Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't normally post, but since it's been kinda slow I decided to show off my newest Uro, got him a few days ago.

Egyptians are the first Uros I'd ever come in contact with and I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. The pet shop I work at got in 2 adorable babies quite a while ago, and I fell in love with this one. Unfortunately his temps and environment were waaaay off (and my hours got cut so I wasn't there enough to keep everything where it needed to be... long story) so he'd gotten pretty skinny and lethargic. The shop is going out of business (another long story) and he went "on sale." I couldn't bear the thought of him going to anyone else, so I snatched him up.

I expected him to need a lot of TLC to get him eating again, but it's amazing what the proper environment can do!! Within an hour of putting him in his new cage he was basking, running around, and munching on his seed mix. He polishes off as much "salad" as I can give him, as if he's never seen food in his life. At this rate, fattening him up should be no problem

I was wondering how easy it is to tell Aegypticus from Microlepis at this size... I know there's a bit of debate on the validity of those subspecies, but he does have tubercules on his sides, so I was just curious.

This is the only picture of the little bugger I have at the moment. I want to let him settle in before I attack him with the camera. His name is Ahktep

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1.0 RES, Spunky
1.0 African mud turtle (P. castaneus), "Francois the Tortois"
1.0.1 Mali Uromastyx, Ajani, Guban(Goober)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro, Ahktep
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Nico
1.0 Northern Blue Tongue Skink, Owajabi(Jabi)
0.1 Spotted Python, Steve (RIP)
1.0 African Bullfrog, Ushi
3.0 Cats
1/2.0 Rabbit (Friend and I went 50/50)

It looks good, not really too much on the emaciated side to me.
HH

Is that substrate crushed Walnut shells? That stuff is bad news and you should get rid of it fast. If it's not it still doesn't look ideal.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.0.1 Egyptian
0.1 Weimaraner

Nope, not walnut, I hate that stuff. It's playsand... Some of the grains are larger than others, when I first got it I sifted out a ton of what would almost be considered small pebbles. That picture is zoomed in pretty far so it looks larger than it is. It's the same sand I use on my other Uros (though I've been toying with trying a soil mix).
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1.0 RES, Spunky
1.0 African mud turtle (P. castaneus), "Francois the Tortois"
1.0.1 Mali Uromastyx, Ajani, Guban(Goober)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro, Ahktep
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Nico
1.0 Northern Blue Tongue Skink, Owajabi(Jabi)
0.1 Spotted Python, Steve (RIP)
1.0 African Bullfrog, Ushi
3.0 Cats
1/2.0 Rabbit (Friend and I went 50/50)

I can't really tell you definitively about the 2 types of Egyptians. I can tell you that yours looked just like Mosca (my Aegypticus) when he was little. So for what it is worth there is that. lol.

Sand appears to be an odd thing. When I moved to WI from Indiana I couldn't find sand anywhere that was what I wanted, it was all course, with particles that could fit together (ie had a higher potential for causing impaction imo). I blamed it on the fact that here in WI there are a ton of limestone and "lannon stone" quarries, and that is probably where this "sand" is coming from. One of the home improvement stores in the area just brought in a new brand of sand that is much smoother, and rounder, so I am going to try that as soon as I can figure out how to dethaw and dry out a bag (silly outside storage).

Congrats on your new family member. I love the egyptians!!!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes (May he rest in peace)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
Madison, Wisconsin

I've dried out wet sand by using a spare tank (or even a rubber-maid tub would work) and an extra heat lamp. It will only dry the first few inches or so, so you have to keep cutting and stirring it. A 250 watt brooding lamp should be perfect.
HH

Elizabeth (and anyone else having trouble finding decent sand)-

I got a tip from someone to try pool filter sand. Sure enough, I went to a pool supply place and they had tons of gorgeous, natural sand - smooth, round, evenly sized particles. And it was even a nicer color than the crappy sand I was finding elsewhere.
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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)

OOOOO!!!! That could be the best tip I have gotten in YEARS. Thanks Torey!
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes (May he rest in peace)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
Madison, Wisconsin

I just picked up my first Uro last week, and spent several hours looking around town for decent sand. (I live in Indiana, too.) The best I found was at a large home improvement center, but it was stocked inside the store, next to the concrete mix. It's washed and sifted, and labeled "play sand." It's much better than the play sand they stock outside, though, and was the same price--only a couple bucks for 50lbs.

That said, I think my next sand purchase might be pool filter sand. Awesome tip!

Ooooh, interesting. The playsand in the picture is the best I could find so far... Looks like I'll be taking a trip to the local pool supply store... Thanks!
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1.0 RES, Spunky
1.0 African mud turtle (P. castaneus), "Francois the Tortois"
1.0.1 Mali Uromastyx, Ajani, Guban(Goober)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro, Ahktep
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Nico
1.0 Northern Blue Tongue Skink, Owajabi(Jabi)
0.1 Spotted Python, Steve (RIP)
1.0 African Bullfrog, Ushi
3.0 Cats
1/2.0 Rabbit (Friend and I went 50/50)