Frequently Asked Questions
From UroWiki
There are many frequently asked questions about uromastyx and their habitat. Here are some of the most common questions which are asked in the various uromastyx discussion forums; follow the links to find out more detailed information.
How much will my uromastyx cost?
This depends on the species, and sometimes also on whether it's male or female, and from where you purchase the uromastyx. Many new owners focus on the cost of the lizard and fail to realise that the setup is also not cheap and will cost many hundreds of whatever your currency may be. You can find an example listing the cost of acquiring an uromastyx.
The cost of a Uromastyx depends on availability. Captive breed animals are usually more expensive vs. wild caught animals. Captive breed animals are commonly of the species maliensis, ornatus, aegypticus and variants of acanthinurus. Species that are commonly wild caught can be benti, ocellatus, hardwicki and rarely acanthinurus due to its protected status in Morocco and a few other North African countries. Any species may be seen in the wild caught markets, and any species in captive breed markets can disappear due to limited success in the few breeders working with these lizards. If a breeder losses interest, all us keepers will have to wait for another breeder to start their own project with the previously disappeared species.
If you are considering owning an Uromastyx, or any reptile for that matter, it is best to set up the enclosure BEFORE the animal is purchased. This ensures all requirements needed for a captive environment are met, and ready for your scaly friend. Along with all of the research into their care that prevents any husbandry related illnesses.
How big will my uromastyx get?
This question is too broad to be easily answered. Size is usually the most important characteristic to consider when deciding on which species to go with. They can grow anywhere from 25cm to 1m (10" to 3'), and individuals can vary greatly beyond what is considered normal. Please refer to the growth section for more information.
When do I use sand/what substrate should I use?
The general rule is that if the uromastyx is 18cm (7") or less, then it should be housed on paper towels or newspaper. If it is bigger than this, then you can use washed playsand; make sure there are no jagged or sharp points in the grains of sand, and it has been thoroughly washed to avoid dust, which can irritate the lizard's eyes and lungs. Some keepers keep their lizard on birdseed, but this is generally not recommended as it tends to be harder to maintain and less hygenic; also, make sure it does not contain sunflower seeds. Calci-sand should not be used, and is known to kill many reptiles, as do crushed walnut shells.
What should I feed it?
Despite what you may have read about feeding insects, your uromastyx should be treated as a strict herbivore. You should primarily feed curly endive, escarole and dandelion greens; you can also feed it occasional dandelion bloom, nasturtium and hibiscus flowers. Always make sure your greens and flowers, particularly dandelions, come from an area which has not been sprayed with weedkiller for at least one year, preferably two - if in any doubt whatsoever, do not give any. For more information on food, go to the what to feed section.
What humidity level should the enclosure be?
The humidity inside should ideally be around 20-40%, although higher levels can occasionally and temporarily be expected (for example, when fresh greens are placed inside). Anything higher than 60% may cause your uromastyx to develop respiratory problems.
Why is there a white deposit around its nostrils?
This is a mixture of salt and snot, and it often referred to as snalt. This forms when the uromastyx is removing excess sodium and potassium from its food, which would otherwise cause a health risk. This is a form of waste removal and is completely harmless, and should not be cleaned by the owner.
How big should the enclosure be?
The minimum size for any permanent enclosure is 4 x 2 x 2 feet (48 x 24 x 24" or 122 x 60 x 60cm), except for an Egyptian uromastyx, where it needs to be at least a minimum of 6 x 2 x 2 feet (72 x 24 x 24" or 182 x 60 x 60cm). You can read more details on the enclosure size page.
How hot should it be?
This is a very complex question, as there needs to be a hot basking spot (of around 60'C/130'F) as well as a cool end (around 27'C/85'F) and a well-defined and stable thermal gradient from hot end to cool end. Please see the section on temperature for more.
Why did the guy at the pet store say a 40 gallon is fine, but everyone else says different?
Pet store workers get commission, which means they’ll often say anything to make a quick buck, whether it's right or wrong - this is not necessarily true for all stores, but seems to be the general trend. A 40 gallon enclosure is too small and will slowly kill your uromastyx. An enclosure of this size is only acceptable for a couple of weeks until you have finished building or buying a bigger enclosure, although a sensible owner would have this sorted before buying the lizard.
Can I feed (type of food) to my uromastyx?
The rule of feeding is to never feed your uromastyx something if you don't know whether or not it's safe. Check the feeding page or ask on an uromastyx forum.
I want to build an enclosure for my uromastyx but don't know what wood to use.
Avoid softwoods such as pine, cedar, and so on. A good wood to use is oak. Maple is still being debated as safe, as is MDF - it should be avoided unless it is made with a formaldehyde-free binding agent. You can read more in the enclosures section, where we also have a lengthy how-to article on how to build an enclosure.
