'Iguana Light'

Mike (64.76.38.226) -

What is the best light source and intensity for an iguana cage?

Comment #1 citronkid from bird nation -

If I am not mistaken I think an iguana, like most reptiles, need a 12 hour day cycle. 12 hours of light and 12 hours of night. You can buy specialized reptile bulbs from your local pet shop. I think they also have the uv "night" type bulbs as well.

Comment #2 Maura (75.111.243.245) -

Is 10.0 UVB too high of a UVB for my iguana?

Comment #3 josh from ellsworth air force base -

no that is cool the recommended is a 5.0 with the iggy being able to get within eight inches of the bulb. They do require both uvb and uva rays to digest food and assist with calcium absorbsion. the best thing for any iguana is unfilter natural sunlight. this means no glass or plastic blocking their sun. A good wire dog kennel on the porch in direct sunlight works really well. hope this helps.

Comment #4 IguanaKing from Denver, CO -

The Reptisun 10.0 and 5.0 are both excellent UVB sources for an iguana, and both must be placed within 6 to 8 inches of the animal. When using these, it is also recommended that you also use a bright incandescent lamp, because fluorescent tubes don't produce quite as much visible light as they should to stimulate proper constriction of the iris in the iguana's eyes. So, a bright incandescent light will take care of that problem and eliminate the possibility of the iguana's eyes being damaged by the UVB rays. A 12-hour day/night cycle is correct. Just remember that the night cycle should have no visible light, not even one of the blue or red night lamps should be used at night. The main reason for this is the parietal eye, which is the diamond-shaped, opalescent scale on the top center of the iguana's head. This is a fully-functional eye, with a retina and everything, which is extremely sensitive to light and shadow. Light on this eye at night prevents the iguana from sleeping properly, and his behavior will become increasingly erratic due to sleep deprivation.

Comment #5 Marie (74.193.123.88) -

I have a 9 year old male iguy, he just recently start to keep one of his eyes shut, I suspect the proximity of the UVA/UVB light be the problem, can anyone had a similar problem. The eye does not seem infected, no swelling, no oozing of anything, he just prefers to keep it shut.

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