Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm setting up my Uro's enclosure today. I went with a home made enclosure 3 feet by 2.5 feet. I read that a pair should be housed in a 4 by 2 which is 8 square feet, so I figured this enclosure should work OK for a yearling single male (no plans to get any females at this time). This will be 7 1/2 square feet if I've done my math right. The back and one side are wood. The front and the other side are plexiglass. So he'll get security from not being open on all sides, but will still get stimulation from being able to look out the two sides that are plexi.

I decided to go with the dirt as opposed to the bird seed. I thought it would be easier for him to walk on. I was thinking of about 6 inches? Not sure if that's too much or too little?

I was thinking of a mix of 3/4 dirt and 1/4 play sand. Is that a good ratio? If not, what is? Or is just dirt better than the mix?

I am making a raised shelf above the dirt. It will be about 2 inches from the top of the dirt. He'll be able to climb onto the shelf via a cork bark "ramp" so he can get off of the dirt if he wants. Also, under the shelf will serve as a nice hide. I'll feed him on top of the shelf so his food won't get all dirty. I'll also have things to climb on and other things to hide under. I'm going with flourescent UV and separate heat lamps and/or ceramic heaters.

I'll post pics when it's done. I'll be going to get the supplies in a few hours, so if anyone can advise on the appropriate height of the dirt, and whether to mix sand in or not, that would be great!!! The cage is already built, I'm just getting the dirt/sand and things to go in it today.
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Lyns Lair
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
8.0 Rats (Inky, Oy, Ben, Pinky, Templeton, Cotton, Bilbo, Carlo)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow/Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 California King Snake (Boo)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
1.0 Anery Corn Snake (Suezo)
1.1 Normal Corn Snakes het Pewter and Snow (Romeo & Juliet)
2.1.1 Eastern Milk Snakes (Uno, Dos, Tres, Snoopy)
1.0 Ball Python (Slytherin)
2.0 Smooth Green Snakes (Fred & George)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Bubbles)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
0.2 Mississippi Mud Turtles (Squirt & Shyanne)
1.0 Green Iguana (Norbert)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Moose & Tipsy)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Dragon (Tiramisu)
1.0 Ornate Uromastyx coming mid April
0.0.1 American Toad (Bump)
0.0.1 Fowlers Toad (no name yet)
0.0.3 Mystery Toads (no names yet)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.4 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Mystique, Freckles, Zipper, Twister)

we use a "Home Depot" mix that is soil/sand/vermiculite in a 50/25/25 mix (approx). just use topsoil, not potting soil or other dirt with any additives, and play with the mix a bit, including the moisture levels, to get something that feels good. digs well, burrows well, etc.

you can read more about soils and stuff at our site, in the FAQ, under monitors

best of luck!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Boy, dirt is heavy. It's an absolutely horrendous day. In the 30s with sloppy wet snow. Just a minute or two outside and you are soaked to the bones. I asked the guy at Home Depot which kind they had that did not have fertilizer, pesticide, pearlite, or manure. He showed me bags of "Earthgro Topsoil" which is made of peat, forest products, compost, ash, sand, and native topsoil. I sure hope it's ok cuz I had a heck of a time getting it into the car and then back out. I still have to drag it down to the basement, it's in the kitchen now. They didn't have play sand so I didn't get any sand after all. Since it's already listed in the mix I got, I'll just try this for now. I don't know how deep a layer I'll get out of it. I don't even think I'll get the 6 inches I was hoping for though. I might have to go back for more. Is there any danger of a Uro making a burrow and then having the burrow collapse and trapping him?
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Lyns Lair
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
8.0 Rats (Inky, Oy, Ben, Pinky, Templeton, Cotton, Bilbo, Carlo)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow/Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 California King Snake (Boo)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
1.0 Anery Corn Snake (Suezo)
1.1 Normal Corn Snakes het Pewter and Snow (Romeo & Juliet)
2.1.1 Eastern Milk Snakes (Uno, Dos, Tres, Snoopy)
1.0 Ball Python (Slytherin)
2.0 Smooth Green Snakes (Fred & George)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Bubbles)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
0.2 Mississippi Mud Turtles (Squirt & Shyanne)
1.0 Green Iguana (Norbert)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Moose & Tipsy)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Dragon (Tiramisu)
1.0 Ornate Uromastyx coming mid April
0.0.1 American Toad (Bump)
0.0.1 Fowlers Toad (no name yet)
0.0.3 Mystery Toads (no names yet)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.4 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Mystique, Freckles, Zipper, Twister)

can a burrow collapse? sure. will a Uro get trapped? not likely.

but all soil is not necessarily a good choice for a lizard substrate. most soils don't do well at all. it must be a good soil that digs well, holds burrows well, holds moisture properly, etc.

the sand and vermeculite added in the mix act as a binding agent of sorts, and helps to give the mix a clumpy, compactable texture. clay also does this, but is not a good choice.

just plain soil doesn't usually dig well, it is often dusty, and it might not get you any further along than something like plain sand.

you have made a good step, but you have to follow through if you want great results, and that means looking to find/create a USABLE soil

best of luck!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

you said that even if a burrow collapses, a uro isn't likely to get trapped in it. How so?

Hopefully soon homedepot and the other stores will have topsoil and vermiculite for sale again so I can try to make a good soil. I'm also trying to think of places locally where I could dig up a good soil, but I'm drawing a blank currently.

In the new cages, if I put my uro on the floor and extend the substrate dam another 4-5", I could have up to 8 or 9" of dirt. Would there be a way, with enough experimentation with the dirt, that I could get the soil to hold a burrow even if it's only that deep? Or would I have to stick with the original plan of putting something like a sheet of wood in for her to dig under?

8 inches should be able to burrow fine for a small lizard like an Ornate Uro.

as for collapsing, they are diggers, burrowers. really, they are professionals, and we are amateurs.

if you use a retarded dirt, or cement, then maybe you would have problems. but remember that Uros, monitors, lizards, all lay eggs in the soil, and bury them, and the babies don't just hatch out into the air, they DIG THEIR WAY OUT. from birth. if a section of a burrow collapses, that is usually because you stepped on it, or it is low moisture, but the Uro will know what to do.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I just found this post funny, I didn't really think it needed a response but this one works.
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1.1 Ornates (Lindsay Pike)(Doug Dix)
0.0.1 Mali
0.1 Weimaraner