Feeding an exotic pet like an iguana is much more complex than feeding a dog or cat. A proper diet that balances their specific nutritional needs and provides them with proper husbandry is of the utmost importance for this animal’s survival in captivity. Improper diet is the leading cause of health problems and death in pet iguanas.1
Whether you currently own an iguana or plan to do so in the future, you need to know what is safe for them to eat, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Iguanas can eat bananas and their peels but only in moderation. Here, we dive deeper into the subject so you can get a better understanding of this reptile’s diet.
Feeding Bananas to an Iguana
While iguanas are herbivores, they are specifically folivores, which means their main diet is composed mostly of leaves, vines, and certain flowers. Iguanas will occasionally consume fruits, but these make up little of their overall meals in the wild, and it should be the same in captivity.
Bananas are fibrous and contain many key vitamins and minerals, so they are great fruits to offer as occasional treats and in moderation. They mustn’t be fed regularly or in large amounts. A single banana typically contains at least 12 grams of sugar, which is high even in comparison to some other fruits.
Folivores like iguanas do not have a digestive system designed to consume excess amounts of fruits and their natural sugars. Overfeeding any fruits can lead to obesity and have harmful effects on your pet’s health.
Benefits of Bananas
Although bananas should only be offered to iguanas occasionally and in moderation, they are full of fiber and the following key nutrients:
- Biotin
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
Great ways to incorporate a banana into your iguana’s diet include blending it up with other vegetable matter or feeding it to them slice by slice. Before offering your pet a new food source, thouugh, it is best to consult with your exotic animal veterinarian so they can recommend the best serving size and frequency.
When offering bananas to your iguana, you should try to opt for organic ones, as these are less likely to have harmful pesticides, herbicides, or residues that can have disastrous effects on your animal’s health. That said, if you are also serving the peels, you should always rinse them thoroughly first, just in case.
Proper Iguana Diet
Several species of iguanas are kept as pets. Although most have similar dietary needs, you need to ensure that you are familiar with the species that you are caring for, have knowledge of their wild diet, and know the proper way to feed them.
It cannot be stressed enough how important a proper diet is for your iguana to live a full and healthy life in captivity. Iguanas in the wild feed almost entirely on the leaves of trees and vines and will occasionally consume flowers and fruits. It is recommended that a pet iguana is offered 80% to 90% dark leafy greens and vegetables and only 10% to 20% fruits.
Most exotic animal vets recommend only feeding plant material to pet iguanas, though there are some commercial pellet and canned foods on the market formulated just for them. These foods are meant as supplementation and should only make up 5% to 10% of their diet if offered. Check with your veterinarian for their best recommendations.
Here, we provide a list of some of the foods that can be included in a pet iguana’s diet and how often they should be offered. Foods high in oxalic acid and goitrogens should be fed moderately to avoid health issues.
Foods for Daily Consumption
- Alfalfa
- Collard greens
- Dandelion greens (flowers and leaves)
- Endive
- Escarole
- Hibiscus (flowers and greens)
- Nasturtium (flowers and greens)
- Mustard greens
- Parsnips
- Snap beans
- Squash
- Watercress
Foods for Consumption Two to Three Times per Week
- Apples
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Carrots
- Fennel
- Leeks
- Mangoes
- Melon
- Papaya
- Peppermint
- Prickly pear fruit
- Rose petals
- Sage
- Thyme
- Zucchini
Foods for Consumption Once per Week
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Beet greens and beetroot (oxalic food)
- Bell peppers
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Bok choy (goitrogenic)
- Broccoli (goitrogenic)
- Brussels sprouts (goitrogenic)
- Cabbage (goitrogenic)
- Cauliflower (goitrogenic)
- Grapes (high oxalate)
- Kale (goitrogenic)
- Lentils
- Mushrooms (high phosphorus)
- Okra (goitrogenic)
- Parsley
- Peaches (goitrogenic)
- Pears (high oxalate)
- Raspberries (high oxalate)
- Rutabaga (goitrogenic)
- Sweet potatoes (high oxalate)
- Spinach (high oxalate)
- Strawberries (goitrogenic)
- Swiss chard (high oxalate)
- Tomatoes (oxalic food)
- Watermelon
Foods to Avoid
Knowing which foods to avoid and which ones to feed in moderation is just as important as knowing which foods to always feed your iguana. Always check with your veterinarian before offering a new food, to ensure that it is a healthy choice. Foods to use in moderation or avoid entirely include:
- Protein: Iguanas should not be offered any live insects, rodents, dog or cat food, meat, or any other food source high in protein. They need to be fed a vegetarian diet; protein can cause kidney and liver problems.
- Citrus Fruits: While iguanas can be offered fruits on occasion, they should never be offered any type of acidic fruits, which include citrus varieties like grapefruit, oranges, limes, lemons, pineapples, tangerines, etc.
- Avocados: Do not feed avocados to your iguana, as these are highly toxic.
- Pesticides: Do not ever offer your iguana foods that have been exposed to pesticides. Even the foods that are staples in their diet should not be offered if they have come in contact with harmful pesticides.
- Foods High in Oxalates: A variety of leafy greens are high in oxalic acid or oxalates. Oxalic acid can block calcium absorption and can cause metabolic bone disease and a host of other health issues. Spinach, beet greens, and Swiss chard are a few examples. It is okay to offer these in moderation, but you must use caution to not overfeed these foods.
- Foods High in Goitrogens: Goitrogens bind to iodine and disrupt the production of thyroid hormones. This can lead to hypothyroidism, which can be harmful to your iguana. Cabbage, kale, and mustard greens are examples of foods potent in goitrogenic substances and should be fed only in small amounts.
- Lettuce: Lettuce should be eaten in moderation. Varieties with high water content, such as iceberg lettuce, have low nutritional value.
Conclusion
Iguanas can eat bananas but only in moderation due to their high sugar content and the fact that these animals are primarily folivores that eat leaves and vegetation.
As with any pet reptile, what we feed them significantly affects their health and well-being. They are unable to provide for themselves in captivity, so it is up to us to ensure that they are getting the proper nutrition and care.
- Next on your reading list: Can Iguanas Eat Oranges?
