Architectural Designs

i have an iguana and a chinchilla and would like to house them in the same cage?

i am planning on building a large cage and was wondering if it would be ok to house both the iguana and the chinchilla in the came cage. i thought it would be cool to have two different animals coexisting in one cage. i dont personally know anyone who has done or tried it. any info or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Public Comments

1. People don't do it because they should not co exist and do not exist in the wild, chinchillas require cooler temperatures while Iguana's need a basking spot and UV, this can harm your chinny. They have completely different dietary needs and if the chinny eat the iguana's greens it could cause stomach problems and kill it, aswell as Iguana's are territorial and would more then likely kill your chinny. Try building 2 large separate cages, I wouldn't risk their lives just because you think it'd look cool.
2. Iguanas are typically very aggressive and territorial - and i wouldnt put it past a chinchilla to fight it out too Iggies come from a hot and humid climate, chins from cool and dry. As cool as it seems to house 2 exotic species together, its better to think about the animals welfare - its never a good idea to mix species, never mind animals from completely different areas and habitats. Stick with separate cages for them both :)
3. The reason you don't know of anyone who has done this is because it's a BAD IDEA. Different animals have very different needs. They need different amounts of space, different bedding, different toys, different food, etc. Even if the iguana won't want to hurt the chinchilla, the chinchilla doesn't KNOW that and will be frightened. The iguana might be scared to death of the chin's wheel, might even attack it. Or maybe something in the chin's food might be harmful to the iguana. There are just so many things that can go wrong. If you want to make your chin happy, get another chin. I don't know much about iguanas, maybe they are happy living solitary lives, but if they are, they are one of the very few animals who don't need the companionship of other animals LIKE them. The chin will never be good company for the iguana because they can't understand each other's body language, they can't groom or play together because they don't understand each other. When you see a turtle and a hippo or a rat and a rabbit that have become 'friends' what you are actually seeing is two DESPERATELY lonely creatures that are clinging to each other because they have no one else. They are not happy, can't be happy unless they are with their 'own kind.' So please build a cage for each animal and consider getting another chinchilla, if it's possible.
4. No. No one has done or tried this for a reason; it does not work. Iguanas and chinchillas are very, very different animals and should never be placed together to interact. For one thing they cannot communicate in the came way. Chinchillas will undoubtibly see an animal like an iguana as a predator. Locked in the same cage, the chinchilla will live its life under high stress, always hiding and avoiding. Although igs aren't predators themselves, locked in a cage, an iguana will readily chase and attack a smaller animal that reminds it of potential food (they do hunt live food when young, remember that). Physically, both animals can inflict GREAT damage onto the other, and because they aren't meant to live together, the chances of this are very high. At any time, one can stay too close to the other making it feel threatened, or needing to defend itself, and then you are left with two bleeding animals and two vet bills. Stupid risk. Second, they need VERY different care. Chinchillas must have loose bedding (wood shavings or paper pulp) to use for nest material, igs will die after ingesting some. Chinchillas need a dust bath, igs will die if ingesting some. Chinchillas need constant hay and pellets, igs will die if ingesting some. Igs need fresh fruits and veggies, chins will die if ingesting some. Igs need spot lights to bathe in, chins will burn themselves, or become ill from the high heat (chins are VERY bad with heat). Chins need a wheel, igs can get injured on one. Igs require a large, deep water dish to soak in, chins will DROWN, an if not, grow fungus on their fur because they should never be left wet. They will also come to eating the other's feces simply because it is new and a source of some nutrients. All the large lizards I have ever had have all been attracted to rodent droppings. Chinchillas also urinate everywhere to make territory which can leave ammonia burns on the iguana since it cannot groom itself. Geez, are you bored or something? Animals are not your playthings. If you canot respect that, give them to someone who will take better care of them, please.