Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I've had Mali Uros before so when my ex roomate told me he didn't think he could take care of his anymore I decided to take him. Bob, the Mali, has not had proper lighting or diet in quite some time (pretty much since I moved out). My friend informed me he has only been eating sweet potato and won't eat anything else. I've tried to get him to eat some greens and he won't touch them. I have a baby food processor that i use to make food for my bird. Will a Uro eat a slurry type food? Should I start with mainly sweet potato and every day add more greens? I used to feed Bob turnip greens, collard greens, shredded carrot, shredded sweet potato, green split peas, bird seed, dandilions and other various veggies with occasional fruit. Any suggestions on how to get this little guy to eat again (something other than sweet potato?)? Thanks!
Tara
Mirrorwalk@aol.com

Wow, I didn't even know about sweet potatoe. Is it a good food for them? How do you feed it? Is it cooked? Sliced or diced raw? Try frozen defrosted peas. Those are popular with most uros and beardies. Also any hibiscus or other edible flowers you can get hold of.

Since you have a food processor try this, this usually works for me, when my guys don't feel liek eatign what is good for them
~Process the sweet potato
~Put the greens you want him to eat in his feed bowl, or soemthign to 'mix' them in.
~pour on a little bit of sweet potato on them not a whole lot tho
~ and see if he will eat them when he *thinks* it might be his favorite.
Let me know if this works out for you. I am sure he will go back on his healthy diet if he had been ok before.
Good luck and keep us updated!
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Lauren
1.1 Saharan Uromastyx (Rico-orange, ?????-yellow)
Cozmo-Hannovarian/Trakehner Gelding
Chip-Dutch Warmblood Gelding
Ck-Hannovarian Gelding
Cruiser-Irish Sporthorse Gelding
Opal-Persian Cat
Dude-Jack Russel Terrier
From: New Jersey

Well, yesterday I tried some flowers and Bob ate those along with some of the leaves. Pansies that i feed to my rabbit and my bird so i figured they would be ok for Bob too. Well, he loved those and ate his sweet potato (raw and peeled btw) wouldn't touch anything else, but it is the first thing he has eaten besides sweet potato in the last few months. I'm going to try the pureed sweet potato over the greens for awhile and see if i can't get him back on those. He used to love dried split peas and birdseed so I am going to introduce those back into his diet. I would also think that would encourage him to eat the greens as well since he would have to get a mouthful along with the good stuff.I think he liked bell pepper as well. It's been a long time. I also have had him back up to temp and the correct lighting and he looks much better after only 3 days in my care. I had forgotten what it was like to have a Mali around. Now I have three different special diets to prepare each day Thanks for your advice and I'm going over my old saved text docs on diet and housing. Gotta build a new enclosure for the poor guy who has been in an aquarium the past 2 years.
Thanks,
Tara (human slave to animal whims)
Bob (Mali Uro)
Phantom and Monster (tuxedo cats)
Jackie (Yellow Streak Lory)
Funny Killer (Giant Flemish Rabbit)
And all this in a one room house

I would try all the "treat" foods.
Mealworms, flowers, peas, beans, crickets.
See if he will go after any of them.
Good luck.