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Next to adequate nutrition, no other aspect of husbandry for captive reptiles is more important than sanitation and hygiene. Many bacterial and fungal diseases of captive
reptiles result from their daily exposure to fecal contamination and a damp, filthy environment. In the wild, reptiles have acres of land and water over which their feces and uneaten food can be
scattered. They rarely, if ever, come in contact with this material. This is not the case with captive reptiles. Owners of captive reptiles engage in a continual struggle to prevent bacterial buildup
caused by inevitable deposition of waste product and uneaten food. An iguana's cage floor or aquarium bottom
can be covered with clean newspaper (unprinted preferably) or butcher paper. The next best material is indoor-outdoor carpeting. Paper towel squares can also be placed end to end to cover the entire bottom of the enclosure. When one of the squares becomes soiled, it can be easily removed and replaced without disturbing the entire floor of the enclosure. Under no circumstances should pea gravel, corncob material, wood shavings, sand, kitty litter or sawdust be used. None of these items promotes adequate cleanliness, and they may be eaten while the iguana is feeding, resulting in intestinal impaction.
Iguanas are frequently displayed on moss. Even though this is visually attractive, it is a poor husbandry practice because this
material remains continually damp, promoting serious skin infections. A captive iguana's environment must be kept fastidiously clean and dry. Any object that becomes
soiled with feces or urine should be removed and cleaned or replaced as soon as possible. The enclosure should be set up so that it can be easily cleaned. Human nature dictates that the more time it
takes to clean the cage and the more complicated the task, the less often it will be done. Make the enclosure functional rather than beautiful. Reptiles are highly susceptible to poisoning from pine oil
cleaners, such as PineSol and Lysol. These household cleaners must be avoided.
Iguana Emergencies . Iguana Diseases . Iguana Care . Iguana Health . Iguana Feeding . Iguana Grooming . Iguana Hygiene . Iguana Behavior
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