Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There is a lot of argument over whether keeping two different species of lizard in the same enclosure is not harmful to the animal. The most discussed pairing is uros and beardies. Many people say that just because an animal may "look" alright it amy be unhappy. A response to that would be you cant really tell if an animal is happy even when it is by itself. The following is a list of resons that it is okay to house uros and beardies together:
(these are all from PERSONAL experience)
1-Although from two different continents, both animals have very similar care requirements (not including diet).

2-Both animals thrive and gain weight whil living in the same enclosure then there is obviously nothing wrong with either animal.

3-When paired with other lizards of the same species they will breed (depending on the lizard).

4-Tail rot in the uros has not been a problem.

5-Both species are given proper diet. When I put crix in the cage my uro will only eat a few.

6-Both poop on a regular and correct basis.

7-A multi-level basking spot solves the problem of temperature requirements.

8-All animals are dewormed twice before introduced into the same enclosure.

I am not trying ot start an argument. I am simply stating why it is okay to house these two similar species in the same enclosure.

All good points, but..I would still be concerned about the bacteria issue. What lives normally in one species can be deadly to another.
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www.classylizard.com

also, a bearded dragon is alot bigger than a uromastyx!!!! there is a chance that the uro might get squished.

also, (as i said in the uro forum), uros are too "new" to the herping world, we don't know enough about their specific care to risk the added stress of trying to house it with a bigger lizard. you maybe and thats fine....most of the rest of us aren't yet.

i explain my point better, more in depth over at the uro forum. so just go read that one if you want to hear more of my side/reasons.

as i said over there....it's advanced herp keeping, so, some of us aren't gonna risk it, some of us are.

trevor

np

I have kept both types of reptiles and am somewhat familiar with each species. My main area of husbandry is with dragons although. Most of my reply I am making with simple logic and from past experiences. I am not telling you how you should keep your reptiles, only trying to show a few points why it is unsafe to house them both together.

You: 1-“Although from two different continents, both animals have very similar care requirements (not including diet).“
ME: 1A – “two different continents” wood be exactly the reason why they should not be put together.

You: 2-“Both animals thrive and gain weight whil living in the same enclosure then there is obviously nothing wrong with either animal.”
ME: 2A- Just because they gain weight does not mean they are healthy. What if there was a fight and one of them got some internal hemorrhaging?

You: 4-“Tail rot in the uros has not been a problem.”
ME: 4A- Might want to check the Uro forum’s around the net on that one. I have read posts about it and I am sure there is 100 times that amount that we do not hear about. Dragons need some moisture, how do you keep it separate?

You: 5-“Both species are given proper diet. When I put crix in the cage my uro will only eat a few.”
ME: 5A – You talk about proper diet, yet you feed your Uro’s crickets. Uro’s are vegetarians and should have almost no live prey. If you do feed them prey, cricket’s wood be my last choice for it. Live prey will only stress a Uro out if something is already wrong with it.

You: 6-“Both poop on a regular and correct basis.
ME: 6A – And both are in contact with fecal matter from each species. Uro’s are VERY susceptible to Coccidia. Dragons have a certain level of Coccidia as a natural gut flora. It can be passed through fecal matter and is there for a Uro to be exposed to.

You: 7-“A multi-level basking spot solves the problem of temperature requirements.”
ME: 7A- Adult dragons need a basking temperature of at least 105 degrees. Some species of Uro’s need a basking temperature of 130-150 degrees. Do you think it is safe for a dragon to be exposed to such high temperatures? Uro’s are made for that kind of high intensity heat and need it to survive, it wood only cause death to a dragon.

You: 8-“All animals are dewormed twice before introduced into the same enclosure.”
ME: 8A – Crickets are a known carrier of many types of worms and diseases. I think the de-worming might be the least of your problems with all the bacteria that can be passing between the two lizards.

Just thought I wood drop a few reasons why they should not be kept together.
Good luck,
Steve

The first question I would really ask would be what is the advantage of doing it for either reptiles? It may be possible (but i don't agree that it is) for awhile but problems are almost certainly going to happen... but even if they didn't, what would be the point?

Companionship for the reptiles? lol Many animals view other animals as either competition, a predator or a food source. I would think having another "species" around would stress out the animals quite a bit. I mean even two dragons of different sizes can stress each other out and cause one to get sick and fall prey to diseases.

Not arguing.. just pondering.. what exactly would be the point of it?

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

I made a post in the Leo forum a while ago about mixed species vivaria that I will include here. I personally would not mix the two species in question. Not for the reasons mentioned really, but because of the way I keep my uros. I keep them on a foot and a half of a soil mix that they actively burrow into. I would think BD's would destroy the burrows. I plan on setting up a mixed species vivarium in the summer that will include two species of Rhacodactylus and a pink-tongued skink(if I can find a captive born one). Here is the post from the leo forum

>>> I would like to add a few comments in addition to what terrapene posted below: "In the book "The Leopard Gecko Manual" by Advanced Vivarium Systems (1998 Vosjoli, Viets, Tremper, Klingenberg) under the section "Other Animals" reads: "I have successfully maintained pairs of collared lizards (Chrotaphytus) with these geckos". He also mentions that South African Flat lizards and small girdle-tailed lizards have been kept successfully with leopard geckoes..."

In his book "Desert Vivaria" (1996) de Vosjoli says that, "You can mix various species of lizards in large desert vivaria, as long as you give care to selecting animals of more or less the same size that will inhabit different vavarium niches. For example, those geckos that dwell on rocks or walls will be compatible with many terrestrial species. Nocturnal geckos, which emerge at night , will be compatible with diurnal species of lizards of similar size".

In the book "Rhacodactylus:The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care" (de Vosjoli, Fast , and Repashy) the authors have this to say about mixing species..."At the onset, let us state that we do not agree with the righteous, narrow-minded assertions by 'experts' that these geckos and other reptile species should never be kept with other species. The highest form of herpetoculture involves creating large complex vivarium systems where several species of animals, including invertebrates, will cohabit and breed"

This pretty much sums up how I feel about the idea of mixing species. The authors go on in that book to talk about the basic theories behind establishing these kinds of set-ups. I plan on doing a mixed species set-up in the spring with Rhacs and a pink tongued skink if I can get a hold of one. I know of at least one other forum member that is interested in doing the same...

What I would say to people who have asked the question here before about mixing species, to try and find people who have done so successfully and ask questions. There are many Naturalistic vivarium keepers that have done so for a while now."
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"The poetry that comes from the squaring off between,
And the circling is worth it.
Finding beauty in the dissonance." - Maynard James Keenan