Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a Nigerian Uro about 3 weeks ago and everything seems to be going great.

I am wondering about normal Uro behaviour. I assume that each is different and maybe I just have a real shy one but she is very cautious when she can see anyone. When I turn her lights on in the morning (8am) she will poke her head out from under her rock and watch for a while. When I leave the room she will come out and wander around, play on her log and what not. When she sees me she will instantly freeze and stare me down. If I come to close to her tank she will race back under her rock if she is close enough and sit there with her head poking out watching me.

As I type this, I am about 15 feet away from the tank and she is just outside of her rock staring at me. If I make a sudden movement she starts back towards her hole.

Also, after about 4-5pm she is done for the night. Under her rock and not coming back out. Is this normal? She seems to be sleeping 16 hours a day and up for 8. She is eating great every day and appears very healthy, just really shy.

The couple times I have taken her out to get her used to contact with me, she will sit very still on my stomach and if I attempt to touch her she will try to take off running. She has also hissed at me a couple times. Is there any good way to get her more used to people? She is in my living room which is fairly high traffic with the girlfriend and myself... of course this is after 5 when she is in bed.

Any insight would be great. Thanx!

I'll be the first to tell you your substrate needs to go. Those black things appear to be sunflower seeds which can cause death if eaten. There are a couple other posts about acclimating, you should read those. Very typical actions, especially for a Saharan. I got a baby Egyptian 3 weeks ago this sunday and I have seen it twice since then and that's only because I took it out to weigh it to make sure it was eating. Taking it slow is the best way to go but I rarely hold my uro's and that's in a whole other post.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.0.1 Egyptian
0.1 Weimaraner

I was unsure about the Sunflowers myself and will definilty change it. So when I read "Mixed birdseed is a very good substrate", what should I assume? Strictly millet? Just anything small enough to prevent choking? Anything shell-less?

Mine was not only timid when i first got him, He was aggressive. I just let him always see when i put food in there and after a while i would set the food in fromt of him where got used to my hand meaning treats. After a while he slowly started to come around....

Another quick question:

How important in changing up the diet? I have been feeding her (Niko) a constant diet of carrot, lima beans, endive, romain and occationally(sp?)peas along with the bird seed base. As said in my other posts, she eats it all up everyday and appears to love it.

I personally think the birdseed substrate idea is nuts. Sorry, Doug. As far as diet, I see no mention of greens; not collards, mustards, turnips, dandelions, hibiscus, or any other flowers, etc.
Please check the care sheets. Deer Fern Farms is excellent, if not the best. I just don't, thru experience, like the millet base.
Definitely, though, you need to expand your culinary base to the tried & proven greens & flowers.
Just my 2 cents.
Dan.

escarole, endive & dandelion are good staple greens.
i use seed for substrate. sand is heavy & dusty, so for me birdseed works out better.
mixed birdseed is fine, but you should screen out any large seeds, including sunflower and dent corn.

I have also used millet (100% red or white) for years and it has worked fine. I started using it when I got my first uros and read the Deer Fern Farms care sheets. 100% sand is not what they live on either. If I were to change I would go to dirt with sand mixed in. I use this with my monitors and it is great for them.
Back to the original question, just take your time with your new uro. It is probably wc or farmed, so it is not used to human interaction. I always talk to mine, even when I don't see them. Don't pick it up, just feed it and do your cage cleaning while it hears your voice. It will take a lot of time, but usually, they will come around. As others have mentioned, add a higher quality greens like turnip, dandelion, mustard, etc. As long as she is eating and gaining weight, you are off to a good start. Best of luck.

Pam
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2.3 varanus acanthurus brachyurus (Dorado, Oro, Dora, Freckles & Amarillo)
1.1 varanus acanthurus acanthurus (Tabasco & Sprite)
1.1 u. macfadyeni (Amani & Abeba) RIP Ayana
1.2 u. ornata (Husani, Zari, & Bintu)
1.1 u. ocellata (Zuhri & Ashai)
1.1 hyla chrysoscelis (Pudge & Squirt)
Herps Are Awesome!

scribbles,

It appears that this subject has gone completely off the original topic. Well, I couldn't resist responding to your shy Uro. I have had mine for approx. 3 weeks now as well and once he established where his hide was...I barely ever see him. He's a Juvi approx 8-9mos old and eating pretty good during the weekend when I actually see him for a a bit. He retires for the night around 5-6pm. Maybe this could possibly be winter related? I'm not sure. But, it's not what I thought it would be to keep a Uro. I'm hoping he'll snap out of it and be a little more social or at least not mind my presence and know I'm no threat. I haven't touched him or inside his cage for more than a week now. Who knows... I was under the impression that they would be kind of like a Beardie and be very sociable.

Shawn

Nope, Uros definitely are not, on average, social like a beardie. Though I did have one who was, may dear Archie rest in peace, I think that this was an aberration and not the norm. I have had my juvie Egyptian for over a year now, and he is still "shy" depending on his mood, and whether food is involved. 3 weeks really is a drop in the bucket. With time and patience I think you will find that your Uro is a wonderfully enjoyable addition to your family, but I would not set your sights on Bearded Dragon type sociability.

Hang in there, and keep asking questions!!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes (May he rest in peace)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine (RIP)
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

My male Ornate is "beardie" type socially. I got him from Lindsay Pike as a juvi and he was described as having a one of a kind personality. 3 years later he is still the same way and I hardly handle him but if I wanted to he would really care less.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.0.1 Egyptian
0.1 Weimaraner