Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Had to take the Uros to the vet yesterday.One had the squirts and I figured it would be a good time for a check up for both.Our Saharan wieghs 170g and has a couple of bugs so he's on Pancur.Our Mali weighs 205 grams and seems to be healthy.The interessting part of our visit was what the vet told us.He isnt a expert when it comes to exotics which we figured.He said he is more of a general practioner Ok no problem.He consults a book to get the specifics of our Uro after he asks what we feed them.We told him greens carrots peas ...basicaly whats on the caresheets and what the breeders have recomended.His book Reptile Care vol 1 by Fredrick l. Frye who is supposed to be an expert when it comes to reptiles.Has written several books on them.Claims the Uromastyx(spiney tailed lizards)are supposed to be fed mice/baby mice/quail chics eggs(bird/lizard) and greens.Basicaly it sounds like what you would feed Iguana's.Didnt list specifics on greens.This goes against everything Ive seen.Has anyone else seen this book or have access to a vet that might?I found the book at Barnes and Noble.The book was written in 1992 which could be the problem.We told him what the breders recomend.The vet thinks there should be some kind of protein.Needless to say were sticking with the veggies.Just thought everyone might find this interesting.
Barnes and Noble

"basically sounds a lot like what you would feed iguanas"....

Yeah, maybe in the 80's. Now we know better that animals that are mainly herbivores (like uros and iguanas) are supposed to only have very small amounts of insects, and when they're adults they don't need any, except the occasional treat. If you fed an iguana or a uro a diet like that it would develop problems fairly soon, mostly kidney failure.

There aren't many good books written on uros, and if that one's from 92 they definately didn't have a solid understanding of how these animals work.

It would not surprise me at all if one of my uro's was to accept a pinkie. They attack waxworms violently when I present them.

FYI, iguanas are, if anything, more herbivorous than uros.

I hope your vet is willing to listen to you regarding the proper care of uros - maybe you could bring a stack of care sheets in. If he sees 15 sources all saying HERBIVORE, then maybe he'll look into it more.
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Torey
Eugene, 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

>He consults a book to get the specifics of our Uro after he asks
>what we feed them.We told him greens carrots peas ...basicaly
>whats on the caresheets and what the breeders have
>recomended.His book Reptile Care vol 1 by Fredrick l. Frye who
>is supposed to be an expert when it comes to reptiles.Has
>written several books on them.Claims the Uromastyx(spiney
>tailed lizards)are supposed to be fed mice/baby mice/quail
>chics eggs(bird/lizard) and greens.

I don't know how accurate that book is for other species but as far as Uros go that book needs to be burned.

When I started taking my Uro to my local herp vet, who had of course saw only your standard reptiles (igs, leos, anoles) he read me that same passage. If I hadn't already done my own research I might have taken advice from the professional and done some harm to my uro. Luckily he is a good guy and was willing to admit he might be wrong and took it upon himself to check with a more experienced herp vet to check out what I said was a good diet for uros. I have met some professionals who would not doubt what was written in a book even if you put the proof right in front of them.

Needless to say I am still seeing him for all my routine vet work and bit by bit we are turning him into a good uro vet.

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Mike Wilson
mwilson@fuu.net