There are many different options for reptile substrates, or bedding, in the market. But what substrate is suitable for iguanas? In this post, we will answer the question of ‘what can I use for iguana bedding?’, and will look at best and worst iguana substrate options.
Best Iguana Substrate
1. Reptile Carpet
Reptile carpet is definitely one of the best substrate options for iguanas. Iguanas should not have any loose bedding in the cage, due to the risk of impaction.
Reptile carpet is one of the easiest substrates to use for beginner iguana keepers, too.
Reptile carpet like this comes in different sizes, and you can cut it to the required size. It is a good idea to have a spare carpet, so that you can use it while washing the one from the cage.
Reptile carpets are easy to clean – take it out of the cage once a week and wash with water and soap. Then, hang to dry.
2. Newspaper
Newspaper is the cheapest flooring choice for your iguana’s cage. Whenever the newspaper becomes dirty or ripped, take it out and throw it away. Newspaper is cheap and will not cause impaction. The big drawback is that it will not look visually appealing at all.
The best choice of newspaper is unprinted newspaper. Unpinted newspaper will be less toxic, but can cost more. High humidity + heat can cause ink fumes to rise from the newspaper. Newspaper also won’t survive long in the high humidity cage. Also, newspaper doesn’t create a good flooring for movement support and traction (which can lead to toe injuries).
The best time to use the paper for iguana’s cage is when you are quarantining your iguana or want to see its stools. Any type of paper will make it easier to see the poop.
3. Butcher paper
Butcher paper like this is another iguana bedding option. It is similar to newspaper, but is usually brown or white in color. Change the paper as soon as you see that it’s dirty. Butcher paper is cheap and simple bedding for your iguana. The drawback – not visually appealing.
Butcher paper is a good substitute for newspaper. However, same as with newspaper, butcher paper will be thin and slippery, not creating a good flooring to walk on. This can lead to toe injuries.
4. Kitchen terry towels
Yes, you can use small kitchen towels for iguana’s cage substrate. Towels might not be the most appealing choice for the flooring. But towels will be easy to wash and disinfect. And, your iguana will not ingest them, either.
5. Paper towels
Paper towels is another cheaper option for iguana’s cage bedding. They will not be too pleasing, either, but will absorb any waste and will be easy to change quickly. Similarly to other forms of paper, paper towels don’t create a good base for walking on, increasing toe injury risks.
6. AstroTurf
AstroTurf like this is a fake grass bedding. You might use AstroTurf in iguana’s cage, but please note that the pieces from the carpet might fall off. Your iguana might ingest small pieces, which will cause impaction. It can be also hard to clean and disinfect the fake grass flooring.
It might be a better idea to use reptile carpet. If you choose to use AstroTurf, make sure to keep checking on loose pieces and strings.
7. Tiles
Tiles is another good choice for iguana’s terrarium. They might be harder to set up, but tiles are easy to clean and disinfect, and look nice. They might also keep the heat well if you set up heating wires under them. For iguana’s terrarium, you might use tiles and slate, cut to the right size.
Please be aware though, that tiles will not create a solid traction for your iguana to walk on. Tiles will also project heat, so make sure to plan everything to create a temperature gradient (both cool and hot spots). Placing ledges in iguana’s cage might help to create temperature gradients.
Worst substrates for iguana cage – do not use
Some substrates that you might find are advertised for iguanas. But please be vigilant and remember about your iguana’s needs and impaction risks. Some substrates that you can see advertised and talked about in other places might be dangerous for your iguana.
1. Sand
You must never use any sand for your iguana’s cage! Green iguanas are rain forest, not desert inhabitants. Sand is not even recommended for desert lizards, because of the high impaction risk.
Never buy any Calci-Sand or similar sand for your iguana. There is no sand that can be safe when your iguana ingests it, or especially provide any nutrition.
2. Cat litter
Please never use any cat litter for your iguana’s cage. Not only it’s not suitable for your iguana, but also not safe and can be ingested.
3. Gravel or rocks
Gravel and rocks are also unsuitable as bedding for iguanas. Rocks will scratch and cause injuries in your iguana. Your iguana can also swallow the rocks, and they will cause impaction. Never use gravel or rocks for iguana’s enclosure.
4. Bark
Bark is also small and easy to ingest by your iguana. What is more, bark is very hard to wash if there is spillage (there is likely to be, if you have a large dish with water for your iguana to soak in or drink).
While some owners use bark to keep the humidity in the cage and to provide softer surface to walk on, it is not recommended to use bark.
5. Crushed walnut shells
Crushed walnut shells is another substrate option that is unsuitable for iguanas. This substrate can be ingested by your iguana, causing impaction.
6. Wood chips
Please don’t use wood chips for your iguana’s cage. Even though wood chips can absorb some moisture, it will start molding in your iguana’s high humidity cage. Also with wood chips, there is high risk of impaction because your iguana will try to eat everything loose.
7. Aspen bedding
Aspen bedding is not suitable as bedding for your iguana’s cage. Your iguana is very likely to ingest aspen bedding, which can cause impaction. Aspen bedding is the loose substrate, so is not suitable.
Please do not use pine bedding for iguana’s bedding, either. It can also be ingested by your iguana.
Substrates for iguana’s cage that you must use with caution
1. Alfalfa pellets
Alfalfa pellets like this is the only loose substrate that you might try using in iguana’s cage. This bedding is natural, helps with movement friction and can be safely ingested. To clean the substrate, use a scoop to remove any pieces of food and other rubbish.
Few of the disadvantages of alfalfa pellets is that it can get dusty and cause respiratory issues in your iguana. It can also be ingested, which is still not favorable.
You might also not like the smell of the pellets, as it can be quite strong. Alfalfa can also get moldy if water spills on it, so you will have to regularly scoop and remove the wet pieces.
2. Bioactive substrate for your iguana
Bioactive substrate is what iguanas encounter in the wild, naturally. But this doesn’t mean that this kind of bioactive substrate is safe for your iguana or can be maintained easily. This is not the safest bedding, but will be and feel natural to your iguana.
Please only make bioactive substrate if you are an experienced keeper. Otherwise, please use something simple to maintain and clean, such as a reptile carpet.
Bioactive substrate is often made by mixing coco fiber, soil (for example topsoil), large bark chips (that can’t be swallowed), some moss and leaf and litter mix. The components can be mixed in different proportions and should be sterilized first.
The substrate should hold humidity but also not mold. Think ventilation and aeration. Rocks or gravel are often added to the bottom to help with drainage.
Then, some springtails and isopods and other decomposer microorganisms can be added that will help break down waste. But adding insects in the soil can be risky, because your iguana will consume them, especially in a smaller cage.
Bugs are often even not necessary because iguana poop in a water dish that you provide. But you will have to clean the soil as you see any spillage or uneaten food.
If you decide to create bioactive substrate for your iguana, then be very careful about how damp it is and if there is proper airflow. If you keep the soil damp in the cage, fungi and bacteria will grow in it, causing infections in your iguana.
Maintaining bioactive setup is not easy, and is definitely not recommended for most iguana owners. It is not easy to create, can cause impaction and needs regular checking for mites, fungal and bacterial growth.
Thanks for reading this post on best and worst substrates for your iguana! Make sure to visit this page to find many interesting posts on iguana care!