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 #1834991


J.iguana
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 Nigerian Uromastyx

Hi im getting a nigerian uro tomorrow and i was wondering is there any major diffrences between the nigerian and the mali because i only researched the mali so im wondering if it the same care.
08/18/08  02:18pm

 #1835049


ShyBoy
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1834991


 Nigerian Uromastyx

What size enclosure do you have for this Uro? Have you researched the husbandry needs (Lights, UVB, diet, hides a reputable reptile vet with Uro experience). These are just a small list of what you’ll need prior to purchasing the uro.

As far as the care their very similar. I would do some more research on uros like Deer Fern Farms ww.deerfernfarms.com.

I would also HIGHLY recommend doing the research as to where you’re getting the uro from. I like many on this site will agree that if it’s from a pet-shop your not in good hands. I would HIGHLY recommend breeders like Lindsey Pike http://www.urotopia.com/

Welcome to the forum
Javier
08/18/08  02:44pm

 #1835357


Doublemom
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   Message To: ShyBoy   In reference to Message Id: 1835049


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Ditto everything that Shy Boy says... We just want to make sure you have everything completely set up and running, with proper temps already figured out in a good sized enclosure, before bringing your Uro home. I guarantee that if you’re getting this from a pet store, it’s wild caught and probably has a high parasite load. It’s also probably not been cared for well in a pet store, will be stressed, and will take some time to acclimate to a new home. Be patient with it, don’t try to handle it, and most important, get a fresh fecal sample to a vet to be tested for parasites as soon as possible.

The best way to ensure that you’re getting a healthy animal is to get one through a reputable breeder, in the long run you will have a better adjusted animal that is healthier.

Hope that helps out! As for care.... The Nigerians (also known as Saharans or U. geyri) are essentially the same as mali’s. If they’re wild caught, they tend to be more skittish and possibly prone to stress and problems than a mali.

Please please please DON"T trust much of the information given to you by pet stores, especially not the large chain stores! Unfortunately, to them it’s just business and a way to make money. Do NOT use calcium sand, and the recommended size enclosure is 4’ x 2’. Some pet stores say that you can keep a Uro in a 20-gallon tank, and that’s a sure-fire way to provide it with it a slow, painful death.



08/18/08  06:07pm

 #1835457


J.iguana
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   Message To: Doublemom   In reference to Message Id: 1835357


 Nigerian Uromastyx

alright t hanks for tthe info, but im not geyying it from a petstore i getting him from a guy who hasnt had time to care for it so hes selling it. Also yes its captive bred and im getting uva and uvb lights from the guy also its a juvi. but why shouldnt i use calcium sand though?

thank you
08/18/08  07:30pm

 #1835460


J.iguana
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1835457


 Nigerian Uromastyx

o and is 40 gal breeder big enough
08/18/08  07:32pm

 #1835532


Rtl402
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1835460


 Nigerian Uromastyx

the 40 breeder is a bit on the small side. Uro’s need not only room to move about, but also a gradient of temperatures, much higher then most other lizards.
Recommended size is 48"x24"x24" (with the height being not as important)
Also, calcium sand binds together when wet, so if it gets injected, can clump up in the digestive tracts of your Uro and could lead to death. Basically, stay far far away from calcium sand. You should use paper towels or newspaper until the Uro is a total length of 6-7". After that, washed playsand, millet seed, and a few other substrates are available to use safely.
08/18/08  08:42pm

 #1835536


MissAnne2u
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1835460


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Calcium sand has been known to kill Uro’s. If the uro is under 7" long, it should be on papertowels, newspaper or butcher paper. After that, washed & sifted play sand, Pool Filter Sand or millet seeds are a good substrate.

The gallons of the tank don’t matter, you need a minimum enclosure size of 48" x 24" x 24", but bigger is better.

Good Luck.



08/18/08  08:44pm

 #1835679


J.iguana
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   Message To: MissAnne2u   In reference to Message Id: 1835536


 Nigerian Uromastyx

alright thank you i guess i gotta get a new cage for it then because the guy is selling it to me ina 40 gallon. but if anyone knos of a site where you can learn to build a custom tank that would be helpful.
08/18/08  10:40pm

 #1835875


ShyBoy
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1835679


 Nigerian Uromastyx

I have this one for a two enclosure.



