Uros are popular pets due to their unique appearance and calm personality. The word Uromastyx comes from the Greek roots ourá (tail) and mastigo (scourge), after their characteristic spiked tail. Uros range from 10-30” in length, depending on species, and can live up to 20 years in captivity with good care.[1]
What Can A Uromastyx Eat
Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, spring mix, watercress, broccoli, escarole, Swiss chard, parsley, kale, spinach, romaine, carrot and beet tops, cactus pads, okra, green beans, peas, pumpkin, and squash are all appropriate. Avoid pale greens such as iceberg lettuce or celery tops.[2]
What Can You Not Feed Uromastyx?
For this reason, we do not recommend feeding cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts. These are all one species, which also includes the leafy greens kale and collard greens that may be used in limited amounts.[3]
What Is A Uromastyx Favorite Food?
The uromastyx diet should be a mix of dark green leafy vegetables and died peas, lentils, and seeds. Dark leafy greens (Romaine, escarole, kale, cabbage, turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, cilantro should be offered several times weekly to daily.[4]
What Fruits Can A Uromastyx Eat?
Fruit: Occasional. They enjoy a variety of berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Seed: Occasional. Some species can have occasional seed such as millet.[5]
What Does Uromastyx Eat
Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, spring mix, watercress, broccoli, escarole, Swiss chard, parsley, kale, spinach, romaine, carrot and beet tops, cactus pads, okra, green beans, peas, pumpkin, and squash are all appropriate. Avoid pale greens such as iceberg lettuce or celery tops.[6]
Can Uromastyx Eat Bananas?
Citrus foods are said to be too acidic for proper digestion, and too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea. Banana, plums, peaches, nectarines and passion fruits are highly skewed towards phosphorus in their Ca:P. levels, so use caution with these fruits.[7]
Can Uromastyx Eat Crickets?
Can uromastyx eat crickets? No, your uromastyx should not eat any crickets or other live bugs. Uromastyx are not designed to consume and digest lots of protein, so vegetable protein should be offered instead, in moderation (1-2 times a week).[8]
What Fruit Can A Uromastyx Eat?
Fruit: Occasional. They enjoy a variety of berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Seed: Occasional. Some species can have occasional seed such as millet.[9]
How To Help Uromastyx Shed
While uromastyx need low humidity levels of around 20-30%, you can have a moist hide for it when it’s shedding. For this, you can include some moist moss inside the hide that can help moisten the skin and shed easily. Don’t spray the tank or your uromastyx, and don’t soak it either.[10]
How Can You Tell If Your Uromastyx Is Dehydrated?
Many skinny uromastyx will be dehydrated, because the main source of moisture are salads. Signs of dehydration are lethargy, sunken eyes, wrinkly skin, small to no urates (white part of poop). When a uromastyx is hydrated, it will look alert and plump, urates will be present in the poop (and even some liquid pee).[11]
How Often Should You Clean A Uromastyx Tank?
Cleaning. Moroccan uromastyx, as with most pets, require a clean environment to thrive. We recommend a spot clean as often as possible (every day) and a full clean every 4 weeks or so. If you are keeping the uromastyx in a bio-active enclosure you can spot clean and monitor the enclosure.[12]
What Kind Of Bedding Is Best For Uromastyx?
Despite being a desert native, uromastyx does not do best only on a sand substrate. They usually live on rock outcrops in the wild. That being said, they do enjoy digging. You can provide a somewhat natural substrate with a mixture of play sand and soil, compost, or peat moss, or a combination of these.[13]
Why Is My Uromastyx Not Eating
There are a number of reasons your Uromastyx may not be eating: (1) improper temperature of the enclosure, (2) improper diet, (3) improper lighting, (4) infection of the mouth, (5) upper respiratory infection, (6) gut impaction, (7) parasites, etc.[14]
How Do I Get My Uromastyx To Eat?
If your uromastyx didn’t eat today, try other veggies and greens tomorrow. Once or twice a week, you can offer treats such as bee pollen and lentils, as they are high in protein. Most uromastyx love bee pollen, and almost all love lentils and beans.[15]
How Can You Tell If Your Uromastyx Is Dehydrated?
Many skinny uromastyx will be dehydrated, because the main source of moisture are salads. Signs of dehydration are lethargy, sunken eyes, wrinkly skin, small to no urates (white part of poop). When a uromastyx is hydrated, it will look alert and plump, urates will be present in the poop (and even some liquid pee).[16]
What Can I Feed My Picky Uromastyx?
Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, so pretty much all their nutritions come from plants, vegetables, and fruits, as well as small amounts of lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds.1Alfalfa (Fresh)2Arugula.3Butternut Squash.4Chicory.5Collard Greens.6Dandelion Greens/Flowers.7Endive.8Escarole.[17]
Why Is My Uromastyx Sleeping So Much?
Brumation is a period of winter slowdown. If it’s currently winter and your uromastyx mostly sleeps, it’s most probably due to brumation. During brumation, uromastyx come out for few hours a day to roam and bask, and eat on some days.[18]
When Do Uromastyx Brumate
When Do Uromastyx Brumate? – My Reptile Blogmyreptileblog.com › Lizards[19]
How Long Does Uromastyx Brumation Last?
During brumation, your uromastyx should not lose any weight. Brumation often lasts 1-3 and even 4 months during winter time. Please do not induce brumation by lowering temperatures if you are not an advanced keeper and do not plan on breeding your uromastyx.[20]
Do Uromastyx Have To Brumate?
