Ask Scarlett: I think iguanas are really cool; do they make good pets?

Ranger Rick, May, 1998

Lots of people think so. There are already millions of these pet lizards in the United States, and thousands more are sold every year.

But pet iguanas can cause big problems. For one thing, their droppings are loaded with bacteria called salmonella (SAL-muh-NEL-uh), which can make people very sick. That's why it's important to always wash your hands after handling iguanas.

Iguanas also are hard to keep healthy. They need just the right kind of food, the right amount of light, and the right temperature. And they need lots of room--that baby iguana you buy in a pet store can grow to be six feet (2 m) long in only a few years. By then it will need a cage the size of a small room!

So, still want an iguana? Better leave little Iggy in the pet store!