Care Sheet for UromastyxAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 1.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 02/12/2008 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Uromastyx |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Mali girl |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Mali Uromastyx |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | None |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males are usually darker in color and females more light, but they can sometimes mimic each other colors. Sometimes male might have pronounced femoral pores and bulges but this is not always the case. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I use calcium sand and have had no problems with it, however most people say it causes impaction to the lizards. Clean play sand, Reptile carpet, or paper towels will also work. Just make sure that the reptile carpet has no loops so the lizards claws won’t get caught. I do provide a shallow water bowl on several days a week, and my Mali will occasionally drink from it, but you don’t have to provide one as they should get all their water from the food they eat. |
Lighting and UVB: | Lighting and UVB is a must! Babies and juveniles should at least have a 75watt basking bulb and adults a 100-150 watt heat bulb, change this once or twice a year. You need to have a good UVB bulb and change it every 6-9 months, or you can take the Mali outside for about 30 minutes 3 times a week when it is WARM out. The UVB provide vitamin D-3 so the Malis can process calcium and not get MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease). |
Temperatures and Humidity: | The temperature in the enclosure should be between 75-85 degrees on the cool side and 100-120 degrees in the basking area. At night the temperature can go down to 68- 75 degrees. The humidity needs to be kept around 20%. You should keep track of temperatures and humidity by placing a thermometer on both the cool side of the tank and the basking area and place hydrometer in the tank also. |
Heating and Equipment: | You need a good wattage heat bulb to provide all of the heat the Mali needs to stay healthy, at least a 75 watt for babies and juveniles and at least a 100 watt for adults. You should also place an under tank heater on at least one half of the enclosure and turn it on at night. NEVER use a heat rock as it will most likely over heat and burn your Mali. |
Caging Provided: | I think you need at least a 15 gal. aquarium for babies and juveniles (under 6in) and at least a 35 gal for an adult. The enclosure should be made of glass, solid wood, or plexi glass to hold in the lizard with a screen top for proper air exchange. Do not use a wire cage because too much colder air will get in and that will harm you Mali. |
Diet: | Herbivorous |
Description of Diet: | Malis are herbivores they should only have plant matter. They need a varied diet to get as much nutrients as possible. Feed the Mali shredded carrots, shredded radish, green beans, mustard greens, collared greens, corn, peas, and some fruits: apples, melons, mangoes and grapes. NEVER feed your Mali any lettuces because they have little nutritional value and they will get hooked on them and only want to eat that. You can also give the Malis finch or parakeet seed, no sunflower seeds, and prepared iguana or bearded dragon food. Babies and juveniles should be fed once or twice per day and adults every day or every other day. You should remove all food after about 5 hours to prevent them from eating spoiled food. Their diet should be 80% greens and vegetables and 20% fruits. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Sprinkle their food with calcium dust at least once a week, more for babies and juveniles, and vitamin/mineral powder once a week. I have found out that my Mali doesn’t usually eat anything with vitamin powder on it, so if that happens to you put the powder on some sweet fruits. |
Maintenance: | Malis are fairly easy to take care of, pick their poop out every time you see it. You should also clean their whole enclosure with vinegar water or diluted bleach water every 1-2 months. |
Some Words on this Species: | Malis are very docile and some will enjoy being held very much and will always want to come out and "play". I wouldn’t suggest keep another lizard in the same enclosure unless the Mali and the other lizard really like each other and get along. The lizards have to have the same type of needs though. A water dragon and a Mali can’t go together but a beaded dragon and a Mali could. |
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