person to provide the same quality of care for my iguana as I would.
• To learn my iguana's scientific name because it may be called by many different common names. I need to know its real name so that I may be able to research its specific needs.
• To try to duplicate, to the best of my ability and financial means, my iguana's natural habitat. What kind of heat and light sources will it require? Does it eat and is it active during the day (diurnal), at dusk and dawn (crepuscular), or at night (nocturnal)? How will it drink water-from a bowl, from a water bottle or from water droplets on leaves? Does it eat only plant material (vegetarian), only live prey (carnivore) or both (omnivore)? What kind of substrate (lining of the cage, i.e., newspaper, wood chips, gravel or sand) does it require?
• To understand that I must quarantine any new acquisitions for 30 to 60 days before introducing it (or them) to my single pet or colony.
• To be able to recognize if my iguana is male or female and to know what special requirements are determined by its sex.
• To learn what diseases I may get from my iguana (called zoonotic diseases).
• To learn how to recognize if my iguana is sick, and what to do about it. What are the most common diseases that may afflict it?
• To join a herpetological club or association so that I may become more knowledgeable and enjoy my iguana more. I will have fun at the meetings by meeting other herp owners and learning from them.
• To find a veterinarian who is iguana-friendly and who will be able to provide the veterinary care and instruction that I will need.

Now, do I really want all of this responsibility?

-Dr. John N. Case, Jr. is the owner of the Clinic for Animals which is located at 5201 N. State Road, Tamarac, Fla., and can be reached at (954) 739-4500. Dr. Case has a small-animal practice.