Reptiles in captivity can live up to 20 years if cared for properly. You should get a cage that is at least two times the length, from nose to tail, of the reptile. Dr. McGuire suggests you use newspaper or butcher paper as flooring in the cage. Using corn cobs and wood chips is not a good idea. Your iguana may eat these and get an obstruction in the gut.
Iguanas are herbivores.
If you feed meat or too much protein in the diet, it causes renal failure. When you buy your iguana, have it tested for parasites. Many iguanas die from parasitism. When a lizard is sick, it may stop eating, drinking, and moving around. Skin disease and metabolic bone disease are common ailments.