Is Your Iguana Turning Brown?

Over the last couple weeks I have had a variety of concerned iguana owners contact me about color change. If you notice that your iguana has changed to a darker color and has stayed like that for more than a couple hours there are a few things that can be going on. The majority of igg owners figured out it was due to change in outside temperature thus affecting the inside temperature of their iguana's enclosures.

First, check to make sure that her temperatures are in the right range. Around 88-95F, up to 100F for adults, in the basking spot and around 75-85F in the rest of the enclosure. A cold iguana will turn to a darker shade as they are trying to absorb more heat to warm themselves up. Also, make sure you have a working UVB light. Just because your UVB light is still putting out light doesn't necessarily mean it is putting out UVB. Most need to be changed every 6-10 months, depending on the brand/type.

If you find that your igg's temps are good, think about any external stresses (internal would be like parasites, etc) your iguana may be going through. Did you add a new pet to your home? Does your iguana see other reptiles or animals? Igg's may feel threatened by new people or animals, even people outside the window on a regular basis can be enough to spook an iggy. Keep loud noises, screaming kids, and barking dogs away from where your iguana regularly lives. We can't shield our iguanas from everything all the time, but a constant stress can change your iguanas color. Often a brown or gray color, especially on the head, can be a sign of stress.

Next, if there is an actual problem your iguana will probably look more brown/yellow, sort of tinged with darkness, rather than the milky dull color they get when shedding. I remember when Iggy was quite young and for the first 4-5 sheds, I always forgot what was going on. I'd notice the dull color creeping up on her neck or tail and I would freak out! With enough observation and time, I realized this is a normal occurrence for healthy shedding iguanas. However, if your iguana is not shedding but his head is turning gray this is often a sign of something else going on.

Something else you should consider is how long it took for your iguana to change colors. Has the darkening/browning change occurred quickly- let's say in only a matter of days to a couple of weeks? Or has it been a few months? I am unsure if this goes for all iguanas, in a general sense, but I know that over a course of about 6 months Iggy turned from a brilliant green blue hatchling color to an olive green, brown, black color. This is completely normal and depends on where your iguana's country of origin is.

Finally, is the color actually black? If it's black do you see spots that are raised or even fuzzy? This can be a fungal infection and a vet visit is required.

Here are some great links, some with pictures, too- showing and explaining iguana skin changes:

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/skincolor.html
http://www.greenigsociety.org/shedding.htm
http://www.greenigsociety.org/colors.htm

If your iguana changed to a brown or gray color and is also lethargic, less hungry or alert this could be signs of something very serious. Please contact your vet, your Iggy needs you!

Here is a sort of mini color time-line of Iggy's colors:

Green and tiny

Green and medium tiny with a browning neck/head/spine area

Olive green, striped, brown, black, gray, bright green belly