Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei)

Short answers

Jamaican iguana: How big does the enclosure need to be?

300×120×150 cm for a pair.

Jamaican iguana: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot Basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Jamaican iguana: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 12.0 — a very high requirement in herbivorous species).

Jamaican iguana: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–30 years.

Jamaican iguana: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 45–50 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 12.0 — a very high requirement in herbivorous species)

Enclosure

Minimum size

300×120×150 cm for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with solid rock structures and climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Leaves, flowers, fruit and vegetables — mostly plant-based

Feeding interval

adults fresh greens daily

Key facts

Adult size

100–130 cm total length

Life expectancy

15–30 years

Origin

Jamaica, the Hellshire Hills

Protection status

CITES Appendix I, IUCN "Critically Endangered" — trade is effectively ruled out

Brumation

A cooler rest of 6–8 weeks at 18–22 °C

Cohabitation

Kept in pairs (1.1) or with two females (1.2); males must never be housed together - in this genus that quickly ends fatally.

Notes

Thought extinct for 40 years and rediscovered in 1990. One of the rarest reptiles in the world.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Anegada ground iguana (Cyclura pinguis) – Expert
• Grand Cayman blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) – Expert
• Cuban rock iguana (Cyclura nubila) – Expert
• Rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) – Expert
• Ricord's iguana (Cyclura ricordii) – Expert
• San Salvador rock iguana (Cyclura rileyi) – Expert
• Turks and Caicos rock iguana (Cyclura carinata) – Expert
• Common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (300×120×150 cm for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with solid rock structures and climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.