It takes a surprising amount of money to properly house and care for an Iguana. They are definitely not a cheap pet. Correct caging, diet, supplementation, lighting, and vet care add up very quickly! And along with the monetary commitment, you also need to be prepared to sacrifice a lot of time for your green friend. Along with the 'fun' time spent hanging out and socializing with your Iguana, there's also more time spent cleaning enclosures, preparing and packaging their food, giving baths and subsequently disinfecting the tub, Ig proofing the house for free roam, and much more! Below is a breakdown on the cost of keeping Mozilla, just in the first few weeks!

• Initial Vet Visit, 4 days in Intensive care: $400
• Ultrasonic fogger and UVHeat Bulb: $120
• Digital thermometer/hygrometer and timer: $50
• Grocery trip for one week's worth of food: $20
• 1st Followup vet visit: $100

That's just about $700 just in the first 2 weeks of owning Mozilla! Bear in mind that although a lot of that budget was spent on the vet visits because of her health, I did not have to purchase a cage for her, saving at least $400. Of course, since she's getting better and will hopefully continue growing, she will soon need a new cage to replace that one. I also had many of the basic supplies needed from my other herps...I'm always collecting extras of things just in case. So let's see what my budget is figuring in all the goodies I previously bought:

• Ultrasonic fogger and UVHeat Bulb: $120
• Digital thermometer/hygrometer with probe and timer for the fogger: $50
• Dome light fixture with porcelain socket for UV Heat bulb: $12
• Dome light fixture for secondary basking bulb: $12
• 100w GE lightbulb for second basking area: $1
• CHE bulb for night heat: $25
• Porcelain socket fixture for CHE: $12
• Shallow kitty litter box for lagoon: $10
• Cage Carpet: $12
• Timer for lights: $12
• 2 Surge protector strips @ $10 each: $20
• Heating pad for nighttime: $15
• Timer for heating pad: $12
• Spray bottles for misting: $5
• Nolvasan disinfectant 16oz: $20
• Weekly grocery visit: $20
• Initial vet visit: $400
• 1st Followup vet visit: $100

Now, I haven't even begun to figure in the cost of electricity for the bulbs and humidfying devices. Lightbulbs (both heat and UVB) need to be replaced periodically, and there are also all the lovely unexpected costs, like more vet visits or a fogger that suddenly burns out. Even without the little hidden extras, my initial cost was over $800! And that's without having to buy or build a cage! Keep in mind that although a large chunk of my budget has gone to vet bills for a seriously ill Iguana, my startup cost not including vet bills was around $400, and even healthy Iguanas should see the vet for a 'well baby' checkup at least once a year. My bank account is still suffering from a major case of anorexia following Mozilla's arrival, but I don't begrudge any of the money spent, or yet to be spent. To see her happy and getting healthy is worth all the money I put out for her and more!

© 2002 - M. Martin