What is
the classification of the Rhinoceros Iguana?
Name:
Cyclura Cornuta Cornuta.
Class:
Reptilia.
Order: Squamata.
Family: Iguanidae.
Genus: Cyclura.
Species: Cyclura
Cornuta Cornuta (Rhinoceros Iguana).
Where do
Rhinoceros Iguanas come from?
Mainly in
Hispanolia, the Domican Republic.
What is
their Status?
Vulnerable
What is
their Habitat?
Rhinoceros
Iguanas are diurnal animals which inhabit dry rocky forests in coastal
areas.
How big do
they get?
Rhinoceros
Iguanas males reach 120cm maximum nose to tail, with a little under 60cm
snout to vent. A male can attain a weight of 10kg, making them one of the
heaviest iguanas worldwide.
Females are
somewhat smaller reach a snout to vent length of 510mm and a weight of
5.5kg.
How long
do they live?
20 years
plus, some reports suggest 30 to 40 years.
Are
Rhinoceros Iguanas dangerous?
No, they are
not venomous and relatively placid; however during their breeding season
these iguanas can become slightly territorial, and have been known to
charge a person entering their vivarium. That said I have not had
personal experience of this 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
large claws, which potentially can and do scratch flesh. Some keepers
suggest using thick protective gloves as for Green Iguanas, but I have not
found this necessary.
Would you
recommend a Rhinoceros Iguana as a pet?
Generally
Rhinoceros Iguanas are gentle, placid, non-aggressive lizards, but due
their size, and claws, the adults do require a certain amount of respect
when handling them. This is not an iguana I would suggest as a beginners
lizard due to their final size, however they are an extremely hardy animal
that can thrive given a correctly sized vivarium, heat, UV light and food
and makes a very good alternative to the common green iguana.
Typically I
ensure food is available to my adult animals six to seven days a week. I
have never witnessed them ever drinking from the water bowl, so can only
assume they acquire the majority of their fluids from their food.
However I do recommend supplying fresh water daily.
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.
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 large 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 in 2.5 x 1 x 1m vivariums, this would be the absolute minimum. Most
breeders suggest the optimum size for a pair would be three times this
size. The message is simple the more space the better.
I decorate
the vivariums with large pieces of bark with raised sections and shelves
which the Iguanas like to climb onto and over.
What do
you feed your iguans?
We feed 80%
green vegetables and 20% fruit to both young and adults. As a seldom
treat the adults are also given small pre-killed mice.
What kind
of substrate is best?
I use
shredded aspen. I find aspen the easiest. It is 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 105 F (43 degC)
is recommended, the hotspot is switched off and an ambient of 64F (18degC)
is maintained. Humidity is kept low – ambient conditions. 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.
{Back to Resource Page}
