Once the eyes are open, they gaze intently at the surroundings. When its legs are free, the tiny iguana gasps for air, filling it's lungs for the first time. The hatchling and its siblings will waste no time in finding the nearest shelter. The timing of hatching usually coincides with heavy rainfall. In Fiji, this is the rainy season between December and March.
Hatchlings obtain moisture by licking wet leaves.
They also eagerly chomp similarly-colored gifts of banana or pawpaw. At first, hatchlings are dark green, but after several hours their skin becomes bright emerald green and narrow white bands can be seen along their body. Their distinctive crest is also present from birth, and juvenile Crested Iguanas look like miniature versions of their parents. Mother Crested Iguanas have been observed fearlessly defending their nests from intruders many times their size. Sometimes, instead of digging a hole in the ground, a female will lay her eggs in the soft center of a tall coconut tree and cover them with debris.