Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Uro doesn't eat as much as like and hoping that someone can give some tips. My uro is the first reptile that I've who I can't get to eat a full. She 2-3 bites of food and thats it. I've given her a variety of leafy greens to eat but that doesn't seem to matter much to her. So if anyone can give any suggestions it will be greatly appreciated.

what kind of foods are you feeding? what size enclosure, temps, etc... a little more info would be helpful to see what the issue may be

The tank is a 10 gallon it's about 110-120 with a UVB lighting and feeding her mustard greens, kale, collards, Romane lettuce, spinach and pok choy

First off, a 10 gallon is way too small for a uromastyx. You cannot regulate their temps in such a small space. It sounds like you are cooking the poor thing if the ambient temp is that high and it can't get to a cooler area in the tank.

I am assuming this is your first lizard. Please do some serious research on their care. I have one small adult I took in on rescue and his cage is 4'long by 2' wide and 4' high. He uses all of the floor space which is very important for them to regulate their body temps.

Please make some very important changes ASAP

Word linda G! Deerfeernfarms.com tons of care info from one of the more experienced breeders. Spinach should be limited, don't know your ratios. Get on there now! Read up and soak him I'm sure he is dehydrated like no other.

First of all Linda G. I don't appreciate you talking to me like an idiot. If you have bother to ask me old or big she is than you would know that the tank I have her in is fine for her size. And for you info this not my first reptile. I have taking care of almost very reptile under the sun and have plenty of experience with them. If you don't want to offer me any suggestions than don't comment back to this posting.

I have felt the way you do when I first posted questions 7 yrs ago. It is in yours and your uros best interest to listen to the experienced people who have taken the time to respond to your question! Granted you may have not realized that there is so much to know about successfully and humanely keeping a uro. But now you know probably the most important aspect. Temperatures need to be almost exact! It is just impossible to achieve the correct temps in a 10 gal tank. Hatchlings need to be in larger tank. Please make arrangements as soon as possible if not sooner to place your pet in at least a 40 gal long. Does she have a hide spot? Linda is right it is way too hot in there. Please check into Deerfern Farms and UroWiki. There is no time to waste worrying about insults. Your pets life depends on you moving past this and getting her into a much larger enclosure even if it has to be a Rubbermaid tub (which experienced keepers have used). Please dont shy away from asking more questions as the people on this site have a wealth of information for you to help get your uro on the right track!

Gd Luck Laura

She does have a hide and like I said before a 10 gallon tank isn't too small and you regulate the temp just fine. I might have failed to mention that 110-120 is for the basking spot not the entire tank which is my fault. And I have read every thing that Deer Fern Farms have suggested and it doesn't seem to be working. And to re-itterate this is not my first reptile and I have experience with all types of reptiles. Infact I've probably have taken care of most reptiles than most people have ever had in their life time. Not to mention I am a certified vet tech and specialize in the care of all your "Exotic" pets (small-reptiles). She is the first and only lizard that I have had who I can't get to eat a good meal after owner her for a week. Even when some of lizards were on deaths door step I still go them eating a good meal within a week.

Linda is being helpful. I'm sure every Uro owner would agree a 10 gallon is too small even for a baby. Its not that he doesnt have enough room to move. Its that there is no temperature gradient. They need 100 degrees ambient temp on the hot side and around 80 degrees on the cool. You cant get that temp gradient with only a 10 gal.
Every green you listed shouldnt be fed to a Uro often at all. Feed curly endive(a.k.a chicory) and escarole as staples. Add some dandelion and squash every now and then. As the weather warms up also feed flowers. Hibiscus, dandelion, rose.. Research what they like. There is a big list of flowers.
Uros eat flowers in the wild so they are naturally attracted to colorful food items. Buy a small jar of juvenille iguana pellets. The one that has red,yellow and green pellets and spinkle those on the salad.
Also keep a dish of dry split peas, lentils and millet in the cage at all times. Mine love munching on the stuff so that may help entice yours to eat.
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1.1 Uromastyx Philbyi

Quit taking offense and read deer ferns web site again (cause it says to start with a 20gal long with a hatchling) no way possible to get a hot spot of 120 on one side and 80 our even 90 on the cool in a 10 gallon (unless you use an ice pack) I guarantee if you change the settings, including a bigger tank to obtain your heat ranges, it will eat. If god forbid its not too late. Babies can dehydrate in that heat and die within days if not sooner and that's being generous.

First off, I was not talking to you in an offensive way. I am sorry you took it that way. We come here to learn and share information. In no way do I pretend to be an expert at uro care but I have come here and asked questions and done a lot of research. If I'm doing something correct I would want to know and act on it. Any reptile requires a certain amount of space for thermoregulation. 10 gallons is very small. I simply ask that you try giving your reptile a larger enclosure first. They always say improve their habitat and everything else will follow.

Good luck

There are several problems here and are the reasons why your Uromastyx is not eating.
1. Enclosure is too small
2. Food items are incorrect
3. You are refusing good advise

Please get on the urowiki and do some research. Minimum enclosure size should be that of a 75 gallon aquarium (48"x18" footprint) There is no physical way on this planet that a 'thermal gradient' can be achieved in a 10 gallon. You need a basking surface temp of around 120F. warm ambient temps that range from 97F down to 85F (not physically possible in small enclosures)
Kale should NEVER be fed, mustard greens fed VERY sparingly. Staple diet should include escarole, curly endive (also called chickory), dandelion greens (not from your backyard, unless you are 100% sure no chemicals have been introduced for over a year), bok choy, radicchio, etc. Please see the food page of the urowiki for more foods you can use

DO NOT EVER soak a Uromastyx either... I know somebody mentioned this but it is a bad idea to introduce a desert lizard to excessive water/humidity.

You need to make some changes to ensure the Uromastyx will have a healthy life

Here is a pic of my 48"x24"x30" custom enclosure with multiples hides and proper heat gradient