Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What a surprise for me this morning. Ra was headbobbing again, only this time he ran right up to Isis, bit her on the neck (still hanging on) and is attempting to mount her. She is not flipping over, rather she is just taking him for a drag around the tank. There doesn't appear to be any damage to her and she isn't biting back which means this is another mating attempt. And he is still at it as I'm typing this, I can hear some shuffling around coming from the next room. I'm glad to see Ra being so persistant. If he fails to mate this year, I'm sure he'll succeed next year when he's bigger (maybe Isis will admire his strength and persistence ).
It's really cool but it can be a little hard to watch (Isis looks like a pretty tough girl though).
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

>>What a surprise for me this morning. Ra was headbobbing again, only this time he ran right up to Isis, bit her on the neck (still hanging on) and is attempting to mount her. She is not flipping over, rather she is just taking him for a drag around the tank. There doesn't appear to be any damage to her and she isn't biting back which means this is another mating attempt. And he is still at it as I'm typing this, I can hear some shuffling around coming from the next room. I'm glad to see Ra being so persistant. If he fails to mate this year, I'm sure he'll succeed next year when he's bigger (maybe Isis will admire his strength and persistence ).
>>It's really cool but it can be a little hard to watch (Isis looks like a pretty tough girl though).

That's awesome. It's cool that Ra isn't giving up one bit on this mating thing at all even though it seems that Isis is shooting him down sort of.

Tell Ra Good luck for me and maybe if you play a little "mood" music Isis will just give in to the temptation.
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2 Mali Uromastyx-Ares & Apollo
2 Bearded Dragons- Draco & Hades
1 Saharan Uromastyx-Iris
1 Leopard Gecko-Kalypso
1 Tokay Gecko-Sid Vicious
1 Tarantula-Peter Parker
1 Amazon Red Head Parrot-Pancho
1 African Gray Parrot-Keya
1 Dog-Cheeka
3 Fish-no names
1 Beta Fish-also no name
1 Zebra Finch-Beeps

It's not a very good one, they got a little self-conscious with the camera around. Ra is biting Isis's neck in this one (she looks like she doesn't care), he was still trying to get himself up on her.

I hope to get a better one in the future, but we'll see. Timing is everything and I just don't have it today.

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

a clip inside their little heads

isis: what are you doing
ra: nothing, baby, i promise.
isis: well could you do your nothing somewhere else?

ha ha, he will get her next year! i am glad he is interested
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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 ***

>> i am glad he is interested
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Oh, how could he not be interested! Isis is quite beautiful - and apparently quite a tease!
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx geyri (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and Spike)
1.0 Uromastyx ornata (Scuttlebutt)
2.1 Anolis carolinensis (Bowser, Sprocket, and Leeloo)
0.1 African dwarf frog (Sheila)
1.0 Betta splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

oh yes she is beautiful, but i thought he might be a little intimidated by the info joe gave him
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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 ***

I think Joe's advice made Ra even more determined, he was never one to back down from a challenge. He was probably thinking "Yeah, I'm buff, I'm young, got great colour and a HUGE tail! What girl wouldn't want me?"

Here's another pic

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

I'm trying to explain to Isis that if she just gives in, she might be able to get some rest.

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

Sunfox, if I have read correctly you didn't brumate Isis due to her surgery so you might be just running into dead ends this year with breeding. If her body has gone through the cycle she might not be ready for that at this time. Do you even know if she can reproduce now after the surgery? At least you know Ra is old enough...lol.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.1 Weimaraner

Truth is, I don't know if she'll be able to produce eggs. I just have to wait and see. Apparently, brumation of the female is not necessary for egg production and mating (someone has already tried this out with brumated and non-brumated females). It was more crucial that Ra be brumated in order to cycle. Isis may not necessarily want Ra as a mate right now due to his smaller stature (for now anyway).
Of course things will probably change. Arthur and Joe (the uro couple who just had eggs recently) did not mate their first time out. It took a while for Arthur to warm up to Joe. I think the same will happen with Ra and Isis given enough time. I'd rather not interrupt what is going on since it is the natural process. However, if I find that Isis is being injured, only then will I intervene. Those "feelings" will pass on their own as the seasons change.
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

The pictures are great! Poor guy - I honestly don't think he can reach all the way if he's going to try to bite her neck! He'll get the swing of things, I'm sure. It would be wonderful if Isis could produce eggs after the surgery! Especially since you had to look so hard to find her.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx geyri (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and Spike)
1.0 Uromastyx ornata (Scuttlebutt)
2.1 Anolis carolinensis (Bowser, Sprocket, and Leeloo)
0.1 African dwarf frog (Sheila)
1.0 Betta splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I don't know if it's the same for Mali's but for the Ornates to breed the female needs to grow up familiar with the male, so maybe is it a little of her just getting more used to him and him getting bigger. Hope it works out though.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.1 Weimaraner

These are great pics Sunfox! Must be fun to have all this action after a quiet winter. Good luck!
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150-200 tropical fish

3 African Clawed Frogs (1 olive and 2 albino)

and Luca will be here soon... male Ornate Uromastyx

- Mike
Morris Cty, NJ

- in memory of Magnus (male Uromastyx Macfadyeni)
he will always be my little boy

He's got a one track mind right now, hahahaha ! Hope things work and and Ra gets his way with her

Hoping real hard ,
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PHEve / Eve

Did you ever have any problem with soil? I dont like soil.Its difficult to keep it free from fungus/ bacteria. I lost a lovely salamander last year due to bacteria attack. I used to put soil as a substrate in its cage.

Your uro is cute, congratulations.

I use soil with my mali uro and bearded dragon, and I have been (with the uro) for a year now, with no problems...actually it's the contrary to that. My lizards seem to be doing much better with soil than with other substrates I have tried. The only thing is finding the right soil. I had a really nice packed soil in my uro's tank for a while, but I took a chance and changed the soil for another kind I thought might be better, but I was wrong. So now I have to wait until the stores start selling topsoil again so I can try to mix up a good batch for them.

Bacteria found in soil is usually good bacteria. I know of many monitor keepers that just dig up soil from outside and put it straight into the monitor enclosure, and it works fine. Sometimes the bacteria actually helps to break down waste matter. I've never heard of bacteria from soil causing problems with reptiles....not sure about amphibians. Usually the problem is actually caused by some other element of husbandry.