Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking about getting a uro, and i've heard they require UVB. Well, UVB bulbs aren't 30-40$ like most websites say, they are close to 90$ (canadian). I've heard of a relatively new product called liquid UVB. wuld this be suitable instead of a UVB bulb, or do they even need a UVB bulb if i supplement them with calcium w/D3?

I don't know about liquid D3 but a good source of UVB is essential to a uro's overall health and well-being. I prefer to take mine out to bask in natural sunlight, weather-permitting of course, but I use a UVB bulb for their tank. I use the tube type of bulb and those are are $30-$40 Canadian. It works well for me.

Here's a pic of it. (the UV light is on the left closest to the wall)

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

Liquid D3 actually isn't all that new. It CAN work, but you have to be very very very careful with it, since you can actually OD them on the D3, and this is very easy to do with the liquid form, as opposed to almost impossible to do with lighting, unless you go with a Mercury vapor bulb that is set up improperly. Also, there seems to be some discussion as to whether the liquid D3 is as effective as the "natural" way of using lights to allow the lizard to create their own. My view is that recreating their natural environment as closely as possibly is the best way, leads me to stongly prefer lighting. At $90 (can) you may be looking at lights that are supposed to give off heat and full spectrum... I am not a big fan of these, but only because I have had little success with them, and they are pricey. I believe others have had good success with them.

Setting up a Uro cage is expensive, and the upkeep on bulbs varies, as according to Murphy's law, all the lights will go at the same time, and you will be looking at $60 to replace them all (I use 2 150w bulbs, a 150 ceramic heat emitter, and a full spectrum UVB bulb - I have a big cage), but then other months all you have is their food bill, which is really quite cheap. Make sure you can swing the bulbs though, they are vital to the Uro's health.

With that said, Uros are awesome pets, I hope we will be able to welcome you to the Uro owner family soon!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

I meant $60 us. np
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

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YES, permanently damaged organs or DEAD!

Last time I checked a bottle in the petstore it had horribly irresponsible directions on the label in my opinion. The recommended dosage didn't take the size of the animal into account. So your 5 gram hatchling uro gets the same amount as a 5000 gram monitor? absurd.

I don't think the liquid d3 should be used in place of the UVB lights however as a supplment in combination with calcium it can help reverse the early stages of medobolic bone desease(MBD)
The trick is, as stated in a previous reply, getting the right dosage. Exposure to natural sunlight when ever possible is the best for the animal.