Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

nail clipping

tristan Feb 02, 2005 04:22 PM

i just wanted to get everyone's opinion on how you clip your uro's nails. my egyptian has nails that pretty much scratch me everytime i pick him up. i haven't tried clipping them but i'm pretty sure he'll get squirmy and scratch me a good amount. any suggestions?
thanks,
tristan

Replies (4)

jeune18 Feb 02, 2005 04:41 PM

well i got lucky with one of my guys and he just sat there and let me do all four feet. however, that is not always an option. i have large rocks in their tank that require climbing up onto. since they have to use their nails, it naturally files them for me. someone once suggested putting them on a leash and letting them walk around on the cement to also help file them down. i never have to cut my uros nails now that they have the rocks
-----
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 ***

cirrustwi Feb 02, 2005 08:15 PM

I found some rough rocks and put it in my enclosure. I've never had to clip my uros nails because they climb on the rocks and that files their nials for me. You have to watch though, because they dig under the rocks, so you need to apoxy them together and maybe even to the enclosure itself so they won't fall and crush your uro.

el_toro Feb 03, 2005 12:17 PM

I only had to do it once with Spike. Now he has rocks, too, and he files his own nails.

It's just like with a cat or iguana - gently hold the foot/toes and clip straight across just in from the tip. Don't go too deep or it will bleed. If they won't hold still, you can try wrapping them in a towel to settle them and contain them.

Here's a link to iguana nail trimming on Melissa Kaplan's site with a diagram of how the nail is structured - I assume uros are similar if not identical:
trimming
-----
Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
2.0.1 Uromastyx Dispar Maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and 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

sunfox Feb 03, 2005 06:02 PM

I had my vet show me how to clip my uros' toenails once. If you get a pair of bird toenail clippers, it works pretty well.
If you find that your uros are struggling a lot, it might be a good idea to cover their eyes with a small cloth to calm them down. This technique works well with most animals (including people ).

-----
1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

Site Tools