Raising South American iguanas, some specimens sell for nearly 100 million VND.
Starting with a pair, Mr. Hoa learned how to build a breeding farm to raise South American iguanas, selling nearly 1,000 of them each year.
Mr. Duong Sieu Hoa (38 years old, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) is raising about 150 South American iguanas in his 500 m2 farm. This species, scientifically known as Iguana, lives in tropical areas of Central and South America.
"In Vietnam, the trend of keeping South American iguanas as pets is gradually becoming popular. In 2007, I had a pair, and then I bred them. From then on, I started researching how to set up a farm and raise this species," Mr. Hoa said.
The South American iguanas are kept in cages made of wire mesh. Each cage is about 2 square meters, with an average density of 3-5 iguanas. "The cages need to be placed in a location with regular sunlight because this species prefers warmth. Two males shouldn't be kept together in one cage, as they will attack each other," Mr. Hoa explained.
There are many types of South American iguanas, but the two most commonly kept as pets are the blue and red varieties. Their enclosures are often furnished with logs or dry branches to allow them to climb easily, according to their instincts.
According to Mr. Hoa, South American iguanas are easy to feed, able to eat either live food from nature or food specifically formulated for them. They typically eat green vegetables, pumpkins, and fruits.
In addition to natural food sources, this species is also fed supplemental synthetic seeds to provide additional nutrition.
"In the wild, South American dragons live in areas with lakes and are excellent swimmers. When raising them, you have to keep them moist or let them soak in water regularly," the farm owner shared.
Each year, South American iguanas lay approximately 40 eggs. The hatching rate is only about 30%, and the hatchlings are over 20 cm long.
South American iguanas mature quite quickly; in two years of breeding, they can reach a size of 150 cm from head to tail and weigh over ten kilograms. Males are longer and larger than females. With proper care, their lifespan ranges from 15 to 20 years.
"A beautiful South American iguana should have a large, round dewlap, evenly spaced, prominent dorsal spines, and bright colors... Such iguanas are quite expensive. This one, for example, I've been raising for over two years, and it's worth nearly 100 million dong," Mr. Hoa said.
Newborn green South American iguanas are sold by the farm owner for around 800,000 VND, red ones cost twice as much, and the price of adult iguanas varies depending on their shape and size.
"My hobby is photographing the brightly colored South American iguanas in the sunlight, because that's when they look their best. My farm sells nearly 1,000 iguanas a year," the farm owner said.