Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my first lizard, i'm a tort fan, but i was at a local reptile show and saw a 'niger mali uro' i went home did some reasearch and set up and the next day i bought him/her, its very fat, and very alert. Basks alot, runs around the cage, very active, there is no apparent problems, i realize its w/c, but what's a good starter food to get it feeding? i've offered it different kinds of greens, some pretty bird finch food, and doesn't show any intrest in it, now with torts, a w/c tort sometimes won't eat right away and if you start off on some bannana or something like that, it will usually nibble on that then take off from there, is there a certain food that a mali never resists? may not be the best for it, but something to just get it started feeding? its amazing looking.... its very handable, thanks

Andy

hmm, i have heard of a nigerian uro and mali uro but not a niger mali uro. what does he look like? do you have any pictures?

my malis really love peas. peas are best served with supplements on them but if you just want to try to get it to eat, plain peas would not be a problem. he may just be a little stressed because of the move and might need a couple days to adjust.

my malis also love bok choy. in fact helga pretty much refuses to eat any other leafy green.

helga

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vonnie
***The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage.
— Mark Russell***

My uros find yellow foods particularly tempting... yellow flowers like hibiscus, rose petals, mustard flowers and dandelion. (Actually, most will eat dandelion leaves too.) Chopped yellow crookneck squash, wax beans & corn. Although they are not yellow: sprouted peas and lentils.
What you are experiencing is common with wild caught animals. He/she needs to be acclimated. It may behoove you to just be patient, keep offering foods that are good for her/him rather than tempting treats. these critters can develop bad habits that are hard to break them of.
i had a very hard time getting my first mali off of her sprouted pea & lentil habit.
search the uro forum for "acclimate" and read the threads you find.
best of luck
--benedita

You can also try sprinkling bee pollen granules (ask for them at a health food store) on whatever salad you're offering. They're a tasty uro treat - got my first uro eating with them.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Tank, Turtle, and Spike)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
2.1.2 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)