Uromastyx Care Sheet
|
Scientific Name:
Uromastyx spp |
| Lizards
Home > Library |
| |
Description
|
| Most Uromastyx
specied come from desert to semi-arid areas and prefer
a hot environment to live in. |
| |
Statistics |
| Natural Location: |
India, Asia, Arabian
Peninsula, the Sahara |
| Average Lifespan: |
Up to 50 Years |
| Estimated Size: |
Uromastyx aegyptius: Up to
30" and more; the rest reach up to about 14" |
| |
| Captive
Care Information |
| |
Food
& Water
The Uromastyx is a omnivore. They should
be offered a mixture of feeder insects and a salad. Waxworms,
crickets, mealworms
and superworms will suffice for the meat. The salad should
consist of a wide variety of vegetables and fruit: greens,
sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, strawberries, corn, split
peas, green beans and a bird seed mix. Most of their water
will be consumed through their food. They may lick the
water off the sides of the tank. You can offer a small
amount of water in a bowl, but take caution not to leave
the bowl in the tank. The high temperatures, coupled with
the water, will raise the humidity.
Lighting, Temperature & Humidity
The Uromastyx are used to hot, arid desert conditions.
You must offer a large heat gradient, as cool as 90
degrees F and as hot as 110 degrees F, with a basking
spot that reaches around 120 degrees F. Maintain the
heat gradient successfully by placing thermometers at
either end of the enclosure. At night, the temperature
should be around 80 - 90 degrees F. Do not let the temperature
drop below 65 degrees F. These lizards live in the arid
deserts, and therefore need no humidity. Use broad spectrum
heat bulbs, and a flourescent or other bulb with UVB.
Direct sunlight (not through glass) is recommended for
natural vitamins.
Housing
A glass aquarium or wooden box should be used. The
setup should represent a desert. Use playsand or dirt
as a substrate making sure to include rocks and other
outcroppings for climbing and basking spots. It is important
to allow them to burrow under objects, so make sure
they will not fall. Gravid Female Uromastyx's
will want hiding places, so make sure to include hiding
places.
Behavior & Temperment
You will find that like most lizards,
the Uromastyx can be quite territorial.
Mostly the male, but sometimes also the female, will defend
their territory from other Uromastyxs, other lizard species,
and other animals. You may also find that two males in
captivity will tend to fight together. When this happens,
losing the battle can have adverse effects on the male
lizards health. Feeding may diminish
and growth rates can be shunted. A male and a female Uromastyx
can live comfortably together, although most keepers only
introduce the two during the mating season. |
| |
