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Included in the subject of lighting is heating since some lights will be used for visual purposes and some for heating and some for metabolism.
You’re feeding your iguana the fresh food it needs and you have the large enclosure. The next part is the lighting. Most important is the UVB light. This is a specialty light that simulates the suns radiation by producing light in the Ultra-Violet range. The iguana utilizes the sun’s UV light much like we do by converting it to vitamin D3. This conversion process is vital to the iguanas’ metabolism and works in concert with the calcium it gets from its diet. One of the best things you can do for you iguana is to give it access to natural, direct unfiltered sunlight. Keep in mind that glass and plastic filter out UVB. In our own human habitat we have created glass windows that filter out UV light so it won’t fade our drapes and carpet. Having a shelf by the window for your iguana is not a bad idea, since it will no doubt enjoy the scenery, but don’t count on it being a source of UVB. For those who live in colder climes, it might be too cold by a window, so make sure you provide a basking light that will keep your iguana warm. Obviously, temperatures need to be sufficiently warm enough to bring your iguana outside.
The tube type of UVB light should be positioned about 8-12” from your iguanas skin. This means designing the habitat in a way where the light will be above the spot the iguana is most likely to hang out. I use shop lights and 48” bulbs so that my iguanas can fully stretch out and get UVB along most of the body.
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| Samantha can stretch out! |
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