Iguana's Diet

Diets for iguanas are an area owners have tremendous difficulty with and the following is a compilation of recommendations from several sources. For young growing animals, the diet should be 75-80% plant based and 20-25% protein based. Once the iguana reaches adult size, at about three years of age, the protein should be reduced to 5-10% of the diet to decrease the load on the kidneys.

The plant based part of the diet should be 90% greens and vegetables and only 10% fruits. Most iguanas relish fruits but fruit is poor in mineral content and high in sugar and water content so they should be restricted. Think of fruit as more of a treat that can be given from time to time. Vegetables will make up the bulk of the diet and leafy greens with a dark green color will make up the majority of the vegetables. Dark leafy greens that are rich in calcium include: collard, turnip, mustard, beet and carrot greens, kale, romaine, bib and red leaf lettuce, bok choy, swiss chard, parsley, escarole, cilantro, watercress, savoy, kohlrabi, clover, dandelion greens and alfalfa. Iceberg lettuce has little nutritional value and should not be fed to the iguana. Other types of vegetables include squashes, alfalfa and radish sprouts, asparagus, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers,  , mushrooms, okra, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Spinach and beets have calcium binders in them so they should be fed infrequently. Cabbage, broccoli and related vegetables can cause thyroid problems if eaten excessively but are fine if fed in moderation. Flowers such as roses, nasturtiums, carnations and hibiscus are excellent. Mulberry leaves are also very good. Fruits which may be fed as treats include, figs (one of the only fruits rich in calcium), apples, apricots, dates, grapes, kiwis, melon, peaches, papayas, pears, plums, prunes, raisins, strawberries, raspberries and bananas (high in potassium but low in calcium).

Questions should be directed to our office, 502-245-7863