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I recently adopted a Mali Uromastyx (the owner called her an ornate, but I'm almost 100% positive its a Mali). The former owner had her caged with a full grown beardie, and she literally never moved. He said she ate two or three times a month, and was fine on that.

I put her in a 20long, put magazine paper for temporary substrate, a small cell phone box for hide, and a medium driftwood toy. For nearly a week, she was all over the place. She ate every bit of cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and crickets I put in there. She danced around the edges, flirting/fighting with her own reflection. The previous owner said it was 100X the activity he got out of her.

I kept her hot end between 105 and 125, and cool end around 80-85. About 6 days with her on magazine paper, I put about an inch or two of sterilized play sand. She dug around for a day or two, and then found a nice cozy little spot under the corner of her toy, buried in the sand. She hasn't moved nearly as much the past few days, when I'm watching...but is obvously eating her food, and leaving lots of footprints all over.

When I first got her, she was dull, with a few light spatters, and a spray-paint pattern of yellow around her edges and belly. 8 days into her staying here, I took her out to find new, bright orange on her face, some on her back and belly, and underneath her tail. None of this was present when i got her. I can only assume this is a good thing?

I've also heard that occasionally feeding her crickets can be a bad thing?

Anyhow, she seems uber happy now. I'll get her out at least once a day (to get her used to being handled). She'll just chill on my chest and watch tv with me for half an hour.

I plan on building her a tank with MDF and screen...any suggestions? I could also use some tips for food variety, vitamins, cricket exposure, and husbandry.

Thanks,
Brendo

1.0 Mali Uromastyx (Jaina)
0.0.1 Chinese Water Dragon (Indra)
1.1 Baby armadillo lizards (Turbo and Jet)
0.1.1 Emperor Scorpions (Hacker and Chopper)
0.0.1 Rose-Haired Tarantula (Hera)
0.0.1 Stripped-Knee Tarantula (Zeus)
0.0.3 Corn snakes (Blahnik, Manolo, Broken)
2.2 Ball Pythons (Scooter, Big Boy, Fatman, Wookiee)
0.1 Red-Tail Boa (Killer)

Here she is...

All the pets are here.

that is a geyri aka niger aka saharan

jaina says, "no crickets, thank you"

"I recently adopted a Mali Uromastyx (the owner called her an ornate, but I'm almost 100% positive its a Mali)".

If you are as confident on the husbandry as you are on the species, I would suggest a lot more research on both. This looks to me to be a geyri not maliensis.

My suggestion: Get a larger enclosure immediately, purchase a digital thermometer and enough fixtures and light/heat bulbs to achieve and maintain a proper gradient in the new (larger) enclosure, stop with the insects, do some research on diet and substitute leafy greens such as endive, escarole, and dandelion for the cabbage and carrots. Stop dragging the uro out of its enclosure every day and allow it to acclimate and adjust to its new home. I would not suggest a screen enclosure for a desert animal with high ambient heat requirements. The very first priority should be the larger enclosure followed by a change in diet.

Alright...so I've seen the err of my ways.

I went and bought about $25 bucks worth of veggies. I got turnip, collard, and mustard greens, srping mix(that I removed all lettuce from) for the endives, bok choy, snap green beans, kale (didn't see it on the list, but it falls in with greens, so if its bad, let me know). I got 15 bean soup and removed all kidney beans (are lima beans good?), split peas, and lentils.

I plan to pick up some escarole ( think some came with spring mix, but wasn't listed ), and dandelion.

I am moving him into a 30g breeder that I was building for my ball pythons, until I can build the 4X3X2 that I will eventually permanently house him in. I got parakeet seed that I will use for substrate.

Now for the questions...

All the care sheets say WHAT to feed them, but not how, and in what quantities. I mixed all the greens, and mixed all the beans/peas, and put a small handful of each into 2 feed trays in his tank.
Are the beans served dried, or should I soak them?
Is there a ratio of mixture for the greens?
Where is the best place tofind some of the other ingredients (buckwheet, oat groats, mung beans, etc)?
And how much of each should I feed each day?

I know these questions are better asked BEFORE getting the animal, but in this case, I didn't just go buy him. A friend couldn't keep him and was desparate to find him a home.

Sorry for the trouble, snappy responses, and general lack of prior research.
Brendo.

My other 'spiny-tail'ish lizards. Armadillo babies.

So I read a species specific caresheet from Deer Farms. They suggest putting them on wild bird seed (which I will do tomorrow), and mixing greens (which I do), but minus the cabbage. They suggest occasional cabbage mix during the week though.

I also need to get vitamins. Other than that, I seem to be on the right track. I thought it was a Mali cause I was passing through a local pet store selling Mali Uros, and they looked a lot like mine. Turns out it was just similar phases between the two species. Anyhow...Thanks for those who offered suggestions. Seems we can close down this thread now...unless there is unmentioned advice, of course. ^_^

Here is the infamous 'toy'...

>>They suggest occasional cabbage mix during the week though.

No, they don't. They might suggest nappa cabbage (not a true cabbage) is ok, but not regular cabbage.

>>Other than that, I seem to be on the right track.

No. Read Debb_luvs_uros' post and follow the advice there. That will put you on the right track. I'm glad to hear he's more active with you, but that won't be enough in the long run. Geyri stress easily, so a large cage, good diet, and a hands-off approach are very important.
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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)

I would recomend getting a larger cage...first of all...aquariums are ok but its very difficult to heat them properly...I have heard that the big plastic rubbermaid containers work well because they are low, cheap and easy to heat.

You want to have a basking temp of 120degreesF and an ambient temp of around 95degrees. This is very important.

You will also want to add more to the diet...more veggies, as well as some good quality (rep-cal) iguana pellets, you can also grind up soup-bean-mix and offer some of that as well....all of the above are listed at Deer Fern Farms caresheets. I think Melissa Kaplin has a pretty good caresheet as well.

One thing, from the picture you provided it looks like the light in the cage is pretty dim...are you using a red bulb or only one bulb? you want to have bright white bulbs and probably at least 2 of them to maintain the correct heat and light for them.

Good luck! Keep us posted
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Scuttle)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

Oh yeah - one thing i forgot - you have to make sure the thermometer is a digital one...the ones that you just stick on the side of the tank are junk and can be off by up to 20degrees.
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Scuttle)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)

I don't think Jack Daniels is good for Uro's.

Hi Brendolino, this is a pretty tough forum for sure!! However, from what I have seen at shows and in the forums, uros are probably the most ill-kept lizard next to iquanas. Unfortunately, most iquanas are probably hardier and end up living desolate lives quite a bit longer while uros die.

Don't give up your quest to be a successful Uro owner, do more research, and do the best you can. If you feel you can't, then maybe look for a new home for the lizard. However, you appear confident IMO based on your posts that you can and will do a great job.

To the above poster, don't you remember the first herp you kept? Were you well researched and prepared? Did you even have internet and a forum to go to? I know some of the newbies can be very immature and silly. But, something gets us involved in reptiles and once involved we need guidance.

It really is nice to have you here, and your new uro

I'm sure many of our regular posters will guide you along and help in any way they can. Seems you are very caring, and willing to learn how best to care for your new uro,

I wish you the best with him, remember if you need any help just ask.

Enjoy the Forum

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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

you know what, if she really does like to chill on you let her. I have one who runs to be held- so take advantage of it if you can -it is fun. seriously- we are like best friends or my name is mud.