iguana sleep routine – Mercury Pets

One of the questions I often hear when first someone gets a pet iguana is where do they sleep? The answer can be different for different animals, although most iguanas follow similar basic patterns of sleep behavior. This will of course be different depending on whether the iguana in question is a pet or is wild, but in both cases the same kinds of sleeping habits come into play. Iguanas will usually try to find somewhere hidden or out of the way as a place to sleep. Under rocks, plants, branches, or leaves is the normal terrain in the wild. In captivity they may hide in a tunnel, cave, or under other materials available in their space. A big priority for an iguana in choosing a place to sleep is finding somewhere safe and out of the way of predators. There are many factors that you might well observe in a pet iguana where sleep is concerned. Where Iguanas Sleep The main factors you will usually observe in where an iguana will sleep is that it may be: Somewhere HiddenOut of the wayUnderneath somethingSomewhere unexpectedSomewhere away from heat and light Reptiles, like all animals, are full of surprises, and don’t be amazed if your iguana doesn’t always tick all of the these boxes. But in general iguanas are looking for somewhere out of the way, where they are safe from predators, and away from the stimulation of heat and light that keeps them awake and unable to go into the comatose state that is similar to sleep that they achieve. Where Iguanas Sleep In The Wild Of course the natural world offers a wealth of infinitely random places for an iguana to choose as a resting place. Keeping in mind the five features of habitat that they often choose (see above), the iguanas will often be found in some of the following places: Under objects such as leaves, rocks, or branchesIn small holes or mini-cavesIn dark placesSomewhere well away from the obvious threat of predatorsIn ‘different’ places, and not necessarily returning to the same spot again and again. This could potentially be quite dangerous for an iguana Most iguanas live in rainforests, and these luckily give an abundance of vegetation and plant-material that is perfect for hiding. Rainforests are a brilliant terrain for all sorts of animals that value disguise in their lives for protection. Where Iguanas Sleep In A Terrarium Where you will find your iguana asleep in a terrarium will depend heavily on a few different aspects. These are issues such as: How big your terrarium is. Huge terrariums may give multiple options of great sleeping spots for iguanas, and so you may find they sleep in many different places. Smaller terrarium’s may only give one or two options, so you may find your iguana becomes more a creature of predictable habit.What sort of features you have in the terrarium. Remember that iguanas are looking for somewhere safe and out of the way. If you have plants in there, or branches, or rocks, you may well find these are used by your iguana.If you have any objects in it that are ideal for iguana sleeping. Some great natural spaces are things like caves, or bridges, that offer darkness, snugness, and that feeling of being tucked well out of the way. You can buy objects such as these from pet-shops or online, and they can definitely provide a great place for your iguana to sleep. Iguanas Don’t Actually Sleep One thing that is more of a technical point, is that iguanas don’t actually ‘sleep’ in the same way that humans and so many other animals do. They actually go into a state of deep rest. This basically shares some features of sleep but is not the same. Their heart rates go down, and all their internal processes slow down significantly. However, they are still in a state of awareness much different to sleep. They are still using their senses, at least to some degree, and so are aware of potential dangers and predators much more than a sleeping animal. Where Iguanas Live Most iguanas in the wild are found in Central and South America. The majority of them live in rainforests. However, there are some of them that can be found in coastal regions of these countries, where the habitat is drier and has less vegetation. Recreating this kind of rainforest habitat to some degree in a terrarium is the best way of witnessing their natural sleep behaviors. The habitat is not only crucial to their daily waking activities, but also to how they spend their night-time. Rainforests provide shelter, protection, food and stimulation, and that is what you are aiming to reproduce. Daily Routine Of An Iguana Unlike many animals that will nap or sleep at intermittent periods throughout the day, an iguana’s life is structured in many ways in a similar to style of that of most humans. An iguana in the wild will wake when the sun is up and is becoming hot. They will be most active in the daytime. This is often linked to temperature, and the hotter temperatures will create an iguana at its most active. Iguanas spend their time climbing, foraging, sourcing food, and basking in the sun. They are generally awake for the entire day. Iguanas will begin to sleep when it get dark, or when the temperature drops a long way. They take full advantage of any sunlight, and lighting in terrariums is crucial to their happiness and healthiness. They sleep in the wild when the source of heat and light is reduced. This is also what you should aim for in captivity, by turning off any UV lights at night so the iguana is experiencing a light-dark repeating cycle. 10 Top Facts And Tips For Healthy Sleep For Your Iguana Have some vegetation and other natural materials in the terrarium that the iguana could choose for sleepHave a small cave, bridge or dark area, somewhere where they can hide away and feel secureHave a light-dark cycle in place. Have the light and heat on in the day to create an active iguana, and then reduce heat and light at night.Create a stimulating environment that is both good in the daytime for promoting their curiosity, but also provides opportunities for sleep as wellRemember iguanas don’t actually ‘sleep’ and are still slightly aware when they are in their deep-rest stateA larger terrarium may provide more opportunities for sleeping spotsIguanas sleep at night and are awake in the dayMost iguanas sleep once at night, and are not know for sporadic sleep and nappingAll iguanas are different, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ behaviour that you are guaranteed to seeA ‘rainforest’ style habitat is the thing to aim for to create a happy and healthy iguana. Conclusion Where you will find a pet iguana sleeping is not always an exact science. Some may always choose the same place, and others will differ. However, in general iguanas will usually be looking for similar features in an ideal resting place. It will be somewhere out of the way, and slightly hidden. It may be an unexpected place, the last place you (or a predator) would look. They like darkness, and most importantly they like a feeling of safety.