Bathing your pet iguana has lots of benefits. It will give it extra hydration, help it shed, and clean. You’ll learn everything you need to know about bathing an iguana in this post.
How to Bathe and Soak Iguana
In the wild, iguanas don’t groom themselves properly. However, the natural environment helps iguanas keep clean. These include rocks and bark. It is also common for iguanas to swim in ponds and rivers to wash themselves.
But in captivity, they don’t have access to ponds and rocks so as their owner its your responsibility to bath and clean them.
1. Choose the Place for Bathing Your Iguana
To begin with, you’ll want to figure out where you’ll be bathing your iguana. For younger iguanas, plastic dishes or tubs work fine, but for adults, you will need a bath.
Don’t soak your iguana in the kitchen. If using the plastic tub, make sure it is only used for your iguana.
2. Prepare the Bathtub for Bathing
The level of water should not exceed the height of iguanas recumbent position, especially if we have an iguana which is not used to swimming. If we have iguanas that are used to swimming, we can have water so high that they can swim. But you have to be present at all times, that any accident does not happen! If iguana is not used to swimming, then you can begin with a little bit of water to adapt it and every time you bath him, add it a little more.
At the bottom of a bathtub can be installed against the sliding base (fabric, rubber, …) that iguana will not slip and will feel better. Only swimming could be something new for your iguana and you need to get used to water, since some iguanas not only show dissent when in contact with water, but literally go crazy! Some can, although, feel very good in water.
3. Make Sure the Water is Warm Enough
Water must have the appropriate temperature, as the temperature of the bathing water must match with the iguana temperature. Water should have from 29 to 32 ° C.
If, during the washing, water Cools down, remove some water and add some hot water, and mix it with hand. Do not pour water directly at your iguana. If iguana is in the bath, do not tap water in the tank from the pipe as the iguana can be scared by stream of water (unless it is already used to).
4. Let your Iguana Soak
When you put iguana in the water you can pour it’s back with it, it will be calmer, and also give him a gentle touch and a nice word.
If it tries to get out of the water, let it calm down again and slowly put it in the water (do not force him and push him in the water bath because it will become very unpleasant for him).
Do not leave iguana alone in the bathroom in a tub or pool (or elsewhere)! Take all the time possible so no accidents can happen. Even if it is already used to a bath, do not leave it alone without supervision! Not only iguana can drown, but could be otherwise damaged or undercooled!
5. Let your Iguana Leave
Once the soaking is done, let your iguana out. Set the towel on the side of the bathtub so your iguana can climb out. Your iguana will also feel better knowing there’s nothing to worry about. Next time, it’ll know the bathtub isn’t scary.
Wrap the iguana in a towel to dry. The iguana’s skin needs to be gently dried, so extra water can soak in.
6. Wash Everything
Once bathing is done, and you have put the iguana back in the cage, you should disinfect the bath. Wash the iguana’s washcloth and the towel in the washer as well. Make sure you add some disinfectant to the washer. Make sure all the accessories are clean and dry before you use them again.
FAQs About Bathing Iguanas
Should I Use Soap to Bath My Iguana?
Don’t use soap on your iguana. You can use a couple of drops of baby soap and a washcloth or toothbrush if there’s dirt or feces stuck to your iguana, but otherwise, just use plain water. In the bathtub, your pet iguana can drink soap, which can be toxic, some scents can kill it.
How Much Time for Bathing?
It’s important to keep the iguana in water long enough for his skin to absorb water. Don’t let the water get too cold, because it’ll be uncomfortable for the iguana. An iguana can soak up enough moisture in 20 minutes.
How often should you bathe your iguana?
Iguanas like to soak in water, so if yours does, have fun! As long as it isn’t stressful, you can give them a bath every week, but make sure the water doesn’t rise above their stomachs.
