An iguana is a great pet in many ways. They are intelligent, relatively docile, and have a very long lifespan. However, they require a complex and varied diet. This can make it hard to find the best food for iguanas. Without proper nutrition, the health of an iguana will quickly degrade. That is why it’s so important to choose the best food for iguanas.
In this article, we will be taking a look at seven of the best iguana food products available for sale online. We will attempt to determine which of these is the best food for iguanas. These products are presented in no particular order.
7. Zilla Adult Iguana Food (6.5 Ounces)
This food comes in convenient little pellets, each of which is textured. This makes it easier for your lizard to get ahold of them. In terms of cost, this one isn’t too bad, and it offers a great option for those who want to brighten the color of their pet.
The label shows us many helpful nutrients, but also some suspicious chemicals like copper sulfate. Also, this food will go bad quickly once you add water, leading to some waste issues.
- Contains a wide variety of nutrients
- Not particularly expensive
- Convenient-sized pellets that are easy to grab
- Ingredients meant to improve color
- Contains some suspicious ingredients
- Goes bad quickly once moistened
6. Zilla Juvenile Iguana Food (6.5 Ounces)
This is the juvenile version of Zilla’s Iguana food, and it is quite similar to their other product. It is meant to provide all the nutrition that a young lizard needs, and works well as either a primary diet or a supplement. Like its sister product, it also contains ingredients that are meant to help your lizard develop that nice blue-green color that most iguana owners desire.
Of course, this one isn’t the cheapest of foods, but that isn’t so bad. Once your iguana reaches adulthood, you won’t need this any longer. As a dry food, it’s very hard to feed. Unless you moisten it first, many iguanas will turn up their nose.
- Meant to provide complete nutrition
- Helps to increase color
- Contains calcium supplement
- Not a great value
- Iguanas often won’t eat dry food
5. Mazuri Tortoise Diet (1.5 Lbs)
This food isn’t made for Iguanas, but it is advertised as a good food for all herbivorous reptiles. It is true that the nutritional needs of turtles and lizards are similar, so this should be fine. It has a lot of fiber, making it very filling and good for growth. Price isn’t bad, and you get a lot of nutrients for that money. This food is particularly high in antioxidants, which are essential for iguanas.
The only bad thing is that this food was primarily designed for tortoises. As such, the iguana would have been an afterthought to the people who invented this food. Also, the label tells us that this product contains up to 9% ash. We don’t know why this would be so, but it doesn’t seem like a good thing at all.
- High in fiber
- Fairly cheap
- Lots of antioxidants
- Primarily meant for tortoises
- Contains up to 9% ash
4. Zoo Med Adult Iguana Pellets (5 Pounds)
Iguana pellets like these are a tried-and-true favorite. This product condenses a lot of nutrients in a compact form and contains a lot of calcium to minimize the need for extra supplements. Also, this is the most cost-efficient product on our list, and can easily be purchased in bulk.
There is one frequent problem with this product: Lizards won’t eat the pellets. You have to crush them up and add them to other food, such as collard greens or strawberries. The good part is that you can add them to nearly anything.
- Very cost-efficient
- Available in large quantities
- Can be prepared in many different ways
- Contains a lot of calcium
- Might contain too much calcium
- Many iguanas don’t like this stuff
3. Nature Zone Bites For Iguanas (24 Ounces)
These are an interesting option that is meant for maximum convenience. This product comes in pre-portioned “bites” which are soft and easy to digest. In terms of cost, they are also pretty cheap.
One little problem is the fact that this food can dry out easily if the lid is not tightly sealed, and once it’s dry, no iguana will be interested. Also, this huge list of ingredients creates a little bit of allergy risk.
- Fairly cheap
- Pre-portioned
- Easy for lizards to chew
- Made for easy digestion
- Spoils quickly once dried
- Too many ingredients (possible allergy risk)
2. Exo Terra Juvenile Iguana Food
This is another pellet food, but this one is made in soft, moist pellets. Of course, the downside of any soft food is that it will spoil quickly. If the iguana does not immediately eat it, it is best to refrigerate this food. Even then, you should never keep it more than a day. This creates some issues with waste.
On the plus side, this is a very cheap food that most iguanas will eat. Also, it is very rich in nutrients, including protein, making it a great choice for juveniles.
- High in protein
- Rich in other nutrients
- Quite cheap
- Spoils quickly
1. Rep-Cal Dry Adult Iguana Food
This is a low-cost iguana food that is fortified with lots of vitamins. The small pellets are easy for an iguana to eat with their tongue, which is great for those who want to baby their pet. Some people consider it to be the best food for iguanas.
One little thing: This food seems to make most iguanas poop more. This can be a good thing if your lizard has constipation issues, but it can also be a very annoying issue for you.
- Very good value
- Acts as a laxative
- Small pellets are easy to eat
- Mostly made with fruit
- A few suspicious preservatives
- Acts as a laxative
Conclusion
It should be mentioned that the best food for iguanas consists mostly of whole fruits and vegetables. We recommend mustard greens, collard greens, apples, and bananas as staple foods.
However, these commercial iguana foods can make a nice additive, just to make sure that your pet receives all the nutrients that it needs. Overall, the best food for iguanas would probably be the Zoo Med pellets.
They are the cheapest option on the list, contain fewer suspicious ingredients, and are easy to mix with whole fruits and vegetables. Of course, your opinion may differ, so feel free to comment below.
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