I was very recently given a lizard that I was told was a "african spiny tailed lizard." After a little research, I've come to realize that he's actually a Mali Uromastyx, and have also realized that the living conditions that he was being kept in, etc. were not up to par. Since then (a couple days), I've tried to read what I could find from reputable sources on my new lizard and their needs.
He's currently housed in a 30x12x13 tank (with a screen top), unknown bedding that appears to be some type of sand and something else, and inadequate lighting (no UVB/UVA bulb), heating, and hides.
The general consensus that I got was that you shouldn't have anything smaller than a 40-50 gal. aquarium (or equivalent) for the smallest Uros. (My Uro is just over 10 inches.)
This is what I plan to do to improve the lizard and his conditions and would like any input and improvements that someone more knowledgeable than myself might have:
1. Get a fixture or combo hood and probably an ESU 7% Desert bulb for it.
2. Get some type of basking light(s) that will provide the appropriate temperatures on both sides of the cages. I believe it should be about 90 on the cool side and about 120 on the hot side during the "day" hours?
3. Get a couple hides and rocks (not electric heat rocks) for both sides.
4. Get some of the cheap play sand for children from a store and sift through it with a screen or something similar to get rid of any of the larger grains of sand.
5. Get at least a 40 gal. reptarium for him as opposed to the 20ish gal. one that he's in now.
I haven't gotten to read too much about supplements, etc. but I will definitely try to find as much information on that as possible get what's needed then as well.
Here are my questions:
I've noticed that there are some nice looking combo hoods on some herp supply sites that will house about 2 or more basking/heat bulbs in addition to the long-style fluorescent bulbs. Would anyone recommend one of these over getting individual fixtures and setting them up accordingly?
I'm not quite sure how deep I should make the sand in the tank when I get it. I'm aware that these lizards like to burrow a lot and, as such, the sand will probably need a sufficient depth. Would a few inches be safe/sufficient?
Also, my lizard doesn't seem to have any spikes on his tail. He has them on his legs but not on his tail. I'm assuming that he likely has tail rot (no, there's no water in the cage). I know that I should take him to a vet (and I will), but I'd like to post a couple pictures to see if anyone has any input on it before I get the chance to.
P.S. I also plan to get one of the laser thermometers to accurately measure the temperature of different parts of the cage. There's currently one of the strip ones that sit on the side of tanks (that I've read to be pretty inaccurate), and it reads 90 on the "hot" side of the tank.
