Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought 4 days ago a 12 inches Mali URO.He looks like a male (dark brown color with yellow spots) although im not 100% sure. He looks healthy and he is getting used to his new cage, taking sunbaths (yes, i keep him outddors day and night) but i didnt see him eating and his belly is kind of empty with loose skin. Im giving him veggies, greens and some mealworms.I dont like to give him mealworms but that was what he was eating at the pet shop.
Id like to know when i should start force feeding him.Im worried mainly because all the reptiles i bought in that petshop arrived home full of parasites and id like to start de worming him asap!
It will be easier for me to put the de-worm on the top of his food but for that he needs to start eating!

I would like to know too whether they drop their tails when frightened like iguanas and Geckos do!Thanks!

A few questions that I have. First, is he eating the veggies and food you are putting out? Have you had him checked by a vet yet? If not, do it immediately! If he does have parasites, they need treated ASAP so why put it off?

also, if he is kept outdoors, how is he able to get any form of heat gradient? The ambient temps of the outdoors would be consistant throughout his tank instead of having a cool area.

Third thing that comes to mind is that if you only got him 4 days ago, he may still be acclimating and not want to eat. (altho you said he comes out to sunbathe...not sure about that).

I'd still get him treated soon for the parasites after having a fecal done by a vet so that if he IS eating, its not being taken over by the parasites.
good luck!
Renee

Its very nice when someone replies to you!Thanks!

I didnt take him to the vet because he didnt poop yet! No poop to take to check for parasites!By the way where i live (malaysia) the vets dont know anything about reptiles.A few know a little, a tiny little about iguanas, but thats all!

Where i live (Kuala Lumpur) is VERY HOT, very hot indeed! I keep my Bearded outdoors but in the shadow because if i put him in the sun he will pant!
I put my URO's cage outdoors too but i covered 1/4 of the cage so he can choose which temperature he wants.In the sun it makes 110+ easily!
Im giving him veggies with mealworms but i dont think he ate anything!
He doesnt seem too frightened, he is basking in the sun during the whole day and going to his " house" around 6 PM.But he is not eating or he is eating so little i cant notice because the food bowls is full at the end of the day and no poop until now!

Your uro might not eat for the first month. So dont get too worried that he is not eating. Dont feed him meal worms as a constant diet. a few meal worms every week is ok but, but you shouldn't feed your uro more than 4 meal worms every week. Since you dont think he is eating give him a 10 minute warm bath. So he can drink a little water. Also, is it humid where you live, uros will die if the humidity is constantly over 50%. So if it rains a lot where you live i would bring him in and have him live inside your house.

Mike

Where i live the level of humidity is around 95% the whole year!Malaysia is a tropical country!Im keeping a rescued Beardie with severe MBD outdoors too and until now he is doing well.Well i have had my Beardie for 3 months and the mere fact he is still alive and now he can walk is a miracle! What i do is to give my Beardie mainly pellets, dry food to compensate the high level of humidity!When it rains or its too windy i put both inside.What do you think?

I am not sure but i still think it is way to humid for a uro. They come from the saharan desert where it barely if ever rains. If i were u i would bring the uro inside ASAP. You should email Douglas Dix at douglasdix@deerfernfarms.com He knows basically everything about uros and has been breeding them for years. If you ever have a big question he is the man to ask.

Mike

Thanks very much for answering my questions.Ill contact him asap!
Before entering the INTERNET i looked at the uro. He is outdoors basking in the sun and looking at the trees and butterflies and flowers with huge opened eyes!I dont think he had never ever seen such things before!lol!

By the way, can i give him timothy hay? And millet?

I am not sure about hay but i know you can give him millet.

Mike