There are always a lot of questions concerning the care of a new pet, and even more so for an exotic pet like an iguana. Iguanas have basic health needs that must be met by their habitat, so that is one of the first concerns you should have when choosing a home for your new friend. Following are some helpful tips for anyone trying to decide what may be the best cage for their pet iguana.

1) Your first consideration when buying an iguana cage should be size. Iguanas grow to be quite large – they can be as long as 6 feet when full grown, so it's important to understand the commitment that you must make for its housing. There are people who convert a full room of their house into the iguana's habitat! And don't believe the myth that an iguana will stay small if kept in a small cage; it's simply not true. A large cage may not be needed – or even best – if you're buying a small juvenile iguana, but they do grow fast. Any cage you use should be large enough for the iguana to lay out straight, turn around comfortably, and of course, they need space to climb.

2) Temperature is another important consideration when planning your pet's habitat. Reptiles are cold blooded, which means their body temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. When it comes to their cage, this means they'll need to be able to move around to different spots in its cage to maintain a healthy temperature – heat from lights above, and places where they can move to cool down if needed.

3) Humidity is necessary for iguanas to live comfortably and healthy. They come from native habitats with high air humidity, which prevents dehydration, so it's necessary for you to simulate this in your pet's home. Lack of humidity can cause skin problems, and can even lead to death from kidney failure. There are many ways to provide humidity, from regular daily mistings and baths, to keeping a humidifier in the room with the iguana, to elaborate automatic misting set ups.

4) Finally, let's not forget the importance of light to an iguana. For their health, it's vital that iguanas receive both UVA and UVB light, and the best way to do that is let them sit out in the sun. You should be aware though, that many plastic and glass habitats filter the UV rays – and can become hot as an oven inside if left out in the sun. A screened outdoor enclosure is the best option, but make sure that it's secure and escape-proof, and don't forget to have a shaded area. It's also necessary to have lights in your iguana's cage that provide an artificial source of the needed UV rays. This way your pet won't suffer during shorter winter days or when you can't take it out for direct sunlight.

With such a wide variety of iguana cages available, from plastic or glass walls to metal bars, it can be hard to know what's best. If you're on the search for iguana cages for sale, click here to see the different iguana cage setups available on Lizzie Blount's iguana habitat page.