Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Been trying to read about ornates but still a few questions. When you buy babies can they be sexed? If not and you end up with a lone female is there any concerns for her becoming egg bound as an adult if not breed. Last one, how old do they need to be to reproduce?
Thx,
James

Anybody here!!!

sorry i can't help you out more. i don't brumate my uros and they have never gone into breeding mode so i don't ever worry about egg binding with them
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vonnie
***The first law of dietetics seems to be: if it tastes good, it's bad for you. — Issac Asimov ***

I have a pair, but can only give you guesstimates. An experienced breeder could give you a pretty good guess at least on sex - though I have no idea how difficult it is. Mine were yearlings when I got them, so no questions by then.

As far as I know, you don't have to worry much about egg binding. They don't often produce infertile clutches. If she became gravid, you could just make sure her diet and environment are appropriate and provide her with a nesting box. I've never experienced this personally, but that's what I would do in that situation (along with talking with my vet).

According to the UroNature site, on this page, wild ornates reach sexual maturity somewhere around four years of age. Captive ornates have bred as early as one year of age (probably not the best thing if you want a healthy, long-lived uro).

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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.1 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, Tank, and Lilly)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
0.1 Collared Lizard (Rorschach)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

oh god, things run together, when did you get lilly? i don't really remember her
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vonnie
***The first law of dietetics seems to be: if it tastes good, it's bad for you. — Issac Asimov ***

Hehe - she arrived in....February? I was looking for a mate for one of my several males. She's a lovely male-mimic female, though she has a chronic mouth problem that has turned out to be contagious, so now Tank has it, too.

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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.1 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, Tank, and Lilly)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
0.1 Collared Lizard (Rorschach)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

oh wow what would that be? sounds kind of scary. now that you just mentioned it, now my lizards will probably get it, ha ha, been that kind of summer
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vonnie
***The first law of dietetics seems to be: if it tastes good, it's bad for you. — Issac Asimov ***

Oh, jeez, I hope not!! You've had more than enough going on lately - and I can't believe there's MORE happening. I'll be sure to knock wood, throw salt, and anything else I can think of to make sure I don't jinx you and your crew!
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.1 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, Tank, and Lilly)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
0.1 Collared Lizard (Rorschach)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

If the Uros are old enough you can sex them by looking at the line of "dots" along their inner thighs and abdomen. (they make a sort of an "M" pattern.) The males "dots" will be slight bumps, where the females will be slight depressions. To be sure you need a good magnifying glass because they aren't overly obvious whether they are protrusions or depressions. Coloration is not a good way to judge as some Uros take on the colorations of the opposite sex.
Sometimes you can tell by the differences in head shape. The male's head will look more like a dinosaur, and the female's will look like a snake. Their tales also seem to have differences, the males is more flat with the sharper spikes on the outsides, and the female's is more rounded and equally spiky all over. (As far as I've noticed with mine anyway.) Hope it helps.

Thanks for all the responses!!!