How Do Iguanas Change Color? The first reptile that you think of when it comes to changing color is a chameleon. However, they are not the only species that does. One thing to note, though, is that while iguanas do change color, they cannot do so voluntarily for camouflage. They only change color due to outside factors such as breeding, stress, and things such as the weather. The first major color change that you are likely to see from a pet iguana is that of it changing to the adult colors. That happens in the second year of their lives as they reach maturity.
It is not easy to understand how iguanas actually change their colors, most of it is a natural bodily response to outside factors. That is much the same as how people can go red when angry, or slightly green when they are sick. However, it is important to note that all color changes from an iguana are for a reason – some sort of change in the environment. Monitoring their color is extremely important as an owner, as most changes are due to stress. If your iguana ever turns black, that is a bad sign, and you need to take action. The four reasons why an iguana may go black are:
- Stress
- Burns
- Poor diet
- Infection
