Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just acquired a three year old pair of ornates. I picked them up at the airport at around 4 p.m. last Friday. I got them settled into their home around 4:40 that day. They stayed up until about 2 a.m. although lights went out at 9 p.m.
The next norning lights came on at 8 a.m. they did not get up until 7 p.m. and again stayed up until between 2 and 3 a.m. The third night I made sure to turn the lights off at 8 p.m. but they still stayed up until 3 a.m.

Any suggestions on how to get their internal clocks reset or even if I need to. Is this schedule harmful - it sure is nice to come home from work and see them. Should I not turn the lights on in the morning and maybe they will sleep through until the next morning.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If you pickup each Uro and flip it over in the morning, to the rear near the vent you will find a small access panel with four bolts labelled "No user-servicable parts inside". Extract all four screws and remove the panel. Inside you'll find a small flashing red light and a trim-pot next to it. Get a small jewlers screwdriver and adjust the trim pot clockwise until the flashing red light turns to a steady green light. You've just reset their waking time. Replace the panel and screws securely. This will also work if they've experienced a power failure and the display is flasing 12:00.
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2.4.0 uromastyx geyri (Saharan/Nigerian)
0.0.4 uromastyx hardwickii (Indian)
2.3.0 uromastyx macfadyeni (Somalian)
1.3.0 uromastyx ocellata (Sudanese)
"Yes, it's a problem. No, I don't want to talk about it."

finally someone with a decent sense of humor

You are so funny.

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The addiction can be dangerous. 1 Uro named Buddy aka Big Boy & 1 Ig named Tiny

ops wrong picture of Buddy. That is a old picture he is sooooo much fatters now.
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The addiction can be dangerous. 1 Uro named Buddy aka Big Boy & 1 Ig named Tiny

the only concern i would have is when they are eating and if they are getting warm enough to digest their food.
also is it warm in their cage or is there a heat source even without the lights? i would have thought the no lights would have made them cool enough to not want to run around.
where did they come from to have such a crazy schedule?
the only thing i can think to do is work with their schedule and then like once a week change the light timers to go off and on an hour or two earlier until they are flipped back around.
sorry this isn't more helpful!
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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 ***

Give them some time; they will adjust.