Uromastyx normally lightly brumate all winter in the wild, so they are somewhat programmed to lose their appetites during the winter anyway. As long as they are maintaining their weight, do not become overly concerned if they tend to eat a lot less during this time.[21]
How Can You Tell If Your Uromastyx Is Dehydrated?
Many skinny uromastyx will be dehydrated, because the main source of moisture are salads. Signs of dehydration are lethargy, sunken eyes, wrinkly skin, small to no urates (white part of poop). When a uromastyx is hydrated, it will look alert and plump, urates will be present in the poop (and even some liquid pee).[22]
Why Does My Uromastyx Hide All The Time?
If the tank is too cold or hot, your uromastyx is very likely to hide. When the tank is too hot, your uromastyx will mostly stay on the cool side. It will also hide a lot, as well as dig to try to cool down.[23]
What Size Tank For Uromastyx
Juvenile Uromastyx need a minimum 20 gallon terrarium. Juveniles can be housed together in a 30 gallon terrarium. Adult Uromastyx need a minimum 40+ gallon terrarium. Provide plenty of hiding and basking places.[24]
Can A Uromastyx Live In A 20 Gallon Tank?
Uromastyx Housing
Uros are an active, diurnal lizard and require large enclosures. A hatchling (under 6 inches in total length) can be housed in a 20 gallon “long” tank, but anything smaller is problematic because it doesn’t allow a proper temperature gradient.[25]
How Big Does The Uromastyx Lizard Get?
Most adult uromastyx are between 10 and 18 inches in length, the primary exception being the Egyptian uromastyx, which can exceed 30 inches in length. Hatchlings can measure a mere 3 to 4 inches in length.[26]
Do Uromastyx Need Heat At Night?
What basking temperatures do uromastyx need? Uromastyx like it hot! They should have a basking surface temperature between 120-130°F, with cool side temperatures down to 85°F. Nighttime temperatures should be between 68-80°F, which can usually be accomplished by turning off the heat source.[27]
Where Can I Buy A Uromastyx
Reptile StoresLocation unknown[28]
How Much Does A Uromastyx Tank Cost?
How Much Does A Uromastyx Cost? You should expect to spend $100 to $200 to buy this lizard and anywhere from $250 to $500 for an appropriate enclosure with all the necessary decorations and lighting equipement. As they have recently gained in popularity, buying them has become much easier.[29]
What Is The Best Pet Uromastyx?
Omani uromastyx make great pets, they are not shy lizards and are docile. Caring requirements are the same as for other types of uromastyx – high temperatures, veggies, greens and seeds for food and similar terrarium size.[30]
Resources
[1]https://www.cascadekennels.com/uromastyx-care/
[2]https://www.cascadekennels.com/uromastyx-care/
[3]http://www.moonvalleyreptiles.com/uromastyx/uromastyx-diet
[4]https://azeah.com/lizards/basic-care-uromastyx
[5]http://birdandexotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Uromastyx_2010.pdf
[6]https://www.cascadekennels.com/uromastyx-care/
[7]http://www.moonvalleyreptiles.com/uromastyx/uromastyx-diet
[8]https://www.lizards101.com/what-can-uromastyx-eat-and-how-often-a-list-of-50-foods/
[9]http://birdandexotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Uromastyx_2010.pdf
[10]https://www.lizards101.com/uromastyx-shedding-signs-and-tips/
[11]https://www.lizards101.com/my-uromastyx-is-skinny-reasons-and-tips/
[12]https://www.reptilecentre.com/info-moroccan-uromastyx-care-sheet
[13]https://thetyedyediguana.com/blog/keep-your-uromastyx-safe-with-the-right-substrate/
[14]https://www.petcoach.co/question/%3Fid%3D26482
[15]https://www.lizards101.com/why-is-my-uromastyx-not-eating-reasons-and-tips/
[16]https://www.lizards101.com/my-uromastyx-is-skinny-reasons-and-tips/
[17]https://reptilesupply.com/blogs/lizards/what-can-uromastyx-eat
[18]https://www.lizards101.com/why-is-my-uromastyx-sleeping-a-lot-and-not-active/
[19]https://myreptileblog.com/when-do-uromastyx-brumate/
[20]https://www.lizards101.com/why-is-my-uromastyx-sleeping-a-lot-and-not-active/
[21]https://reptilesmagazine.com/keeping-and-breeding-moroccan-uromastyx/
[22]https://www.lizards101.com/my-uromastyx-is-skinny-reasons-and-tips/
[23]https://www.lizards101.com/why-is-my-uromastyx-always-hiding-reasons-and-tips/
[24]https://zoomed.com/uromastyx/
[25]http://www.moonvalleyreptiles.com/uromastyx/uromastyx-care-sheet
[26]https://reptilesmagazine.com/uromastyx-care-sheet/
[27]https://reptilesupply.com/blogs/care-sheets/how-to-care-for-your-uromastyx
[28]https://www.backwaterreptiles.com/uromastyx-for-sale.html
[29]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/uromastyx/%23:~:text%3Dinto%2520smaller%2520pieces.-,How%2520Much%2520Does%2520A%2520Uromastyx%2520Cost%253F,them%2520has%2520become%2520much%2520easier.
[30]https://www.lizards101.com/uromastyx-pet-species-and-types-an-illustrated-guide/%23:~:text%3DOmani%2520uromastyx%2520make%2520great%2520pets,food%2520and%2520similar%2520terrarium%2520size.