Several weeks ago I obtained 10 WC babies Saharans, the dealer witch is also a friend said that they may be a challenge to acclimate; IV also heard this by others.
These are my first uromastyx; in fact they are my very first desert reptiles, so I was a little worried though excited to work with new specie. As with all animals IV work with, I first seek out someone with extensive experience and use his experience as a base, I try not to read everyone’s advice as most often they contradict at one point or an other. The point is to keep what’s effective and proven and concentrate on fixing what’s not successful; the first problem that struck me concerning Saharans was the number that failed to acclimate.
Parasites are tot to be the no: 1 reason for these loses. No dough parasitism is a real problem with imported uromastyx, especially considering the water quality in Egypt, Somalia, Niger and most exporting countries have contaminated water.
This said from my past experience with many other reptiles, its my belief that when given a chance, reptiles flush there parasite load, this is don much the same way we mammals do, when infected with internal parasites be it protozoa, nematode, malaria our body over heats (fever) most parasites die between 40c-50c, reptiles being ectotherms must have aces to good basking to achieve enough body heat to kill unwanted parasites.
That was easy for me to figure out, however the problem was not the parasites, my problem was dehydration, my animals where feeding well and for the most part appeared normal, however some seemed to slime down a little, I kept a good eye on them until I could figure out what was the problem, the uromastyx showed me 2 things that needed attention, first being there nostrils, its normal for uromastyx to expel salt once in a while, however an organism that keeps expelling salt is fighting against dehydration, therefore my cages where not suitable they needed a way to preserve humidity, humid borrow. But IV been told humidity will harm uromastyx (not if they are allowed to bask and completely dry daytimes) also my uromastyx lick each others salt residue? This can only mean they have a lacuna in there diets, after a research I fund that most uromastyx habitat use to be swamp land and that theirs a large clay content in the soils, clay = minerals.
My uromastyx are all doing much better now, there nostrils are nice and clean, I will try this with 50 WC adults Saharans.
Aim merely expressing my tots and ideas, this is in no way absolute and shod be farther investigated.
Pleas feel free to comment
Rgds
Ps. Aim just posting to share, not to contradict or disproof nor to disrespect anyone.
