Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a mali uromastyx and I know that sometimes if I don't have time in the morning to turn on his light and feed him so he can wake up properly he just sleeps all day. In fact, once he got out of his cage and was gone for an entire 5 weeks before I finally found him. I thought he'd definitely be dead somewhere but he had just been sleeping the whole time and seemed to be totally fine. Next week I'm going to be going out of town for 10 days. Would it be ok to leave him and let him sleep or should I find somebody to take care of him? Is this even good for them to just let them sleep or is unhealthy for them?

It's not a good idea to force them into anything. You will definitely need to get someone to care for him while you're gone - he needs fresh food, too. If I were you, I'd run to the hardware store and pick up a lighting timer (inexpensive - $3 to $10 - and marvelously handy!) so the lights will always be regular, regardless of if you're there or not. Then when you're gone, just ask someone you trust to feed him every day or two.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx geyri (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and Spike)
1.1 Uromastyx ornata (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
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 agree, you should definitely get some timers for the lights. it is better for them to have a routine and the timers make it easier to have that routine. you also need to have a friend or a pet sitter come over to feed the uro and if the lights are on a timer you only have to worry about them coming over once a day instead of twice a day to turn the lights off and on
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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 ***