

Lights should be on for 11 hours/day during winter and 13 hours/day during summer to simulate seasonal changes in day length. Add a ~6500K LED or T5 HO fluorescent grow lamp to provide extra illumination, as well as help any live plants in the enclosure to thrive. Rhino iguanas are also likely to benefit from bright grow lights as part of their environment. The UVB lamp should be mounted inside the enclosure, with the basking platform placed so the lizard’s back will be 17-18” below the lamp. Position the lamp on the same side of the enclosure as the heat lamp. Here are the best UVB bulbs for rhino iguanas housed in a 8’x4’x4’ enclosure:įor best results, house the UVB bulbs in a reflective fixture like the Arcadia ProT5 or Vivarium Electronics. However, if you are housing your iguana indoors, then you will need artificial UVB lighting. If you are housing your rhino iguana outdoors in an appropriate climate, then artificial UVB lighting is unlikely to be required. UVB lighting helps provide a clear day/night cycle, supplies all of the vitamin D that your pet needs, strengthens the immune system, facilitates better digestion, and provides other benefits. Yes! Rhino iguanas require access to UVB light to survive in captivity. Housing multiple rhino iguanas in the same enclosure is not advised. Of course, if you can manage it, larger is always better! Regular supervised free-roaming opportunities are also recommended. This may seem huge, but keep in mind that these are large lizards that need access to an appropriate temperature gradient and enough room to accommodate their active lifestyle. The absolute minimum enclosure size for a single rhino iguana is 8’L x 4’W x 4’H. When cared for properly, their lifespan may exceed 20 years. These horn-like protrusions are what gave the rhino iguana its name! Rhino iguanas are known to grow up to 4.5’ long.īecause of their size and housing requirements, rhino iguanas are an advanced-level pet reptile. Rhino iguanas are robust lizards with a typical iguana appearance, but they can be identified by the large bulge on top of their head, crests along the spine, and of course, the horn-like protrusions on their snout. Their preferred habitat is coastal but arid, including tropical dry forest, lowland scrub, and coastal forest. Rhino iguanas ( Cyclura cornuta ) are large, diurnal, terrestrial lizards native to Hispaniola.
