I want to get a uromastyx.. i have a few questions... i have two local pet stores that have them.. i have only contacted one so far, they are wild caught babies.. i have seen in some threads that people advise against wild caught? im nto sure about the other pet store i will call tomarrow.. also are they easy to handle (tame) and if in the future i want to add another will there be a dominance issue? any other advice on these guys?.. thanks
i want to get a uromastyx
- Thread starter adalas226
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They also need a LOT of heat...120 degree basking spot for a minimum of 12 hrs a day.
They also need intense UVB exposure in order to metabolize calcium and grow properly. This can be achieved with the use of florescent bulbs or ballasted bulbs specially made to emit UVB radiation.
They also need intense UVB exposure in order to metabolize calcium and grow properly. This can be achieved with the use of florescent bulbs or ballasted bulbs specially made to emit UVB radiation.
All good points.
Another big one is not to leave water in the tank. You do NOT want the humidity to rise in there. My baby Uros will actually drink water from the area of the glass that I spray for them...then what's left evaporates pretty quickly. In the wild there is such little water that they can actually come down with respiratory infections from soaking or exposure to high humidity levels.
For food...I feed insects about 3 times a week (crickets, meal worms, wax worms). Offer a LOT of vegetables and other greens. (Kale, collard greens, carrots, peas, dandelion greens, alfalfa, and beans like lentils and navy). Make sure that you mix bird seed with your "Salad" and add a calcium supplement.
Another big one is not to leave water in the tank. You do NOT want the humidity to rise in there. My baby Uros will actually drink water from the area of the glass that I spray for them...then what's left evaporates pretty quickly. In the wild there is such little water that they can actually come down with respiratory infections from soaking or exposure to high humidity levels.
For food...I feed insects about 3 times a week (crickets, meal worms, wax worms). Offer a LOT of vegetables and other greens. (Kale, collard greens, carrots, peas, dandelion greens, alfalfa, and beans like lentils and navy). Make sure that you mix bird seed with your "Salad" and add a calcium supplement.
DO NOT BUY WILDCAUGHT!!!!!
It will most likely only die of parasites. This is what I've learned in the 5 years of keep uro's. Contact Deer Fern Farms for a CB baby. It is worth the extra money by far. As far as taming goes most uros are born "tame" and can become lap dogs given enough care and attention. As far as feeding and housing it all depends on the species of uro. I would suggest either a mali or ornate as a first uro. These are the easiest and most commonly available uros. I would keep a single male or female. While they do good in pairs for short periods eventually the male can "overbreed" the female or kill her due to not wanting to breed. Now, feeding for a mali or ornate would be something like a good mix of greens. I use a mix containing dandelion, kale, red and green oak, endive, romaine, raddicio, mazuna, chard and so forth. It is packaged by Taylor Organics and you can find it at Sam's club for about 4 dollars for a 1 lbs tub. Put about 2 ounces of water in the tub and refrigerate and it will last about 10 days. I also feed as much pear cactus as I can get my hands on along with different squashes, carrots, beans and cockatiel seed. I just keep a dish of bird seed in with the at all times and give fresh food twice a day. Don't leave any standing water in the cage and soak your uro about once a week for 20 minutes or so to ease shedding. I keep mine on a mix of playsand and coconut fiber. Provide rocks for basking and climbing.
This is the MOST important part. Keep a gradient temp of at least 80 degrees w/ a warm area around 100 and a basking area in the 125 range. Seeing as how they need this kind of temp range you are best off keeping your lizard (this is for an adult BTW) in a 48 by 20 inch enclosure. AT LEAST. I prefer to grow them out in a 40 gallon "long" tank or a standard 55. These are very active lizards and do require some high maintenance but are worth it in the end. Also you will want to provide uva / uvb lighting either through natural sunlight or reptile bulbs. Try out www.kingsnake.com for more info they have a great uro forum.
It will most likely only die of parasites. This is what I've learned in the 5 years of keep uro's. Contact Deer Fern Farms for a CB baby. It is worth the extra money by far. As far as taming goes most uros are born "tame" and can become lap dogs given enough care and attention. As far as feeding and housing it all depends on the species of uro. I would suggest either a mali or ornate as a first uro. These are the easiest and most commonly available uros. I would keep a single male or female. While they do good in pairs for short periods eventually the male can "overbreed" the female or kill her due to not wanting to breed. Now, feeding for a mali or ornate would be something like a good mix of greens. I use a mix containing dandelion, kale, red and green oak, endive, romaine, raddicio, mazuna, chard and so forth. It is packaged by Taylor Organics and you can find it at Sam's club for about 4 dollars for a 1 lbs tub. Put about 2 ounces of water in the tub and refrigerate and it will last about 10 days. I also feed as much pear cactus as I can get my hands on along with different squashes, carrots, beans and cockatiel seed. I just keep a dish of bird seed in with the at all times and give fresh food twice a day. Don't leave any standing water in the cage and soak your uro about once a week for 20 minutes or so to ease shedding. I keep mine on a mix of playsand and coconut fiber. Provide rocks for basking and climbing.
This is the MOST important part. Keep a gradient temp of at least 80 degrees w/ a warm area around 100 and a basking area in the 125 range. Seeing as how they need this kind of temp range you are best off keeping your lizard (this is for an adult BTW) in a 48 by 20 inch enclosure. AT LEAST. I prefer to grow them out in a 40 gallon "long" tank or a standard 55. These are very active lizards and do require some high maintenance but are worth it in the end. Also you will want to provide uva / uvb lighting either through natural sunlight or reptile bulbs. Try out www.kingsnake.com for more info they have a great uro forum.
hey! thanks for the great info.. im going tomarrow to purchase the tank.. it is a looks the length of a 40 gal. but is about the same wide as it is long.. i will get more info and dimensions tomarrow.. seems big..any suggestions on which bulbs to purchase? do you have a link so i can bring it to the pet store.. i want to get the set up and everything before purchasing it may be a few weeks before i buy the uro if i buy through Deer Fern Farms.. ive decided i want a Ornate Uro.. i will keep you posted.. thanks again for the info!
p.s ive only kept a pac man frog and a leopard gecko when i was younger and it they basically were my parents.. because of my age at the time.. so this will be my first reptile that i'll have ... the one pet store said i should go for beardies instead.. but im really interested in the uro's.. would anyone advise me not to start with a uro? i have the time and $ i just dont have the experience....yet *(but you got to start somewhere
)
)By all means get a Uro. I've kept beardies before and they're not any easier to care for. Go with these bulbs for uva/uvb
And these for heat
Also, get a hygrometer / thermometer to monitor heat and humidity.
I use this one
Good luck and just let me know if you need any more help. Also, check out
http://www.deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Care.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx/caresheets/uro-care.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/super/urozone/info/care.html
And these for heat
Also, get a hygrometer / thermometer to monitor heat and humidity.
I use this one
Good luck and just let me know if you need any more help. Also, check out
http://www.deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Care.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx/caresheets/uro-care.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/super/urozone/info/care.html