Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't see my guy much at all. I brumated him over the winter, and slowly increased light amounts and time. The temp gradient is perfect. Yet, he still sleeps unless I actively take him out of his cool-side hide.

Is he sleeping too much?
Or is this normal (i.e. is he not fooled by my attempt to make it feel like summer in his cage)?

It is hard to help without the proper info. What is your temperature gradient? How long has it been exposed to normal light and temperature?
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BigMac
1.0 Mali Uro - Tank
1.0 Leo - Doobie
0.1 Chacoan Monkey Frog - Pilar
1.0 Corn Snake - Muka
0.0.1 Ball Python - Monty

Well, the basking spot is hitting 115 degrees F pretty constantly. Its around 95 on the warm side, and 80 on the cool side.
There are two hides...a large reptile cave in the warm spot (mainly used as the basking area), the other is a low wood "box "like structure (since they seem to like being able to feel the ceiling on their backs) on the cool side.

He's got spots to climb, dig, etc. He doesn't "glass dance". I give him a VERY shallow dish of water from time to time.

Thanks for the replies by the way...

i can tell you for sure that my uro does not come out of his hide unless the hot side is at least 91 degrees and the basking spot is about 120 degrees. the temps may simply just not be hot enough for him. my uro definitely is more active when temps are above 95 degrees on the hot side. it could be something as simple as that. good luck!

laura
hazlet n.j.

1.0.0 mali (ZION)
0.0.1 fire-bellied toad (KILLER)
0.0.6 tetras
0.0.2 red-eared sliders (DOROTHY&TOTO)
0.1.1 parakeets (ARIEL&JASMINE)

If it wasn't hot enough, why wouldn't he sit in the basking area and try to soak up every ounce of heat? If what you said is correct, it doesn't make sense to stay under a rock if he's not getting enough heat. Then again, I'm not a reptile.

My Mali sleeps easily 18 hours a day in his hiding spot. Out of the remaining 6 hours, 2 may be spent running around, with 4 spent chillin' under the rock and awake.

Hot side: 93-95F
Cool: 85F
Basking: 120Fish

I have often wondered the same thing about why Uros stay in hides if it is not hot enough... However I have witnessed the same phenomenon with my Uro. He will stay in his hide if the hot side (where he sleeps) is too cold OR too hot (he is very opinionated). I am guessing it has something to do with the ambient temperature of the hide as a signal that they can safely expend energy by waking up and moving around. If it is too cool they may just figure it is safer to sleep... Just I guess.

It cannot hurt to try increasing the temperature and see what happens.

Good Luck!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

I'm not a Vet but it sounds like your temps could be a little higher. If that dosent work call a reptile vet.

The temp is so important because your guy has been in a state of brumation for a long time and his metabolism needs to get fired up. If it is not warm enough his body cannot produce ATP which is the source of energy.
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BigMac
1.0 Mali Uro - Tank
1.0 Leo - Doobie
0.1 Chacoan Monkey Frog - Pilar
1.0 Corn Snake - Muka
0.0.1 Ball Python - Monty

The reason that the uro won't come out if it's too cool, is that it's body thinks it's still supposed to be brumating until the temperature heats up enough to come out.

Your uro should definitely have a hotter basking spot. Try to get it up to about 125-130F, with an area wide enough for your entire uro to be under the warm area. Try using a hotter bulb, and make sure it's either a flood, or "NOT" one of the narrow-beam reptile bulbs so that you have a wide enough hot area.

Nicki
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Nicki and...

0.0.2 Uromastyx geyri (Saharan Uromastyx) - New babies!
1.1.0 Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Mali Uromastyx) - Spike and Lizzy
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri (Variable (Thayer’s) Kingsnake) - Kavi
0.0.1 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli (Pueblan Milksnake) - Callia
0.2.0 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Red-Sided Garter Snakes) - Spot and Fluffy

Ontario, Canada

I moved the lights around a bit. The basking spot is now off the scale of my thermometer (higher than 120F...I estimate around 140 or even more). I took him out the other day and he seemed to love the new basking spot, yet the next couple of days he still slept in...