Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

You may remember me from last year...I bought an egyptian uro from doug, named frodo back in September.

My question is this....When I soak frodo, he appears to constantly be drinking the water??? It isnt too deep as I am paranoid but he actually bends his head down and slurps it up. I was told that they get their water supply from the greens that they eat, and he eats just fine, so I'm wondering if maybe I should add a water dish to his enclosure, or maybe soak him more often? How often does everyone soak their uro's, and is this abnormal behaviour??? His temps are perfect, he eats like a horse, normal wake/sleep cycles.....any ideas??

I appreciate any help

Leyla x

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1.0 husband
1.3 kids
0.1 african sulcata tortoise
1.0 Argentine Black & white tegu
1.0 green iguana
1.0 egyptian Uromastyx
2.3 canine buddies
0.1 Ball Python

i think a large number of Uro keepers follow husbandry that keeps their Uros in a constant state of dehydration. i have seen folks recommend "0% humidity", and that is just ridiculous.

water is life, and an animal can't thrive without it. if you keep a dry setup, then the animal will definitely drink when soaking, probably as much as possible. we use a moister substrate, a diggable soil (it is moist in the burrows) and the Uros stay well hydrated, and very healthy : )

water, moisture, "tail moisture" is not the enemy. a poor setup, poor basking spots, and poor temps are : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

i have a pair of ornate uros that are about 4 months old now and seem to be doing very well amd growing nicely...i haven't soaked them and really hadn't planned to, but recently i've seen some posts talking about soaking them...every 5 or 6 days i do put a very small water dish in their food bowl for an hour or two and they both seem to really like it and always drink a good amount...i do wonder if they'd like more water even though as i've read they get enough from their greens...as is probably the case with many of us, i'm sure i'm just worrying for nothing but i still can't help inquiring and getting some opinions...

thanks!

Andy

I work at a pet store, and (mainly as an excuse to interact with the hatchlings) every couple days I will handle them and offer them water through a spray bottle (squeeze lightly to get a droplet to develop, then use adhesion/cohesion to keep the water coming as they drink). If I haven't done it for a while they drink like crazy, but then over the next week or so they don't take to it quite as much and are more interested in exploring. I think that in the wild Uros probably drink from standing sources/dew when available, but availability is probably rather sparse. They seem to know how much is enough when it's offered and a little bit seems to go quite a long way.
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1.0 RES, Spunky
1.0 African mud turtle (P. castaneus), "Francois the Tortois"
1.0.1 Mali Uromastyx, Ajani, Guban(Goober)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Nico
0.0.1 Northern Blue Tongue Skink, Owajabi(Jabi)
3.1 Cats
1/2.0 rabbit (friend and I went 50/50)
0.1 Gerbils
1.0 Betta, Nigel

What a great picture!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes (May he rest in peace)
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine (RIP)
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin