What is
the classification of the Fiji Island Banded Iguana?
Name: Brachylophus
Fasciatus.
Class:
Reptilia.
Order:
Squamata.
Family: Iguanidae.
Genus:
Brachylophus.
Species:
Brachylophus Fasciatus (Fiji Island Banded Iguana)
Where do
Fiji Island Banded Iguanas come from?
From the Fiji
Islands and Tonga Islands.
What is
their Status?
Endangered
What is
their Habitat?
Fiji Island
Banded Iguanas inhabit the island’s humid forests. They inhabit the
trees, very rarely venturing to the ground.
How big do
they get?
Fiji Island
Banded Iguanas males reach 80cm maximum nose to tail, with a little under
20cm snout to vent. They are one of the smallest iguanas worldwide.
How long
do they live?
Due to their
rarity in captivity it is unsure how long they live, however some reports
suggest 20 years plus.
Are Fiji
Island Banded Iguanas dangerous?
No, they are
not venomous and relatively placid. I have not had personal experience of
an aggressive Fiji Island Iguana and have found the iguanas to be calm and
inquisitive.
Some care is
required when working with and handling these large iguanas due to their
sharp claws, which do scratch flesh. Some keepers suggest using thick
protective gloves as for Green Iguanas, but I have not found this
necessary. They also have a tendency of whipping their long tails when
initially pick up nervous, but generally calm very quickly.
Would you
recommend a Fiji Island Banded Iguana as a pet?
Generally
Fiji Island Banded Iguanas are gentle, placid, non-aggressive lizards. I
find them generally hardy animals given the correct vivarium conditions
and good daily husbandry and a balanced diet and due to their small size
make a very good alternative to the larger (180cm) common green iguana.
With water
and food these iguanas can be left while going on short vacations without
a problem. I do suggest that arrangements are made for a friend to check
the iguana’s condition daily and ensure the heaters and lights are
operating and the correct humidity is maintained.
What is more
they make great pets for people with allergies against fur and feathers –
when was the last time you saw a furry or feathery iguana?
What do
you keep your iguanas in?
We build our
own vivariums. Our adults are kept in glass fronted vivariums and the
juveniles are kept in smaller vivariums with a similar setup as the
parents.
What size
vivarium should I use?
I keep my
adult pairs in 1.2 x 1 x 1m vivariums, this would be the absolute minimum
for a pair. The message is simple the more space the better. These
iguanas prefer a high vivarium decorated with plants and branches. I use
fake plastic plants, but some keepers prefer real plants (non-toxic of
course).
What do
you feed your iguanas?
We feed 80%
green vegetables and 20% fruit to both young and adults. These iguanas
are also insectivorous, so I hand-feed the adults wax worms twice a week
and the juveniles are fed insects daily.
What kind
of substrate is best?
I use bark
specially prepared for reptiles. I find this bark holds moisture and
helps maintain a steady humidity (60 to 80%). It is also easy to spot
clean during the week and I've never had a problem with it.
What
temperatures do you recommend?
A daytime
ambient temp of 86 F (30degC) is good with a hot spot of 104 F (40 degC)
is recommended, the hotspot is switched off and an ambient of 66F (19degC)
is maintained.
Humidity is
essential for this tropical species; I spray my vivariums daily, which
maintains 60 to 80% humidity. Spraying is also important as these iguanas
prefer drinking water droplets from leaves than from a bowl. I do supply
a water bowl which is perched on the branches of the floor, and have
regularly seen the animals drinking from it, but from my research this is
an exception and not the rule.
Try to
purchase all your equipment from a specialty reptile pet store. They sell
products that are specifically made for these purposes.
Do these
iguanas need light?
Yes, they
need exposure to UV light. I provide this using a UV lamp, setup to
switch on in the morning and off at night. These lamps require changing
once or twice a year as they wear out and the UV output reduces.
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