Are you worried that your green iguana is beginning to change color? If so, you’re not alone! Many iguana owners observe their lizards gradually and mysteriously take on more of a brown hue over time.
The good news is—there’s likely an easy explanation behind this shift in coloration. In this blog post, we’ll explore why iguanas change from green to brown and how best to care for them during the transition.
What does it mean when your iguana is brown?
The color of your iguana can tell you a lot about its overall health and well-being. When your iguana appears to be brown, it typically means that it has stopped shedding its skin correctly, which is caused by improper care practices such as an inadequate diet, unhealthy housing conditions, or too much stress.
This type of shedding is also known as “dysecdysis”, and can lead to loss of appetite, dehydration, inflammation of the skin, and even infection.
To reverse dysecdysis in iguanas, it’s essential to feed them a balanced diet consisting of both plant material and animal proteins while supplying adequate UVB light to help them produce vitamin D3.
If done properly, this will increase the production of healthy cells throughout their bodies so they can more efficiently shed layers of dead skin.
Do green iguanas change Colour?
The green iguana is known for its ability to change color. In fact, color change can be used to determine the age and sexual maturity of a lizard, as well as its stress levels.
Interestingly, the color-changing abilities of this reptile have also been linked to changes in its environment – from temperature fluctuations to light levels.
Green iguanas can alter their hue remarkably quickly, between bright greens and dull greys, depending on the level of activity they are engaging in or how threatened they feel.
Therefore, paying close attention to your iguana’s color can help you detect signs of distress or ill health. Ultimately, these creatures have sophisticated capabilities when it comes to communicating with color!
What does a stressed iguana look like?
An iguana that is stressed out will present a variety of physical and behavioral signs.
The first thing one may notice is body language, which might include an arched back, head tucked down for protection, or pulling up its legs away from its body. It may also start to hiss or try to open its mouth wide as if it is biting.
Additionally, color changes are common during states of stress too; when agitated an iguana’s green or grey coloring can deepen in hue, or even change color altogether for short periods of time.
Finally, stressed iguanas can suffer from decreased appetite and have a slower metabolism making them lethargic and less active than usual.
What Does It Mean When Iguanas Change Color?
Iguanas are known for their ability to change colors in order to blend into their environment, but what does this mean?
Color-changing is more common in male iguanas, who use it as a sign of dominance. When a male iguana senses another male nearby, his body will darken in order to illustrate power and command respect.
Females tend to be less aggressive and often display lighter colors, which indicates that they accept the presence of the other iguana.
Although some experts believe color-changing is primarily an instance of camouflage, it’s interesting that iguanas also appear capable of using it as a form of communication.
Do green iguanas stay green?
Green iguanas have captivated humans since their discovery, often with the idea that they will remain mainly green throughout their lifetime.
As adorable as this may be, these lizards actually experience a transformation of color due to various environmental and social factors.
A green iguana’s natural habitat plays into its shade of color; those living in warmer climates tend to have strikingly bright greens while cooler regions yield flatterer hues.
Further, green iguanas grow darker if female hormones are present, so breeding can also alter things.
In some fascinating cases of metabolic changes, hormonal issues, or pondering philosopher-like thoughts, intense reds, and oranges may sprout from a formerly reliable green friend!
What temperature do green iguanas like?
Green iguanas love warm temperatures that range between 80-95 degrees Fahrenheit.
They do best in consistent heat, as cold temperatures can make them sluggish and even ill.
Providing a varied temperature range is ideal for this species of reptile; too little variation can make them stressed or halt their growth.
Additionally providing some form of heat at night is important since green iguanas are crepuscular creatures, meaning they are most active in the morning and evening.
Habitual heated basking spots allow for natural patterns of behavior; this helps keep green iguanas happy and healthy!
What is a brown iguana?
Brown iguanas are a species of diurnal lizards native to Central and South America.
These virtually unanimous reptiles have fascinating adaptations to hot and dry climates; their powerful legs allow them to jump from tree to tree, while their well-developed senses of smell and sight help them search for food sources.
Brown iguanas also feature amazing camouflage capabilities, as they can quickly change color based on the environment they inhabit.
When living in forests or dense jungles, they take on darker brown shades so they can blend into their landscape.
With a life expectancy of around 10 years in the wild, these iguanas remain an interesting part of the natural world!
The Bottom Line
Since green iguanas are known to change color, it’s not unusual for them to turn brown. It is believed that two primary factors are behind the shift: temperature and attitude.
Temperature changes can lead to a rapid change in an iguana’s coloring. Their attitude can also have a say: if your iguana is feeling threatened or stressed due to their environment, the presence of predators, or other unknown factors, they may take on a darker hue as well.
Ultimately, if you notice your iguana turning brown don’t be too concerned — it’s a natural behavior. Be sure to keep its environment at an ideal temperature while providing plenty of room and hiding spaces so that it is comfortable and secure enough in its habitat to remain healthy and vibrant!
