Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have, what I believe to be a unuasual situation. I was given a mali uro from a neighbor. Over there it was kept way under ideal temp. (70 - 85far) all the time. They said it hardly moved and they never held it because they were scared of its tail. They fed it mostly Romane. Some finch seed, and crickets occasionally.
I got the uro about 3 weeeks ago and when I first got him he seemed to be in good health - normal weight and looked healthy.
When I got himI uped the temp. to 80f in cool side of tank up to 120 in the basking area. I put it in a larger tank (40 gal) they had it in a 20. Gave it better hides, better food, better light (uvl bulb).
It ate once when I first got it and than he quite eating. He has not eaten in about 3 weeks. He is very active and I use to hold him and he acted tame. I dont hold him anymore cause I heard this stresses them out.I offer him a variety of foods: romain, kale, lentiles, peas, beans, bird seed, dandilion leaves, collard greens,crickets. I sprinkeled bee pollen on the food too.
I am very frustrated about him. He is loosing weight. I feel like I should lower his temo to 80 again, dont give him any hides. put in aregular light bulb and put him in a tiny tank! I dont understand why he thrived in hell and is staving in heaven. Please send me some suggesytions thanks
need help w/neglected URO - wont eat

I would guess that now he's in better circumstances, all the things that might be wrong are coming to the forefront. Living things are very good at finding ways to survive the most horrible experiences.

My best suggestion would be immediate vet intervention.

Good luck! I hope he pulls through.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
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)

It could be internal parasites. They may have been dormitory in the low heat and are now thriving in the higher temps. There are a few different meds to deworm lizards. I cant think of the name off hand but maybe somewhere else in here can. Or you could try doing a google search on "deworming reptiles". Good luck w/ the new uro.

Don't freak. Uros have a habit, when their environs change, of going on truly long-term hunger strikes. It can be un-nerving but, in most cases, they survive & their appetites & regular behavior return. Sometimes, it may take up to a year. They're tough animals & if you'll just give them peace & quiet, they'll more than likely to survive.

A year? Are you sure about this? If a uro takes a year, wouldnt he starve to death?

I wasn't intending to imply that Uros can go a year without feeding at all. What I'm saying is that their appetites can decline to borderline levels for extended periods & yet they can still recover. I've seen them go through periods of 6 months to a year when their food intake would only produce one pitiful poop a week. And I'm talking about lizards that I've received that were written off by the previous owners. It's truly amazing how little they can survive on for extended periods. But, it's not unusual for animals adapted to desert habitats.

It sounds like you have taken in sick/stressed uros before. Appreciate it if you would give more tips or insights into there care. When you say keep it quiet for him - do you mean not to play loud music, etc.? Should I put a covering over his glass tank so he cant see outside of the tank to make him feel secure? Do you think a desert backgroun would help him feel more relaxed? ( no, I am not kiding - I am desperate...)
Any suggestions at all would be appreciated. He is going to the vet soon too.
Thanks

You're probably fine, your concerns & good intentions being what they are.
When I mention "quiet", regular radio, tv, adult speaking, etc are all sounds they can handle, within reasonable levels. They get used to it relatively easily. Screaming kids, loud music, barking dogs might be counter productive.
Uros "not eating" is a subject on the same plane as so many other captive reptiles not eating during periods of winter, barometric depression, etc. Right now, ALL of our reptiles (besides the Diamonds) are slow.
Yes, I'd encourage coverage of the glass sides of the aquaria. 360 degree visibility isn't good for any reptile. Offer multiple places to hide.
There is so much room to cover. Feel free to e-mail.
D&L.