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Ornate Uro?

JEFFREH Oct 07, 2004 07:08 AM

I was just flipping througha magazine when I came across a gorgeous picture of a ornate uro. I thought they looked awesome and I just wanted to know some basic care needs. I currently own a leopard gecko, and crested gecko, and a beared dragon. I'm assuming they are mostly veggetarians? So could I feed them what I feed my bearded? Ex. Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Dandelion Greens, endive, escarole. Have almost no idea of care needs, and I prolly cant get one cause I'm 13 and I have parents who are already fed up with my other lizards.

So my quetions are these:

How big do they get?
What size enclosure do they need?
How much and what do they eat?
Can they be handled any?
Do they bite, and are they aggressive?
What kind of cage setup do they need and what temp?
Any good sites with caresheets and maybe pictures?
Do you have any pictures?
How good of a pet are they overall and give any hints about them to help care for them.
One last thing, How much do they cost, and how much does the total cost, and how much does the total of food cost a week?

I'm definetly doing more research, but I figured I would ask first.
I hope I put this in the right forum this time! last time it was the leopard gecko!

Replies (8)

Triad Oct 07, 2004 07:23 AM

>I prolly cant get one cause I'm 13 and I have parents who are already fed up with my other lizards.

I know the feeling so are mine.

>>How big do they get?

They'll probably get at least 12 inches long. It varies by sex.

>>What size enclosure do they need?

At least a 40 gallon breeder if not bigger, it depends whether you get hatchlings, juvies or full grown how big the enclosure is but usually it is at least a 40 gallon breeder.

>>How much and what do they eat?

They'll eat the same things as your bearded dragon. Mustard and Collard greens, endive, escarole, some fruits and other veggies. My mali and saharan uro's also eat Fluker's bearded dragon pellets that are red, but if you do get a hatchling don't give them any until they are a juvie.

>>Can they be handled any?

Yes they can be handled on a daily basis after you've had them 2 weeks (2 weeks is the adjustment period). Uromastyx are very docile more so than bearded dragons.

>>Do they bite, and are they aggressive?

Everything has the potential to bite someone or something. It depends on how you interact with your animal. Unless you are going to rescue an ornate then you should be good on getting one that doesn't bite.

>>What kind of cage setup do they need and what temp?

40 gallon breeder. If you get a hatchling use paper towel or newspaper as a substrate (lining/bedding) juvie or an adult you can use either bird seed with out sunflower seeds in it or washed play sand. 100-150 watt heat bulb is good. Temps should be in bask about 110* F at least and in the cool areas it should be at least 85-90* F. A couple of hiding areas are appropriate. Maybe some decorations like logs to play on and run under.

>>Any good sites with caresheets and maybe pictures?

Deerfernfarms.com Douglas Dix is the breeder there and he is very good about his reptiles. He has some very nicely colored ornates also. I suggest you email him some questions about the price.

>>Do you have any pictures?

Not on me right now I'm at a diff computer. I can if you leave your email, email you some pictures of my saharan uromastyx. They are also very pretty.

>>How good of a pet are they overall and give any hints about
them to help care for them.

Uromastyx in general are good pets. Very docile, some have lazy personalities like my mali who just like chilling on shoulders or chests others are a little hyper. It really depends on how well and how much you interact with them. The more you interact the more docile and calm they should be. This is my experience with these animals.

I try to hold all of my animals at least 1 time a day if not 2. I have a leo gecko, a bearded dragon, a mali uromastyx and 2 saharan uromastyx so I do have my hands full but I try to hold them all at least 1 time daily so they don't feel left out or "not loved" anymore.

>>One last thing, How much do they cost, and how much does the total cost, and how much does the total of food cost a week?

The cost depends greatly on the breeder you get your ornate from.

If you buy heads or bunches of collard and mustard greens along with endive and escarole a week you can split all of those foods between your bearded, and if you get an ornate, your ornate.
-----
GUY: You know I have a tendency to grow on people.
GAL: Yeah, so does fungus.

"Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they're eating sandwiches."

pgross8245 Oct 07, 2004 08:24 AM

Nice answers, I'm sure they will be very helpful. As far as your questions, I commend a 13 year old for asking questions before acquiring an animal. I have four different species of uros (ornate 1.2, saharan 0.1, rainbow benti 2.1?, sudanese occelated 1.1) and have to say the personality of the ornates is the most appealing. They are very friendly, don't mind being held and are just generally easy going. I take them along to the pet shops all the time and lots of people pet them and hold them. As the previous post says, check out Deer Fern Farms for care sheets and pictures. Good luck!

Pam

purduecg Oct 07, 2004 09:45 AM

Lindsay Pike of Urotopia ( http://www.urotopia.com ) also has some gorgeous Uromastyx. If you have any other questions after you read through the care sheets on Doug's site and on http://www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx/index.html please ask! Uros are awesome pets, and this forum represents a LOT of experience on how to keep happy, healthy, well-adjusted Uromastyx.

An additional note, is that there are still quite a few wild-caught Uromastyx being sold. Given your experience level, and age, I would doubly recommend that you work with a reputable breeder to get a captive bred lizard. I think you will be much happier with them as a pet.

Another nice thing about Uros is Dads tend to really like them. Get your Dad hooked, then you might have a better chance of getting a new pet.

Good Luck, and thank you so much for researching first!

Elizabeth

-----
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

JEFFREH Oct 07, 2004 04:31 PM

Thank you everyone! I really found that info helpful. So they basically eat solely veggies? Man only a foot long? Wow From what they look it looks like they could be 2 feet! Pictures can be desiving. One last Q. I heard males are brighter than females, is this true? Thank you again, and for the quick responses!

Triad Oct 07, 2004 07:16 PM

At least a foot long if not longer.

They also eat wax worms, meal worms and crickets. Just basically omnivores.
-----
GUY: You know I have a tendency to grow on people.
GAL: Yeah, so does fungus.

"Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they're eating sandwiches."

purduecg Oct 07, 2004 09:09 PM

Yes, males are often brighter than females, though not always. There are such things as "male mimic females".

Also, though it is true that they do eat some animal matter, particularly when they are juveniles, it is not a staple of thier diet. Particularly as they reach maturity it is thought that too much protein can lead to liver failure, among other things. Though if the Uro will eat it, they can be used as treats.

My Uro just lets crickets sit on his head. Definitely not interested in consuming them.

Elizabeth
-----
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

sunfox Oct 08, 2004 01:04 PM

Here she is (in my hands). My male is only two years old so his full colours haven't come in yet.

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

mwilso1 Oct 08, 2004 10:16 AM

>>At least a foot long if not longer.
>>
>>They also eat wax worms, meal worms and crickets. Just basically omnivores.

I`m sorry but I just have to jump in on this statement.

Please don't use the word omnivores in relation to Uros. There is no way Uros can be considered an omnivore. To be an omnivore to most people means to be able to eat a large part of both animal and plant matter in a healthy diet.

Triad, I'll give you the benifit of the doubt and assume you just used the wrong word or misunderstood the word. While if a Uro ate one mealworm in its entire life it could technically considered an omnivore (one who eats both plant and animal matter) it is a disservice to them to call them that.

I am not so worried with that word being bandied about on a forum like this where most people have read one or two care sheets and have read the pros and cons of feeding insects (almost every care sheet I have read that suggests feeding insects says to do so in very small to moderate amounts). I am worried that someone might google a message like that then pass that info on as if it was true.

"Hey Bob I just found out those Uro thing you just bought at the pet store is an omnivore"

"Great I can just feed it some cat and dog food"

Whether or not you believe in your opinion that Uros should get a significant percentage of animal protein (and you can guess where I stand on that) please be careful with throwing around generalizations like calling Uros omnivores.

-----
Mike Wilson
mwilson@fuu.net

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