Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 3rd period wildlife teacher asked me to take home one of the classroom pets so it wasn't left to starve and freeze in the classroom during the week and a half christmas break. It was one of the two Uromastyx. Now, I'm a snake man... Pythons, rat snakes, kingsnakes... that's my thing. I'm new to lizards, but I figure I am still pretty aware of their basic care and such, as I am looking up care sheets now. The cage had about an inch of sand in it, you know "calci-sand" or whatever. I don't like that stuff, but tell me if I'm wrong. The cage was covered with sand-dust, as well as the lizard, it's food and it's water. I hate sand and refused to use it ever. I placed a repta-carpet it in it for now 'till further info is gathered. One thing that concerns me though... Many times when it is picked up it simply lies half limp/half stiff in your hand, and even when you put it down it doesn't grip the ground, it doesn't move, just lays stiff/limp. But other times it's darting all around, breaking for the hills. Is there something wrong?

Matt,

Have you read Deer Fern Farms caresheet? It is very informative and generally where people are pointed as an initial knowledgebase to start with. It can be found at the link below. I'm guessing the temperatures in the cage are a bit low and that is what is causing the Uro to be lethargic. I completely agree with you on your decision to ditch the calci-sand. Other people have had good success with sifted playsand, birdseed or burrowable dirt (if you look through some of the older posts there's a slough of information about this subject I think for the temporary situation you are in reptile carpet will do just fine. Here's the link to the caresheet:

Deer Fern Farms Caresheet