By: Green Iguana Society

Humidity: Iguanas require high humidity as well as high temperatures in their environments. One of the most common problems seen in captive iguanas is dehydration. Iguanas don't seem to be programmed to drink very much, perhaps because in their native rainforests there is sufficient humidity in the air and moisture in their food to keep them hydrated. Captive environments tend to be much drier, and with a lack of desire to drink, even if water is made available, many iguanas spend much of their time at least mildly dehydrated. Chronic dehydration taxes the kidneys, and can contribute to kidney failure at fairly young ages. For this reason, it is important to provide your iguana with a humid environment. High humidity also helps loosen shedding skin, which makes the shedding process easier and helps prevent retained shed. Humidity levels in your iguana's environment should be 65-75%.

Humidity - Iguanas require high humidity as well as high temperatures. It can be difficult to keep the humidity levels in the enclosure at proper levels (between 65-75%). Ways to increase humidity include spritzing the cage and iguana with water several times a day, placing a humidifier in the room where the cage is located, and placing large tubs of water in the enclosure. You can also give your iguana a shower or bath every day to help with moisture availability. This is encouraged for a variety of reasons, including hygiene. An enclosure with plexiglass doors rather than screen would be superior in keeping humidity up, but precautions must be taken to ensure proper ventilation. Humidity levels that are too high can lead to mildew and fungus growth in the enclosure and on your iguana. Be sure not to spray the enclosure too close to the time the lights will turn off at night, because the moisture may sit for too long without the heat to evaporate it.

Another more sophisticated way of providing a humid habitat is to invest in a misting system or ultrasonic fogger. These products can and usually will be very expensive, but if used properly, they can create perfect humidity levels in your iguana's habitat. Most misting systems are equipped with timers that will allow it to briefly mist the habitat several times per day. Note: Although a misting system or ultrasonic fogger can create perfect humidity in your iguana's habitat, it can also create too much humidity which can lead to various problems. Such problems may include health risks for your iguana, an increase in bacteria, as well as quickly deteriorating an untreated habitat. Always monitor the humidity levels and always use these products according to the manufacturer's directions.

Conclusion - There are a variety of enclosure designs that will be equally successful at providing your iguana with what it needs - proper heating, lighting, and humidity. What materials, design and heating/lighting devices you choose to use will depend upon the size of the enclosure or habitat, the placement of the enclosure, the surrounding room temperatures, and so on. As you can see, providing your iguana with the appropriate habitat conditions is quite a challenge. However, it is important to realize that it is necessary to do so. The items discussed above are not just what your iguana wants – they are what it needs to be healthy and happy. Once you are familiar with the conditions you need to provide, the next step is figuring out just how to do that. You'll need to decide on what type of climbing materials to provide, what type of floor covering, or substrate, to use, and what types of lighting and heating devices will work best for you. There are many options available, and not all are good choices. Some work well for some folks, but won't be compatible with your enclosure design.