Final product.



08/19/08  06:56am

 #1835928


Rtl402
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   Message To: ShyBoy   In reference to Message Id: 1835875


 Nigerian Uromastyx

What software did you use to design that? I used autocad for mine and it took me forever.
08/19/08  09:12am

 #1836541


ShyBoy
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   Message To: Rtl402   In reference to Message Id: 1835928


 Nigerian Uromastyx

I used Visio 2003
08/19/08  08:00pm

 #1836559


J.iguana
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   Message To: ShyBoy   In reference to Message Id: 1836541


 Nigerian Uromastyx

ok thnak you im going to try and build it before september but got my uro today:) and he came in a 36 X 24 so ill keep in there until his cage is built.



08/19/08  08:14pm

 #1838391


Rysmiles
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1836559


 Nigerian Uromastyx

You could keep a Geyri in a 36 by 24 without problems, I use similiar cages for my animals without any problems.
08/21/08  03:25pm

 #1838490


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1838391


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Quote:

You could keep a Geyri in a 36 by 24 without problems


No, you cannot . That tank is WAY to small for a uro. It has nothing to do with the size of the uro, it has to do with getting a proper tempeture gradiant. And thats just not possible in a tank that small.
08/21/08  04:46pm

 #1838494


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1838391


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Rysmiles , you have four different species of uros and have had them for 7 years and your actually telling someone its ok to put a uro in a tank that small ?
08/21/08  04:48pm

 #1842788


Rysmiles
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   Message To: Jbreddawg   In reference to Message Id: 1838494


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Well actually I have 7 species and have succesfully breed them for the last 3 years including acanthinurus, geyri and ocellata. I have currently started working with dispar dispar, dispar flavifasciata and ornata.

"Apart from the large species such as aegyptius & flavofasciata most can be housed in a cage 3’X 2’X 1’high for a pair. The use of a plastic box 20’’X 12’’X 10’’ sold as storage or play bins and fitted below the floor of the cage serves as a hide and burrow" - extract from

http://www.crislis.co.uk/thatcher/reptiles/caresheet.php?csID=1&ID=16.

I would say you can keep them in a cage that size because I use 3 by 2 cages with undercage burrows to create nesting boxes and have had a lot of success with this system. I have found they have adapted to this set-up more readily than the 4 by 2 cages I used to use. I don’t think keeping Uromastyx is as black and white as use must do this or you must do that. Individual animals require individual environment.



08/26/08  04:05am

 #1843187


UroBrett
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1842788


 Nigerian Uromastyx

And a person can live in a 6’ x 8’ room too. That’s the size a jail cell is, but would you want to? And even there they let you outside once a day. I can’t believe you keep two adult geryi in a 2’ x 3’ enclosure.



08/26/08  03:45pm

 #1843262


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1842788


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Not saying it’s impossible , hell you could keep them in a goldfish bowl but not for very long.
They may have adapted to it and make the best with what you have given them but why short change your pets ? why not 48x24 with the underneath hide/burrow ?
i know things are definitely never black and white which is why it’s so hard to make up a nice care sheet but what is the purpose of using undersize enclosures ? Is it a space issue where you keep them ?

there is more then just proper temps . My cage is 48x25x30 and believe me, they use every square inch of it !! They run around constantly . Why would you want to limit there space for activity ?
When I buy my next house ,I plan on going even bigger !!! Something along the lines of 60x30x30 !!!



08/26/08  05:22pm

 #1843272


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1842788


 Nigerian Uromastyx

Dont know how old that care sheet is you posted but I would think twice about following it.
Undersized enclosures ,giant mealworms ,ambiant temps of 82 degrees and basking spot of 113-122 and night time lows of 60 !
Did you even read it through ?

I would be willing to bet it’s 20 years old !! Follow it if you want but there is defenitly better reasearch out there .

