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Of all the lizard species within the Reptilia class, iguanas are among the largest and most majestic. If you are considering adopting one as a pet or are simply fascinated by this huge reptilesHave you ever wondered: what do iguanas eat?
There are about 40 unique iguana species within the Iguanidae suborder, and most are herbivores, although a select few are omnivores. Most famous iguana species live throughout South or Central America in warm, humid climates where plant life is abundant, both as food and shelter. What does all this mean for the typical iguana’s diet? Keep reading to learn more!
Are all iguanas herbivorous?
As mentioned above, the vast majority of the approximately 40 iguana species are herbivorous, both in the wild and in captivity. More specifically, most are folivorous. A folivore is a type of herbivore that primarily feeds on the growth of foliage plants, although many iguanas also regularly consume fruits and other vegetables encountered in their native habitat.
For example, perhaps the most well-known iguana species, the green iguana, is an expert collector and is constantly on the lookout for leaves, vines, fruit and even flowers to feast on. In captivity, their diet is usually the same, although pet green iguanas tend to have more variety in their meals, as they are not limited to the specific plants of a small area.
Many water-loving species of iguanas, such as the marine iguanas, are strong swimmers and also look to bodies of water to find plants to feed on. They usually feed on various types of algae and seaweed, in addition to the foliage plants and flowers they encounter on land.
What are the favorite foods of wild herbivorous iguanas?
Most herbivorous iguanas, such as green iguanas, blue iguanas and rock iguanas are not very picky about the plant material they choose to eat.
Since most iguana species live in mainly tropical and subtropical regions where plant life is abundant, they have a wide variety of foods to choose from. Some of their favorite foods that they actively seek out in the wild include:
- Flowers such as hibiscus, roses and orchids
- Leafy vines such as the princess vine and the balloon vine
- Flowering vines like the bougainvillea
- Tropical fruits such as melons, mangoes, figs and papaya
- Umbrella plants
- nettles
- Leaves of various fan palms
- Dark Leafy Greens Found in Gardens
- Vegetables such as pumpkin and tomatoes (also found in gardens)
- Various other small fruit and flower-bearing shrubs
Do iguanas eat meat or insects?
While most of the known iguana species are primarily herbivorous, there are still several notable species that also consume insects and even other animals such as lizards and frogs in their native habitat!
For example, the rhinoceros iguana is mostly herbivorous in the wild, but is technically an omnivore. In addition to plant material, they usually eat small insects and arachnids. In rare cases, however, they will also eat smaller lizards and even snakes when they are desperate and their other primary food sources are scarce.
Spiny-tailed iguanas are another highly opportunistic and omnivorous group of iguanas in the wild. These South American iguanas feed on a lot of plant matter, usually in the form of foliage plants and vines. However, they will also eat insects, arachnids and various types of eggs from other lizards and birds.
However, when it comes to a stricter meat-based diet, there are no 100% carnivorous iguanas. Virtually all species eat only plant matter or a combination of plant matter and animal matter.
What are the favorite foods of wild omnivorous iguanas?
Omnivorous iguanas may be even less picky with their diet than herbivorous species! In fact, most of them are highly opportunistic and will eat any plant or animal small enough to get into their mouths without difficulty.
Since most omnivorous iguanas are quite large lizards, in the wild they have a variety of foods to choose from. Their favorite things to eat are:
- Small to medium-sized insects such as beetles, cockroaches and caterpillars
- Terrestrial and aquatic arachnids, including spiders, crabs, and even scorpions
- Little bird, lizard and turtle Eggs
- Other lizards such as small geckos
- hatch birds, lizards and turtles
- Small fish and fish eggs
In addition to these meat-based foods, omnivorous iguanas also enjoy many of the same favorite foods as herbivorous iguanas. These foods include various flowers, fruits and other foliage plants.
What do pet iguanas eat?
Iguanas are a challenging type of reptile to keep as pets as most species are very large and difficult to handle and require huge enclosures with very specific temperature and humidity settings. In addition to their significant housing needs, pet iguanas must also eat large amounts of food every day, usually in the form of fresh vegetables, fruits and vegetables. Most omnivorous species also need a decent amount of insect protein to stay healthy and happy in captivity.
Still, many iguana species are commonly kept in captivity by expert reptile hobbyists wh
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are up to the task and able to keep up with the food and housing costs of the giant lizards. Some of the most popular species commonly kept as pets include the green iguana, the rhinoceros iguana, and the desert iguana.
In captivity, herbivorous iguanas are usually fed food such as:
- Dark leafy greens like kale, turnip, and dandelion
- Various safe flowers such as hibiscus, roses and orchids
- Leafy ornamental plants
- Vegetables such as pumpkin, bell pepper and carrot
- Sweet, juicy fruits such as melons, mangoes and berries
Omnivorous iguanas, on the other hand, usually eat the above vegetable matter in addition to small amounts of the following meat-based foods:
- crickets and grasshoppers
- Mealworms and superworms
- Various small but protein-rich bird eggs (chicken, quail, etc.)
- dubia cockroaches
- hornworms
Most captive iguanas are also offered a calcium supplement, usually in powder or liquid form. These supplements are designed to be sprinkled on plant matter or animal proteins such as insects. They also sometimes contain other vitamins that benefit iguanas in captivity, such as vitamin D3.
What Foods Are Poisonous to Iguanas?
While most iguana species are opportunistic and therefore not very picky when it comes to what they eat, there are certain poisonous or harmful foods that they should not eat, whether in the wild or kept as pets.
For herbivorous iguanas such as green iguanas, all forms of animal protein should be avoided. This means that they cannot eat eggs, insects, arachnids or other lizards, for example. This is because their digestive tract is unable to break down animal material.
Plant material rich in oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, is also toxic in large amounts. Oxalates interfere with the absorption of calcium and other important nutrients by both herbivorous and omnivorous iguanas.
Most fruits are somewhat rich in oxalates. Therefore, only about 15% of an iguana’s diet should consist of fruit. Certain vegetables such as spinach, beet greens and rhubarb also contain dangerously high levels of oxalates.
Finally, any processed “human food” high in fat, sugar, or carbohydrates can make both herbivorous and omnivorous iguanas very sick, even in small amounts. The digestive tracts and gut bacteria of iguanas also have no way of breaking down or benefiting from these foods.
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