I've had Uros for 8 years and had a beardie for two years before that. However, while I respect the Uro purists, I'm a little more in the mentality that I do due diligence in providing a good home for them but that they are, at the end of the day, pets. I kept a pair of female Uros for 7 years (mali's) and never weighed them, didn't create elaborate hides or set ups, monitor every little temperature and thing in their lives...and I was very active in handling them, spending time with them and showing them affection and they were healthy, socially acclimated lizards. I didn't keep them from heat for long periods of time but they're not going to freeze if they're not under a lamp for awhile as long as you keep them above a reasonable 'low' temp. There's definitely a personality to these that come into play...I had one that would rather be handled lightly but tolerated more and I had another that would roll onto her back for a tummy rub the minute you walked to the enclosure. They both got very used to handling by both me and the children, I took them to friends houses, I put them on leashes for short times out in the sun (I know i've heard people here greatly disagree with most of this) but they never were sick or frazzled or showed signs of stress. So, I would say, if you ask my unorthodox opinion, that you would benefit from getting to know their personalities and what they're comfortable with, once they're settled and see that you're the caretaker handle them regularly and just take it SLOW...they are very sweet creatures and can make great 'pets' in my opinion but they are not lap lizards from my experience. I think they are more tolerant than many might paint them to be though.

Have fun and best of luck!
Molly

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]