Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I currently own 2 Blue Tongue Skink,1 Beardie,4 whites tree frogs,2 crested geckos(which I breed),2 rats, 2 dogs,1 pyxie frog, and one cat.
But I've been wanting to add some sorte of Uromastyx to my herp collectoin.
So I'm interested in U. a. microlepis. But I have found almost know info on them. So if the care on them is different than the normal egyptoin uromastyx, can you please tell me? (I'm asuming that they can have a smaller cage size considering that they are about 6 inches smaller than the normal egyptoin uromastyx.)
Thanks.

Where are you going to get a true microlepis? I have seen some Kuwait micros available before but only in the UK.There is supposedly no difference except for the absence of tubercles. Some say they are smaller but some say they are the same size. Some even have a green hue. Care will be the same I believe. Some people say there is only variance in Aegyptia species throughout the range, no subspecies. But the micros from Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait look different to me. No tubercles and the body shape/form is a little different. Juvi's have a different pattern and Adults have small occeli.I have only seen them in books and online. Seriously, where are you getting one? Does it have tubercles?

This site claims that they sell them.
http://www.deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Egyptian.htm
Is there any other uromastyx's that get about 2 feet?

nah, some approach 20" but you can't get em' like occidentalis, leptieni, asmussi. I don't know if there are even any in the US.Bandeds are probably the next largest available. Egyptians only get like 2.5 feet anyway. Most are around 2 feet somewhere. There are supposedly 3footers up to 3.5 feet even out in the wild somewhere but it is unknown if they are gigantic aegyptia or a remote subspecies or species of their own according to SMEKTALA and GALAL. I read this stuff in books and online. But, everyone who has dealt with egyptians will tell you-2 feet, 2 and a half tops.

so what cage size would you recamend?

Sorry, I ment to say: ''What cage size would you recamend for the egyptoin?''

I think bigger is better so minimum 4 times the length of the animal for cage length 2times length of the animal cage width. Then upgrade it.Give or take an inch or so, no big deal. High enough so once you put substrate in and hides, furniture, whatever, it can't get to the lights or escape if you have an open top. I am building my 12" egyptian a 6x3 as in my opinion he has outgrown his 4x2.I bought the materials months ago, but then I moved... I have an adult 12" mali in a 6x2. She uses every inch. The juveniles are in 4x2 cages and use every inch.They are housed individually and I upgrade basically as soon as they hit the length and width minimums.No need to put a baby in a 6 foot long cage because someday it will be 18" or anything, but I just think bigger is better within reason. Then someday I will go all out and give my two hopefully very large egyptians an entire large room.Divided so they don't kill each other.Sounds big but not really given the above parameters. I am sure it will be fun to change the substrate. I think I will need an industrial size shop vac or something. and some shovels.

So there cage needs to be 8 feet long?
Hmm I may have to consider another lizard.

Perhaps a mali uromastyx.

Mali's need a minimum of 4' x 2' x 2' or BIGGER ... I have mine in 5' x 2' x 18" enclosures, 1 per enclosure ... You can never go to big with Uro's.

Egyptians can get quite large ... Deer Fern Farms is where we got our Mali's, they are healthy and happy. Doug Dix is good people.

But only floor space matters.....right?

NOpe, you need to get the right temps .... and with a shorter tank you can't get them. One end, the hot end, needs to hava basking area between 110-130 degrees, the cool end needs to be between 85-90 degrees. The ambient temp throughout the enclosure needs to be around 100. Night time temp should not go below 75. These temps can only be maintained in a long & wide tank.