When you first look at iguanas, you probably don’t expect them to like water. In some places it’s very common to see iguanas being on land, basking under the sun, or laying on a tree branch.
Without paying close attention to these reptiles, you won’t know if they actually like water since they are mostly on land. I was curious about this too before I got my pet iguana. So, I did some exploring and ask this question to some of my friends that own iguanas. This is what I have gathered.
Most iguana species do like water. The two most common species that are known to love water are the green iguanas and the marine iguanas. In fact, swimming is one of their favorite activities.
This might be surprising to you but iguanas are actually very good swimmers even if they don’t look like they are. Iguanas love being in the water but getting them to actually drink it can be quite challenging.
Iguanas That Live Near Water
It is quite common to see iguanas live near water. The two most common are the green iguanas and the marine iguanas. They usually do not interact because they live far away from each other.
Green iguanas usually live in the rainforests while the marine iguanas live on an island called Galápagos island. These iguanas love swimming in water but they do it for very different reasons.
Green Iguanas
Survival is the main reason for green iguanas to get into the water. They usually jump into the water to protect themselves from predators. Most of the time, iguanas prefer to run when a predator spots them.
However, if they chilling on a tree and can’t get away fast enough, they will have to jump off the tree and into the water. That’s why having water around where iguanas live can be vital to their survival.
Marine Iguanas
The reason for the marine iguanas to jump into water is a little different from the green iguanas. Both these iguanas have slightly different diets due to their surroundings. Marine iguanas jump into the water to look for algae as a food source.
If you compare the green iguanas with the marine iguanas, the marine iguanas will jump into the water more often. This should be expected since marine iguanas depend on the ocean to find food.
Iguanas Swimming
Just by looking at them, you wouldn’t think they are good at swimming but they actually are. They can swim very well thanks to their powerful tails that propel them in water.
Not only are they fast swimmers, but they can also swim a long distance. Floating on water is also not an issue for iguanas. All they need to do is lay on the water and let the legs dangle under.
Lastly, they also have big feet with webbing that helps them paddle through the water. If you own a pet iguana, make sure to let is an exercise to maintain optimal health.
Swimming is a great activity to do just that but make sure to sanitize the whole pool before anyone else uses it. Do not let your iguana get lazy.
Iguanas Under Water
It’s surprising enough to most people that iguanas can swim well but the surprise is not over yet. Green iguanas can stay underwater for a whopping 30 minutes while the marine iguanas almost an hour.
This difference is very understandable since the marine iguanas actually swim for food while green iguanas mainly do it to escape from predators.
Even though the marine iguanas can submerge underwater for almost an hour, they usually only spend, on average, about 5 to 10 minutes underwater.
Depth of Iguana’s Dive Underwater
How deep both iguanas dive is also quite different. The green iguanas can dive to a depth of about 3 feet while marine iguanas can dive into a depth of 65 feet.
Water In Iguana’s Cage
It is always a good idea to put a water bowl in your iguana’s cage in case it gets thirsty. Iguanas don’t need a lot of water for hydration, only about 20 ml of water for every 1 kg of their body weight.
Most iguanas don’t have the habit of drink water directly. They usually get their hydration from the food they eat. Even so, training your iguana to drink water will only be beneficial, you don’t want your iguana to be dehydrated.
One of the methods of getting your iguana to drink water is by putting some berries in its water bowl. The sweetness from the berries should be enough to lure the iguana into drinking the water.
If you are going to put water for your iguana to drink, make sure not to use tap water as there will be many contaminants.
However, if you insist on using tap water, you should add a few drops of this water conditioner (link to Amazon #ad) to remove contaminants before serving it to your iguana.
Iguana Pooping In Water
Many people categorize iguanas as clean animals for a reason. They have a habit of pooping when they are submerged in water.
One good thing about this is that they won’t make a mess which is easier for you to clean after.
So, don’t be surprised if you put a water bowl in your iguana’s cage and find out there is poop inside the next day. Make sure to always change out the water so it’s clean and fresh in case your iguana wants to drink out of it.
Conclusion
For most species of iguanas, water is one of their favorite things. That’s why you can often find a lot of iguanas hanging around ponds or lakes. Moreover, iguanas are extremely good swimmers even if they don’t look like it.
Their “in water” stats are pretty amazing. They are able to swim long distances and be underwater for 30 minutes or more, depending on the species.
Swimming is an important part of survival for some species of iguana as they use it to escape from predators or to find food. If you have a pet iguana, always make sure they have fresh water in their bowls in case they get thirsty.
Lastly, don’t be surprised if you see your iguana pooping in the water that you intend it to drink from. Iguanas have a tendency to poop while being submerged in water.
