Plan for adult size from the start
A hatchling green iguana fits in your hand; an adult can exceed five feet including the tail and weigh as much as a small dog. A juvenile can begin in a large terrarium, but anyone setting up a first home should already know where the adult enclosure goes — many keepers end up building a custom unit roughly the footprint of a large wardrobe, or giving the iguana a secured room of its own. Buying the cute baby without that plan is the single most common green iguana mistake, so let the adult footprint shape your decision now.
Shelves, branches and height
Iguanas are canopy animals. Build the enclosure around one or two wide, sturdy basking shelves at different heights, reached by thick branches or ramps the iguana can grip with its claws. The top shelf becomes the basking and lookout post, and iguanas genuinely settle better when that post sits at or above human eye level. Everything structural must be fixed firmly — a growing iguana is strong, and a shelf that shifts under its weight will teach it to distrust the whole enclosure.
Heat, light and humidity
Mount a basking lamp over the top shelf to hold a basking surface around 95°F, with the cooler lower levels resting in the low 80s, and control the lamp with a thermostat and a guard. Fit a full-spectrum UVB tube across the top so the basking shelf sits within the tube's effective range; without UVB, a plant-eating iguana cannot process dietary calcium properly. Tropical humidity matters too, so mist daily or run a fogger on a timer, and offer a large water tray the iguana can soak in — many drink droplets from leaves more readily than from a bowl.
Food and water stations
Green iguanas are strict herbivores, and the feeding station should reflect that: a wide, heavy dish on a lower shelf for chopped leafy greens and vegetables, refreshed daily and positioned away from the basking lamp so the food doesn't wilt within the hour. Keep the enclosure kitchen simple at first — dish, soaking tray, shelves — because a young iguana's home needs frequent cleaning and clutter slows you down.
A household project, not a corner pet
An iguana's care — daily salads, misting, lamp checks, enclosure cleaning — is a genuine daily commitment that often spans fifteen years or more. Everyone in the home should know the basking temperature, the UVB replacement rhythm and the plan for the adult enclosure. KinsLe Family Sharing is how the owner grants family members access to the profile for this lizard.