Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My "male" mali has apparently been off feed for a couple of weeks now. He stopped coming out and basking and feeding when we had a brief cool spell and doesnt appear to be feeding as heavily or at all compared to the female. I dont see him out and about at all and he stays under their tile hide on the warm side of the cage. I suspect he is male based on what the seller could determine, but not 100 percent sure. He is definitely younger than my female and only about two thirds grown and still exhibiting juvie coloration. My female seems to be out more than ever though and feeding and basking more than she last year at this time when she was by herself before I got the male. Very odd. Do the different sexes exhibit different prep habits prior to winter, especially if a pair is housed together? My female usually goes off feed during the winter and feeds much more sparingly than she has been doing recently. Is the fact she may be housed with a male affecting her normal feeding habits this time of year?

they'll do when you've been feeding them everyday. Keeping the male and female together might stress them both out, yes.... Uromastyx aren't exactly social creature. From what I can tell you need the right pair for them to breed and coexist. I'm not an expert on breeding Uro's, though..... That's all I know! But, I do know some animals don't get along even if they are of the opposite genders. maybe that's why they aren't eating much.

They have been housed together since last December and have been doing great up until a few weeks ago. The female was shyer than the male, but now it appears opposite. Since no one is home during the day on weekdays, he may be coming out to bask and feed then. However, on weekends I would always see him out basking and feeding before her. Shrug???

Sometimes when they do acclimate and if you have been taking care of them and feeding him the right way, they start showing their true nature, like, dominating the other ones and stressing each other out. In some cases they will kill each other if they don't get a long. Uromastyx are known for this.

Or they may just be slowing down because of the cooler weather. Mine does it and I cool her/him down on purpose for a few weeks. Sometime she does it on her own, deliberately seeking cooler places and sleep. I usually turn back on the heat after a couple weeks, but if she chose to stay on the cooler side and sleep that's her choice. I do provide food just in case she is hungry during this time after I've warm up the her quarters.