Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi again.
I'm still researching Mali's and think I'm going to take the plunge. It'll be afew weeks yet, as I don't yet have the cage constructed and then I need to decorate and more importantly get the heating worked out.
Anyway, the enclosure I'm looking at will probably be 48" long x 30" deep x 24" high. With a encloure of that size, I know I could fit two, but my question is this:
If I get 2 yearlings or adults (not hatchlings) from a reputable breeder, is it better to get 2 females, or a male and a female? Not really interested in breeding them, but would like to see the interaction. Also, I understand that there is always the chance that the two personalities just can't get along, but how often does that happen?
Thanks for any thoughts you care to share.

Go with a male/female pair. More than likely, if you purchase from a reliable breeder, that's how they will already be set up. Also, if you're wanting to observe "interaction", opposite sex behavior, I would think, would provide a more balanced & meaningful project with more positive long-term results.
I advise strongly against "multiple malis" in any enclosure & most especially if this is your first intoduction to Uros. Start by keeping it very simple, for their sake.

Just curious.
Is it the first experience with Uros (which makes sense) or do mali's not typically do well when housed together? If that's the case, do another species (ornates, morrocans) do better housed together?
Thanks again.

Lizards are just territorial, across the board. All I'm saying is, if you're new to Uros, purchase an establshed pair (no matter the species), work with them & build from there. Multiples or "colonies" usually don't work out very well. Keep it simple. Applies to all brands.

in2deep,

I believe that there might be some confusion in the last two posts. I think that Arredondo might have meant that he does not believe in housing multiple 'males' in an enclosure unless the person is very experienced with keeping uromastyx. I could be wrong but this was my interpretation based on the rest of the post. Arredondo-correct me if I am wrong here.

Ahhh.
Certainly wasn't going to try to house 2 males together.

Thankyou for clearing that up Debb! Still, multiple females can be a bit dicey as well, don't you think? Depends wholly on the species & the method of introduction. My other objection is just sanitation. Just two lizards in a cage can be a handfull. I can't imagine scooping up behind a "colony"!!
Anywho, 2-Deep, best of luck with what you decide & please keep posting on your progress. Differences of ideas & experiences are what keep the forum healthy.

Would this be the same thinking with Saharan's? When I purchase a new (very large) enclosure for Niko I was hoping to add a Male with her with the thought of possible future breeding. Problem is that it is very difficult to get a specific Uro in Canada. Preferably I'd like to get her together with a male Red Saharan.

Skribbs, where've you been??

Was on holidays then busy setting up my aquarium. Got a shoal of 10 red belly pirahnas