iguanas

Question
i used to have a green iguana that layed infertile eggs without being mated and now im getting a rhino iguana.. will they lay eggs every year?? or every couple of years

Answer
Kasadee,

To the best of my knowledge, the female Rhino Iguana, just like the green iguana should lay eggs every year, similarly to other species of iguanas. In captivity, rock iguanas are annual, seasonal breeders. Breeding usually takes place in the spring or summer, and hatching in the fall. There is not much information available specifically about captive rhino iguanas becoming gravid in the absence of a mate, but I think that it is safe to assume that the mannerisms in which these iguanas mate and become gravid are very similar, if not the same as that of the green iguana.

Here is some basic information specifically about Rhino iguanas and mating, but you may already know most of this.

Mating
Rhinoceros iguanas, unlike other members of the genus cyclura, reach sexual maturity at four to five years of age. Females become sexually mature at 2-3 years of age. Mating takes place at the beginning of, or just prior to, the first rainy season of the year and lasts for two to three weeks. Females lay from 2 to 34 eggs, with an average clutch size of 17, within 40 days. Females guard their nests for several days after laying their eggs, and incubation lasts approximately 85 days. It has been noted that their eggs are among the largest lizard eggs produced in the world.

I wish I could provide more specifics about this particular species of iguana but I would air on the side of caution on this one and consider the egg-laying process of the Rhino iguana the same as that of the green iguana for purposes of ensuring the health of a sexually mature female iguana of any species.

As far as the frequency with which eggs are laid, that is not necessarily set in stone. Some iguanas can and will lay infertile eggs every year and some may not. It is important to be cognizant of your female iguanas if they do not lay to ensure they do not exhibit signs of being eggbound in which they could need an emergency spay.

Sincerely,

Sara J. Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA
www.RaptorRescue.org