It should be a vibrant green, not a dull brown or yellow color, and the skin should be free of black spots, ticks, cuts or scrapes. The eyes should be bright and clear. Check that all toes are present and examine the tail, which should be long and straight. Be careful to not restrain the iguana by the tail, or you may break it off. Although you may be tempted to purchase more than one baby iguana, this is not a good idea.
Iguanas are solitary animals that only come together for reproductive purposes.
Even youngsters may demonstrate territorial displays, which is stressful to them, and may become dangerous to them as they mature and begin fighting or not allowing the more submissive ones to eat. For these reasons, they are better kept as solitary pets. If your goal is to breed them, juveniles will need to be housed separately as they mature. When deciding to purchase an iguana, keep in mind that they can live for over fifteen years, so this is quite a commitment. If you are not concerned about purchasing a hatchling, you might be interested in adopting an older, larger iguana.