Uromastyx Care

I'm considering getting a uro. I've done the research on them and everything, but I'd like to hear from actual uro owners about things that they've personally experienced or that aren't on your old run of the mill care sheet.

Don't use sand, use White millet. It's dirt cheap and it keeps everything nice and dry with no dust. Uro's are cage 're-decorators.' Don't get attached to your setup, because they will just knock everything over. I've found feeding to be interestig when you start. Each uro has his/her preference and sometimes are stubborn about it. I had one that would only eat carrots for the first 3 months, then I managed to get him to eat bok choi, spinnach, etc. You might need to try different types of food until they get used to you and then they'll accept pretty much anything.

thanks!!

I recently adopted a couple of uros as well ( Mali's/Saharans ) and had a couple of question. I've got the general husbandry down but the prior owners were feeding veggies/fruits and iguana chow ( which they actually didnt touch ). I've read about the proper diet, including millet, lentils and other seeds but nothing mentioned whether the seeds are fed whole and dry, ground, soaked or sprouted. can you comment?

I've heard some will soak and some will feed dry. I only feed greens, dusted with calcium, and mixed beans. I also mix in baby/juvie bearded dragon pellets (which they love) with the beans. They'll pick through and eat what they like.

My Saharans loved dry seeds. My Egyptian hardly touches them.

Aside from that, he gets grated veggies and dark leafy greens, as well as beans...which he also, rarely touches.

As far as stuff you won't find on your run-o'mill caresheets....

Make sure you have a wide temp gradient with a HOT basking spot. Try 120-140'F (thats basking surface temps, NOT ambient temps). Uros also like to hide warm. Provide plenty of shelters both on the hot and cool sides of the enclosure. They will bask, but you will just as often find them resting underneath something on the basking end.

When you get one, give it time to adjust to its new habitat. Don't handle it excessively for the first week. Uros can be quite shy at first; you have to let them get used to things on their own.

what type of basking lamps are being used to get that 120 degree.Mercury vapor?