UROMASTYX

• The Uromastyx is a long-lived lizard. It lives for 30 years or more and reaches up to 16 inches in length.
• Equipped with a spiny tail used as a defensive weapon, this is a terrestrial lizard that is diurnal or active during the day, unlike many lizards.
• Moroccans tend to be more active and harder to handle, and Malis tend to be more docile.

Diet

Feed your lizard plenty of dark leafy greens and also provide dry foods like birdseed, peas and lentils. Dandelion greens and flowers are also relished. Spray the greens with water before feeding to keep your lizard hydrated. Fruits can be offered, but sparingly as they are higher in fats and sugars.

They do not often eat insects. Insects can be offered very occasionally, similar to a treat.

Housing  

These active, heat loving lizards thrive in a hot, dry desert environment. Provide at least a 55 gallon aquarium with a locking screen lid. Place a few basking platforms such as rocks and hollow hiding places in the aquarium before placing the substrate in it. Glue down any rocks to keep your Uromastyx from burrowing under them and becoming injured or trapped if they tip over. Include some logs and artificial plants to help your pet feel safe and comfortable. Use crushed walnuts as the substrate about 1 inch deep so your lizard can dig through it.

Uromastyx require full spectrum lighting. Using a mercury vapor bulb will adequately provide heat, UVB, and UVA light. ZooMed’s Powersun or ExoTerra’s Solarglo bulbs are recommended. Place the heat lamp at one end of the tank above a basking platform to provide a 120ºF basking area. Keep the cool end between 70-80ºF. Turn the lights off at night. You can use a lighting timer to automate this cycle. In warm weather, your lizard will enjoy and benefit from natural outdoor sunlight in a safe, supervised area for about 30 minutes per week. If placed in grass, be sure there aren’t pesticides or weed killers used in the yard, as these chemicals can be harmful to your Uromastyx.

Handling & Care

It is important for the health of your lizard to keep the cage and food clean. Clean and sift waste daily. Remove all old food. Wash your hands before and after handling. Clean the tank weekly.

For desert animals, too much humidity can be harmful. A healthy Uromastyx will obtain its water requirements from their food. A small dish of water should be provided. Provide an occasional warm bath outside its habitat, returning it to its tank after it is completely dry.

Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.

Health

In low humidity environments, it can be common for your lizard to have difficulty shedding. Providing warm baths during shedding and occasional misting in the tank can be helpful to avoid retained shed skin. If humidity gets too high, respiratory distress can occur. Kidney problems can be caused by too much protein in the diet.

An annual veterinary exam is advisable to help ensure the health of your pet. The vet should measure and weigh your lizard each year and check for mites and internal parasites, a hidden killer easily prevented and treated with the proper medication.