Just because there still alive and breeding doesnt mean it’s the best you can do for them.
08/26/08  05:30pm

 #1843469


Sahells Mom
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1842788


 Nigerian Uromastyx


Are you saying you keep TWO adult uro’s in a 36X24X12? What are their basking temps & what UV do you use? Why do you say they adapted better to the tiny space, rather than the larger space?
08/26/08  08:06pm

 #1843622


J.iguana
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   Message To: Sahells Mom   In reference to Message Id: 1843469


 Nigerian Uromastyx

hey I know I’m new to uro keeping and dont get me wrong I’m still moving my uro in the 48x24 but the temporary cage dat is 36x24 holds the temperature a uro need, my basking temp is 120 and my cool side is 81, and at night it drops to 75 but you are right about giving them more space to run around, I’m just saying you can keep uo in 36X24 and still have the proper temperatures.
08/26/08  09:47pm

 #1843832


Rysmiles
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   Message To: J.iguana   In reference to Message Id: 1843622


 Nigerian Uromastyx

I have a range of tempertures around the cage with 120-130 basking, 85-93 at the cold end. Nesting boxes are thermostatically controlled to maintain a temperature of 28-32 degrees. Currently I am using 10.0 UV strips in my cages; I have a large selection of mercury vapour bulbs to test and will do so in the spring after brumation. (please bare in mind that the range of products is limited compared to what is available in the US)

With regards to that care sheet it is somewhat dated but the person who wrote it is very experienced. I am not saying you have to keep animals in 3 by 2 cages but I have found it to be successfull. I feel that some of your comments earlier about it "being a coffin for an animal" are not founded on actual experiences. All my animals are incredibly healthy and breed reguraly (once a year anyway, with the odd exception). Uromastyx are incredibly difficult to breed and if they were unhappy with their set-ups they would be more inclined to retain eggs or drop them randomly (from my experience).

We live on other sides of the atlantic and husbandry techniques are going to differ. I know a few other people over here who keep large collections of uromastyx and cage sizes are similiar to mine. There are only a handful of people in the UK who even bother with uromastyx let alone have success with breeding. I will concide that a 4 by 2 is an excellent size but it is not practical given UK house sizes. I am not suggesting anything that I have just made up these comments are based on my experiences and my successes (make of them what you will but I am not a novice or inexperienced keeper).



08/27/08  03:31am

 #1844939


Twentytwo
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1843832


 Nigerian Uromastyx

i use similar setups-but bigger. the burrow adds another dimension, and stimulates some behaviors you would not see otherwise. (such as den clearing, a daily aegyptia activity in the wild)I find it works much better with my egyptians than with my malis -seems the mali’s use the burrows for extensive hiding in the summer and brumation in the winter, and tend to hide 80% of the time(although that IS natural behavior) while the egyptians are in and out and digging all the time. thatcher recomends peat and sand mix but i find it too high maintainance. i don’t like how it dries out so quickly becoming very dusty. potting soil and sand mix is much better. dries nice and hard, but not too hard.(ahhh....the substate search continues). in the UK you can get Osram or megaray(i would focus on those two and not worry about any other brands). what do you use in the nest boxes for substrate?
08/28/08  09:53am

 #1852002


Rysmiles
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   Message To: Twentytwo   In reference to Message Id: 1844939


 Nigerian Uromastyx

I have several mixtures at the minute. In some boxes I am using a mixture of reptile sand and silver sand. In other boxes I am using a mixture of sand and potting compost but it dries out quickly and is a nightmare to keep moist.
09/05/08  12:43pm

 #1852177


Nwtampaguy34
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   Message To: Rysmiles   In reference to Message Id: 1852002


 Nigerian Uromastyx

i originally had my uro when he was 6" in a 55 gal fish tank and i was able to get the proper temp gradient and my uro didn’t act any different since i built his new enclosure. the minimum i would ever use is a 40 gal breeder or 55 gal fish tank. however i would only use these until they hit 6" after that it would be better to go with a larger cage so they can turn easily and also run more. But its not impossible to get the proper temps. Just got to play around with different bulbs. in the winter i covered the screen top with a piece of wood with holes cut out for the lights. this helped retain the heat in the winter and in summer i would remove it. It was a pain for feeding etc etc. you don’t want to move a hot mega ray cause it can break. so i would have to feed before lights on etc etc. I also have a video of this in case others are non believers.



09/05/08  04:34pm


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