Posted by:
el_toro
at Sun Mar 21 20:21:56 2010 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by el_toro ]
Don't worry about offering details - the more the better for getting help. Lazy has nothing to do with it. If they don't mate, there's a reason: incorrectly sexed (i.e. two males?), not old enough, too old, poor health, poor nutrition, parasites, etc. etc. etc. I took in a pair of Malis long ago that were supposed to be a male/female pair and soon realized they were both males. You can't always trust what they tell you.
Is the female flipping onto her back at all (rejecting a mating attempt)? Does the male do any head bobbing or push ups? Does he bite and try to mount or does he just bite? Biting her tail is bad. If you feel uncomfortable with the behavior you're seeing - and it sounds like you are, I would recommend separating them right away. Mating usually happens in the spring and into the summer, but if it's territorial aggression, they may have to be separated forever.
I know they were kept in a smaller enclosure before, but do not divide the tank you have. It's barely big enough for one - the lizards are longer than the tank is wide (or they will be soon). Get a second tank at least as big. Four feet by two feet is a good size for one uro. Aim for a wider tank at the very least.
Some recommendations? Get a quality digital thermometer with probe, and make sure there's a good temperature gradient across the whole tank. You can find them in the garden center of most big stores. If your house is cold, it's unlikely one 150 watt bulb is enough. You've seen that they huddle in the warm spot. If the temps are right, you should see them using the whole space of the tank, not just one spot or one side. If they're healthy and in a proper environment, they're very active and curious lizards. Ideally, you want a basking surface temp around 120F or a little higher. About 2/3 of the tank should be at or near 100F. The cool side (that last 1/3 or so) should be no lower than 85F.
Hope that helps. Good luck with them! ----- Torey Eugene, Oregon, USA 1.1.3 Saharan Uros (Joe, Arthur, Hitch, Lefty, and Skywalker) 3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank) 1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot) 1.3 Collared Lizards (Ripcord, Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Niacin) 2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket) 1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)
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