Acclimatisation

From UroWiki

Acclimatisation (or acclimation, see below) is the period of physiological adjustment a lizard goes through when moved into to a new environment. This process can commonly take anywhere from two weeks to six months, depending on the individual.

A linguistic note

Acclimitisation is defined as adaptation to a new climate (a new temperature or altitude or environment). It is often used interchangeably with acclimation, which was originally used in Britain, but, like many other things, it faded out of use while staying in vocablary in the USA. The OED records acclimate as slightly older (1792 vs. 1836), but since the prevailing language of the UroWiki is British English, we tend to prefer this form.

Reactions to acclimatisation

Although reactions very between individuals, the following can generally be expected during this period:

• Increased stress levels (can increase effects of parasitism)
• A heightened fight-or-flight response
• Sleeping for long periods of time
• Reduced appetite
• Hiding in caves or shelters when not sleeping
• Running and hiding when a person enters the room

Recommended solutions

Just leave your uromastyx in peace. The best way to let it acclimatise is naturally, by letting it get used to its new environment at its own pace. This is the most important time for your husbandry to be correct: temperatures, lighting, fresh food, hides and so on will all play a role in how your uromastyx will adjust. If poor husbandry is used the uromastyx will not acclimatise and will die. Certain species adapt more easily to a captive setting. You should limit handlings and not enter the enclosure space except to replace food, to clean any faeces, or for weight/examination checks. Fresh food should be provided daily regardless of whether or not the lizard appears to be eating it.

This would be an ideal time to cover all sides of the enclosure with newsprint or cage backround. This will limit stress and may make the uromastx acclimate and eat sooner. Several low, dark hides in various heat zones are also very important during and after acclimatisation. You can try and befriend your uromastyx by handfeeding pesticide-free edible flowers, although many will take a while to eat them from your hand. Many acclimatising uromastyx have parasitic infections, especially if wild-caught, and a fresh fecal sample should be given to a qualfied veterinarian, in order to check the stool for internal parasites with a floatation and smear. If treatments are needed, it is best that a non-particulate substrate is used. This will make sanitation easier and will avoid ingestion of eggs or occysts from the stools.

Many captive uromastyx don't get over such impulses which, in the wild, would save their life from predators. Therefore, it is common to have kept an individual for several years and still have it run and hide when you enter the room, stand up from a sitting position or make sudden movements.