Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok, i am new here and would like a little advice.
i have been researching the mali uro and have decided i would like to buy one.all of this came about because there is one at the local pet store that is in a very small ten gallon tank, the are feeding canned veggies and mealworms. they have only had it for about a month and they claim it is two months old. i felt really bad for it so i paid half for them to hold it and now i am doing my research.
i was hoping if i told every one what i had you could tell me if i need to change any thing
(cage is all set up and waiting for uro)
cage size: 72x24x24
substrait: poolfilter sand
lighting: uvb (mounted inside the cage 12" from the place the uro would be fed) a basking bulb and a ceramic heat emiter (for night)
temps (taken with a temp gun) hotside 95-105, cool side 79-85
basking spot #1 110, basking spot #2 129
food purchased: bird seed, lentils, carrots, squash, endive, dandilion greens, ecassoral, bock choy
hide: three of them one on the hot side, one on the cool side, and one in the middle.
there are also several logs and rocks to bask and climb on.

i think i have covered every thing. i just need to know if the cage is ready for the mali to come home
i am open to any suggestions
thanks

Out of curiosity, how large is this uro? Pet stores often misrepresent uros' ages either out of ignorance (e.g. assuming uro growth rates are similar to beardies) or out of not giving a rat's bum. If the uro is under 6-7 inches in length, don't use sand or any other particulate substrate. Use tile, paper towels, or newspaper until it's larger.

Your setup sounds like it's mostly ready for an occupant. However, I generally strongly recommend against buying from a pet store, no matter how sorry for him you feel. I understand you've already paid money for it, so you're likely committed, but be prepared for some vet bills. If this uro has been in such abysmal conditions, chances are very, very good that there will be at least a few minor health issues, if not major ones.

After you get him home, make sure he gets a vet visit right away. Clearing up any immediate health concerns like parasites will help him get acclimated more quickly. If it's actually a larger uro (over 6 inches), you should keep him on paper towels anyway until you are sure he's free of parasites. If he's got bugs, you'll just have to replace the sand anyway to prevent reinfestation.

The home you've prepared sounds very good, and the fact that you're preparing it before you bring him home is great! Two other tidbits of un-asked-for advice: get a good gram scale to keep track of his weight, especially if there are health issues. Also, keep a hands-off policy for at least a month while he's getting settled in (barring vet visits and/or medication). This will help him feel more secure and he'll adjust more quickly to his new home.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
1.1 Collared Lizard (Ripcord and Rorschach)
2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

he is probbaly 5-6 inches long (just a guess from when i held him at the pet store)
so you don't think it would be wise to get him? i'm not real concerned about the money (not that i'm rich or any thing) it is just that i feel like some one is going to buy him, why not some one that will take care of any problems that he has, and not some one that will let him die?
but if you feel strongly that it wouldn't be a good idea to get him i would take that into consideration.
i bought a scale last night (like you said) i figured i would need it either way (wether i got this one or another one)
how much is a healthy weight for a uro that is 5-6 inches? i thought maybe i could have the pet store weigh him. i also made a stop by there yesterday and got a fecal sample and dropped it off at the vet on the way to work, i thought maybe it would be a good idea to get this out of the way asap.(the pet store agreed to pay for 1/2 of the costs)
if i need to use tile what kind? would slate work? i have some left from my counter top.
also i need advice on how to bring him home. my thoughts were an insulated container with hand warmers?

I notice that you mentioned that you had birdseed as a food.
birdseed is actually much better as a substrate than a dietary supplement, although it is non-toxic to uros and can be eaten by them, that doesn't mean it should be. otherwise, you sound reallly well prepared and ready to take care of this uro.

The reason I suggest against buying from a pet store is that it rewards them for abusing the animals in their keep. If a person feels sorry for the animal and buys it to 'save' it, that one animal might be better off, but the sale will encourage the store to bring in (and mistreat) more and more of that kind of animal.

A reliable breeder (for example Urotopia) is a much better source. You can reward them for having a responsible business. You can be more certain of your new pet's history, age, and good health. With the right source, you also get support if you have questions or problems down the road. This can be a huge help!

Of course, it's still your choice. This is just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

For your other questions, there's not really a specific answer for the weight. Monitor what it is and make sure he doesn't lose more than a few grams as he settles in. If you look at his hipbones, back legs, and the tail - all these should be plump and fatty, not wasted or bony. The pictures are of the same uro before and after (my uro Joe).

Slate tile is great. As for bringing him home, you can use handwarmers, just stuff them in a sock first. Some of those chemical warmers get really hot!

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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
1.1 Collared Lizard (Ripcord and Rorschach)
2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

after much consideration and being up half the night, i went to the pet store this morning and gave them a huge peice of my mind, got my money back and told them i would never come back. the woman that i talked to was the owner, she actually tried to tell me that i had no idea what i was talking about and that just because i found some info on the internet didn’t make it right. i’m not real sure what all i said after that, but i’m not an idiot just because i am a young woman.
N-E-WAY it was the hardest decision i have had to make and i will never stop feeling bad for that uro. but after evey thing you guys have said i feel like if i buy this one i will save it but will be endangering many more because of it. so who knows if i made the right decision or not but it is made.
still trying to decide what to purchase i know i want a uro just not sure what kind. i would even like to consider two of them if the first goes well, i have plenty of room for more cages!

Be very careful - they're addictive!
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
1.1 Collared Lizard (Ripcord and Rorschach)
2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)