Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got my new baby Uromastyx geyris. I have a semi-adult yellow male and a juvie female (yellow). The guy seems to run around the place alot. She always seems exhausted. When I bought her she was active and alert. Now she litteraly barely ever opens her eyes. Even when I hold her or set her down. She seems physically exhausted. What should I do? This girl is really important to me...

Note: They are farm raised and imported to the U.S....Do you guys think I could get them handleable and tame if I hold them every day after a week or so when they are more acclimated?

I wouldn't handle them for a while - at least a month. Geyri are very prone to stress. Give them a chance to get settled in and make sure they are healthy and eating before worrying about taming.

If you can give more details about the enclosure(s) that will help - size in inches, lighting, temperatures (basking, ambient warm side, cool side), number and types of hides, etc.

I would recommend keeping them in large, separate enclosures - at least until you can determine they are healthy. If you haven't already done so, take a fecal sample from each animal (also easier in separate enclosures) to your herp vet to check for parasites. Imports are frequently carrying a parasite load which worsens as the animal is stressed by the importation process. This can lead to lethargy like you're seeing with the female.
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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)
2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

I agree with the previous post..What kind of setup do you have?
You have a really stressed animal there.
Not to stress you out but this can turn bad very quickly.
Give her some space(alone). Let her acclimate. Is she eating? I have never had any Geryi, but I have seen this behavior. As long as she has decent fat reserves she can go a while. If you start seeing her tail thin out(especially on the bottom) or her rear legs start to thin, this is a huge problem. Try to give her alone time, and give her a chance to relax. If you see the weight drop, get her to a vet to determine that there is not some other factors involved.

E

>>Just got my new baby Uromastyx geyris. I have a semi-adult yellow male and a juvie female (yellow). The guy seems to run around the place alot. She always seems exhausted. When I bought her she was active and alert. Now she litteraly barely ever opens her eyes. Even when I hold her or set her down. She seems physically exhausted. What should I do? This girl is really important to me...

Ok, they are now in a 40 gal. breeder. I have a cool side of about 85 and thats about 1/3 of the tank, the middle is about 90-111 and the far right is 105-125. One hide box is at the 110 middle and the other is in about 90 degrees. I have two pavers bricks(which I baked at 300 for 1 1/2 hour) as the basking spot. I now have a zoo med 150W basking lamp on hottest side. A 120W flood in middle and a reptisun 5.0 compact flourescent very close to them on the hot side. I will be getting a reptisun 10.0 flourescent tube soon. The male has nibbled on some spring mix. They both have eaten about 5 kernels or so of millet that they are living on(Froze millet). Today once I set things up better and got proper temperature. They THRIVED! I got them on sunday btw. Anyway, they both went right to the 115-125 and got their yellow pigment goin all over the place. They became so energetic I was amazed. Ran around cage and explored/licked things for 2-3 hours. (I have watched them 7 hours today to make sure they are safe). There are no agression issues whatsoever, the girl rides on his back alot. He falls on her, she falls on him, they nuzzle each other and bask on top of each other. Everything worked out great. They are just getting acclimated. I'm offering spring mix every morning on the cool side with Miner-ALL 1. The female is just a little weak right now I think. Because before I put lights in she was really tired/eyes closed. But After the 2-3 hours of running she went back to her hide and slept, then came out right in front of her hide and was in the 110 or so and she still is. Eyes closed though. I think she is fine, but just acclimating. I never would have dreamed to see her so active. Any stimulating foods I can offer?

Pics soon to come.

Thanks.

The male keeps opening his mouth and pants kinda, his neck moves like a ton. He does it often. What is this?

It sounds like you have things under control. I would definately try using peas as a treat, and also try using pellets made for iguanas. They have vitamins in them, so you don't want to use any dust supliments when you use the pellet. The tank set-up seems to meet all the requirements, however, there is very little in the tank and they may get bored. I would try finding some nice branches, and using them to break up the space and give them a little depth. My uro uses them as perches for basking, places to scratch with when he is shedding... Since your tank doesn't have a top, I would make sure that they can't use them to climb out.

Well, I have a piece of sterilized driftwood from the past. I don't know how I would put it in there though. Which side? In the middle?
And, I am trying to get them acclimated right now, should I still put it in anyway?

For what it's worth, I'd advise against any absorbable items in your enclosure. They poop on it, it soaks in. Near impossible to adequately sterilize. I'd stick with rocks. I know lots of keepers use wood decor & edible substrates but it just seems to grate against sanitary husbandry. To each his/her own.
D.