My uromastyx is inquisitive, doesn’t care to bite, scratch or whip me. Am I lucky or is this normal? Are uromastyx friendly?
If you would like to know about sizes, characteristics, essential needs and if they are great beginner pets, then look no further.
We love our uromastyx and allow me to explain why in this article, are uromastyx is friendly?
Are Uromastyx Friendly?
Uromastyx make great beginner pets because of the following reasons:
- Docile
- Easy to care for
- Curious eyes
- Unlikely to bite
- Personable
- Will trust you over time
- Allows you to handle them
- Will eat out of your hand
These factors above provide you with enough evidence to come up with the opinion that Uromastyx are friendly.
Why Is My Uromastyx Shy?
Not all Uromastyx are the same. The personalities of these docile pets can cause confusion. What you thought was a docile creature, ends up skittish and stressed.
- Give it time to develop a bond with your pocket pet.
- Move and handle them gently.
- Do not initiate contact.
- Let them come to you after 1-2 weeks of just being near them.
- Extend your hand out with food and offer hand feeding as an option to them.
If they are still too shy for now, leave the treat in front of them and stay nearby without making too much noise or movement.
Heating For Uromastyx
Two of the most important factors involved in caring for a healthy, happy and friendly Uromastyx is:
- heating
- lighting
Uromastyx comes from hot desert areas which give you reasons why these numbers below for their optimal health, happiness and friendliness are so high.
- Humidity:10% to 25%
- At least two halogen heat lamps
- Basking spots: 100-120°F
- Background gradient temperatures 80-100°F
- Under the basking bulb: 131-140°F
- Cool side temperatures: 80-85°F
- Night time temperatures: 70-75°F
Lighting for Uromastyx
- UVB lighting for: Processing calcium, defends against Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)
- 10-12 hours a day (diurnal cycle, off at night)
- Ideal types of UVB are 10-12% UVB tubes that run at least 65% of the tank’s length
- Do not use coiled bulbs or used UVB tubes, as they may cause eye damage.
Moreover, used UVB tubes or older ones stop producing UVB after 8-12 months. Much more information on temperature and humidity requirements are needed to be explained it its own article.
Are Uromastyx Good Beginner pets?
Yes. The spiny tailed lizard known as Uromastyx is docile, likes to be handled after some trust-building and can definitely be a great choice for newcomers to the reptile caregiving world.
Your Uromastyx needs you to provide adequate heating and lighting in a comfortable enclosure. You will learn more about this wonderful lizard with us in many related articles at the bottom of this article.
You have several species of Uromastyx to choose from who come from the following hot climates in the world:
- Africa
- the Middle East
- India
Their diet is vegetarian and since they are active during the day instead of at night like geckos, you can enjoy the company of your Uromastyx at home while you hang out together.
They are unlikely to bite and a uromastyx is a good pet for children as well.
The temperament of a Uro needs more explanation. I dedicated this article for it.
Does My Uromastyx Trust Me?
Trust takes time. Some uromastyx take longer than others to build trust. They can be skittish at first and will need to literally and figuratively warm up. Their enclosure needs adequate heat and lighting and their diet needs enough vegetable matter and supplementation with calcium.
Trust may take 1-4 weeks or sometimes longer. Your patience will help as well as gentler, slower movements with not too much noise or high traffic around them.
If you own a juvenile Uromastyx, they will develop and mature with you as a constant supporter and a major part of their development.
This will help tame them and connect them closer to you. Adults who come from unknown breeding situations might take longer to bond with you.
When they are shedding, things may change in their relationship with you. Find out what happens here.
Are Uromastyx Active?
Yes. A Uromastyx is active during the day and enjoys moving, exploring and examining their surroundings closely with curiosity and active pleasure.
Younger juveniles are more likely to move quicker. Larger or older species will position themselves in a gentler, more graceful way.
Uromastyx enjoy:
- Climbing
- Digging
- Exploring
- Staring
- Sleeping at night
- Approaching you
- Accepting food from you
- Allowing you to handle them
My Uromastyx finds narrow spaces in the enclosure and loves to dig. We put him outside sometimes on hot sunny days where he looks to dig burrows, but we don’t leave him out there long enough to enjoy what he has created. Back inside for him!
Uromastyx Size and Species
There are plenty of Uromastyx species to choose from. The largest is the Egyptian Uromastyx. We’ve listed 3 more below.
Underneath that you will find a full range of Uromastyx species that you can investigate further if you wish:
- Egyptian uromastyx: Aegyptia
- Length: 30-36 inches
- Weight: 1.5-1.8 kg
3 Common Uromastyx:
- orange/yellow u. Geyri: 10-14 inches
- Moroccan: 15-17 inches
- u. dispar flavifasciata: 19.5 inches
Full Range of Uromastyx Species:
- Thomasi (Omani uromastyx)
- Ornata
- Yemeni (Yemenensis)
- Benti (Yemeni uromastyx)
- Shobraki
- Ocellata
- Nigriventris (Moroccan)
- Dispar flavifasciata
- Dispar Maliensis (Mali)
- Acanthinura (African)
- Alfredschmidti
- Geyri (Saharan)
- Aegyptia (Egyptian)
- Microlepis (Arabian)
- Leptieni
- Macfadyeni (Somali)
- Princeps
- Occidentalis
- Philbyi (Arabian)
- Saara Hardwicki (mainly India)
- Saara Asmussi (Iran)
- Saara Loricata (Iraq)
Are Uromastyx Expensive?
Uromastyx are harder to find compared to many other lizard species. The scarcity drives their price up in many cases.
- You need to put extra work to find breeders instead of relying on larger retail shops and pet stores.
- Finding an experienced keeper to transfer the responsibility and ownership of a Uromastyx can make it more reliable, affordable (at times) and healthier (in many cases).
How much does a Uromastyx cost in the US?
Some say you can get a Uromastyx for about $100-150, but depending on various factors including locations, species and availability may cause you to pay slightly more or less.
Thank you for visiting PocketPetCentral.com for the best information to help you enjoy the life of your pocket pet companion in a fun, safe & healthy way.
