Should iguanas be fed insects, meat or dog/cat food?
Insects, meat, dog and cat food have often been recommended for iguanas in the past, but this is now outdated information. A large percentage of relatively young iguanas (5 to 8 years) die from kidney failure as a result of diets too high in protein (ie. use of insects or meat). The advice of any switched-on vet these days is the same: avoid using insect or any form of meat for iguanas. Of course, iguanas are inquisitive and opportunistic creatures and many will eat whatever you put in front of them. Just because they eat something doesn’t mean it’s good for them! So remember, NO crickets, mealworms, dog or cat food, or baby mice! You can read more about this in a discussion on animal protein issues. 7. Do iguanas need special lights? These days we know that iguanas need UVB for the formation of healthy bones and bodies. Most iguanas indoors do not get access to enough sunlight, and therefore you will need a proper reptile UVB light (typically around 5% UVB). Plant grow lights are not
