Green Iguanas are herbivores, that is, they are plant eaters. Animal proteins, such as dog food, cat food, and various "people food" treats should be avoided completely if possible. Green iguanas are still one of the most popular pet reptile species. They are farm-raised in Central and South America, and are still imported by the thousands. Green iguanas are arboreal lizards residing in trees in the wild, feeding off of leaves and fruits of those trees. However, since a lot of green iguanas originate from South America, duplicating their diet in captivity is nearly impossible.

Greens like kale and spinach are high in oxalic acids, which bind the calcium your iguana needs. While a little bit of these greens will not hurt your iguana, and they can be used once in a while for variety, there are so many other good greens out there that it seems silly to use just these.

Fresh water should also be offered at all times. Fresh fruit (bananas, berries, apples, peaches pears, and plums) can occasionally be included in the diet. Fresh greens and vegetables may be offered as an occasional treat, but should make up only a minor portion of the diet as additional supplementation is not required. Always make all diet changes gradually over the course of several days.

My conclusion is that if you have some sitting around, feel free to use commercial iguana food products on those very infrequent days when you realize that you are all out of greens and really don’t have time for a trip to the grocery store.