Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was just at a reptile show and i picked up a new mali. it is young so i don't know the sex but i bought one with alot of black and a large head, hoping it will be a boy. once it warms up a little, i will snap some pics of it with my crappy webcam. it is living separately from helga for now, but even with a vet check up how long should i leave them apart?
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Congrats to you Vonnie I hope that it will turn out to be a male since you want one so bad. Please post pics ASAP
Debbie

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The addiction can be dangerous. 1 Uro named Buddy aka Big Boy & 1 Ig named Tiny

First off congratulations on your new family member !

If it is a baby, then since Helga is full grown then maybe you should just leave them seperated. But if "he" or "she" is almost as big as Helga then 2 weeks quarentine.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

I'd make very sure the new little guy is acclimated (oh yeah, congrats!). Then introduce them after that. I included some notes I put together some time ago about acclimation and introducing. These are just my thoughts, experiences, and beliefs...not rules or anything like that. Just hope it's helps.

Acclimation (I know, you've done this before):
Acclimation is very important to the success of your uro becoming and remaining healthy. As these reptiles are most likely wild caught (which species will have a lot to do with that) they are going to be very stressed once they get into your care. They may not eat for some time, maybe up to 3-4 weeks. They can be very skittish as they are already not "sociable" animals. This is why it's very important to have the habitat already set up. Some things to help with the acclimation period, would be to set up the tank in a low traffic area of the house. Covering the sides so it cannot see out has been proven effective. If the enclosure is glass, a decorative covering (much like those used on the outside of fish aquariums, but with a desert layout) on 1-3 sides can help it to distinguish where it can't go. Changing the food out while it's sleeping also helps. There's many things that can be done and everyone finds things that work well for them.Housing-Uromastyx are generally non-social.
Two mature males may not be kept together! Sooner or later one will attack the other, possibly causing serious injury. Females vary greatly in temperament. Most get along fine with a male, but I have heard of exceptions. Uros are by nature territorial, and even calm animals tend to attack new individuals place in their cage.
Speaking of cage size, the larger the better. At the very least, the cage should be 200% their length deep, and the length should be if possible, 300% the length of the Uro. It's been said that uros are not climbers, but spend any time watching mine, and you'll change that opinion. Again, these sizes are just suggested minimums, and are not intended to be any more than guidelines. My terrarium is 48x18x18 and provides enough room to allow him to scoot around and climb. Remember, the more room they have, the better. Uros are desert lizards and are burrowers by nature. Lots of rocks and a suitable substrate is important. Rocks will help keep their nails trimmed as well as giving them a comfortable place to bask for heat. It is also important that the Uro has a place to sleep and provide a stress free atmosphere.
This can be provided with some kind of hiding place, such as a cave. Such things can be purchased or made by appropriately stacking rocks. If this route is taken, it's very important they're anchored or glued, as to not collapse (using a non-toxic adhesive) on the Uro causing injury.

Introducing Uros

1) Get a fully set up and ready tank for the new arrival. Get all the temps and such right.
2) Get the new arrival acclimated to where eating is regular and gaining weight as needed.
3) After that, maybe move the tanks into the same proximity so they can see each other, and monitor them for any eating/appetite changes. After a week or two, if all looks good, try and introduce them.
4) If your going to use one of the existing tanks as their new home, you’ll need to make it a “new” home.
5) I’d remove the uro from the tank, and then take the opportunity to clean it out, including changing the substrate. A spray and wipe down of a mild bleach and water solution wouldn’t hurt.
6) Rearrange the “furniture” so it really looks like a new environment. This will help eliminate any territorial issues from the one that was there originally.
7) Make sure there is at least one hideout for each uro, though three would be better (more if space allows).
8) Provide at least one food dish for each one as well as a separate basking spot for each.
9) Finally, if all goes well initially, I’d definitely watch and monitor them closely. Again, feeding and weight gain/loss. Sometimes, aggression is very passive and notice so noticeable. Watch for sores or thickening of skin in centralized places which can indicate one uro continually biting the other.

Hope any or all of these help.

I'll be waiting for pictures.

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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

thanks for all the info. it is nice to have things in one spot for quick reference so i have copy and pasted it. he (i hope) definitely should not have trouble getting settled because i live alone. he stayed up the latest tonight. i think he was enjoying the heat and not being in a tub with a bunch of other uros. he seems very curious about everything and does not run from me. the not running from me thing makes me think he definitely has worms or bugs.
well i guess once i get back from winter break i can introduce the two of them into their new home. they will be perfect roommates because he is too little for me to feel comfortable with him on substrate and helga probably won't be allowed on substrate for at least another 6 months, or however long it will take the toes to fall off
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

My understanding of quarantine recommendations was to keep them apart for two to three months. That way the new guy has a chance to settle in, plus you can get him his examination and fecal check with plenty of time to fix any possible parasite or other health problems.

Bravo, Jimbo, on a wonderful set of guidelines! One thing I can pipe in on was when I introduced Joe and Arthur for the first time, I did just what you wrote, plus they had a quick 10 minute soak together right before being introduced to the cage at the same time. This was how Doug Dix instructed me to make the introduction - I honestly don't know what it was for, but they got along great from the get-go.
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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
2.0.1 Uromastyx Dispar Maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and new neighbor Spike)
1.2 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser, Leeloo, and Sprocket)
1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)
And several miscellaneous community fish

I'd like to add that to my notes, if you don't mind.

Thanks,

Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

Of course!! It's info from Doug Dix, anyway, not me.

Joe (the one I got from Doug):

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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
2.0.1 Uromastyx Dispar Maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and new neighbor Spike)
1.2 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser, Leeloo, and Sprocket)
1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)
And several miscellaneous community fish

How did you get him so big?

Also, did you get him as a juvie or as a full grown?

I'd like to get Orion and Iris that big.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

I got him as a wild caught adult from Doug Dix who guessed he was likely 3-4 years old at the time because he was adult length and color, but had no breeding scars yet.

He hasn't grown any in length in the time that I've had him, but he's gained nearly 150g. Orion at least will get that big given time, if you keep providing good living conditions for him. My female is a lot smaller than Joe, though she's also full grown.
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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
2.0.1 Uromastyx Dispar Maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and new neighbor Spike)
1.2 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser, Leeloo, and Sprocket)
1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)
And several miscellaneous community fish

Make sure to pay special attention to his eating, growth, weight gain, and personality once you move them in together. Since I believe Helga is much older there is a HUGE possibility that she will dominate the baby, and even if this isn't overt it may effect "his" health and growth. Ideally you would wait until they were close to the same size, but I know this isn't always possible.

Congrats on your new baby! I cannot wait to see the pictures. Aren't the little ones so cute!!

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

helga is much older than him. she is probably 11-12 inches and he (i hope) is like 7 inches. but i will let him acclimate for a couple months in this separate tank and perhaps he will grow some. i also am going to return the new tank i have not even received yet and buy a bigger one after christmas. i am going to go for the 6' and that should give them lots of space.
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Definitely, that is awesome. They will love the 6ft tank I bet! Lucky Uros.
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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