What causes an iguana to change colors?

Any color changes in your iguana not related to breeding season or shedding are an indication that your iguana should be examined by a veterinarian. read more

Various products in the pet stores claim to enhance your iguana’s coloring. Some iguanas are sold under special names at a higher price because of different coloring they have. Sometimes color changes are seen but the cause is not apparent, thus causing the owner to worry about his/her iguana. Conflicting or incomplete information can be confusing. read more

Iguanas, and in fact many other lizards, can change colors to an extent, but not in the dramatic way that chameleons can. Iguanas have pigment cells that get darker or lighter, mainly used to regulate body temperature. Dark skin absorbs more light and heat (from the sun) while lighter skin reflects it. read more

There are, of course, normal reasons the color might change, (i.e. right before the iguana sheds, during mating season, etc.), so a color change more often than not is not something to be overly concerned about, unless it lasts a prolonged period of time. read more

The color can also change on the sides of the iguana’s body, as well as the tail. The coloration can last for a few months, as that is the normal length of iguana breeding season. Females may also develop some orange coloration, but rarely to the extent that males do. read more