Western New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©
2001 - 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of information. New information is being developed
daily. It is recommend that a concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of interest.
Common Name:
Uromastyx; Spiny Tail Lizard Latin name: Uromastyx spp.
Native to:
Northern Africa to the Middle East, depending upon specific species. See below for specific
details.
Size:
From 14 inches to 30 inches depending upon specific species. See below for specific details.
Life span:
Theorized to be 35 years in captivity
General appearance:
All Uromastyx have a stocky build and a well-armored tail which gives it its
common name. All species of Uromastyx also have salt glands around their nostrils and it is not
uncommon to see salt crystals build up around the nostril. There several species in the
Uromastyx
genus, but only the following species are commonly imported and seen in the pet trade however,
so we will only cover these species below.
U. acanthinurus
: Can reach lengths of 16 inches. Colors can range from green to yellow to even
some bright orange with all colors in between. This species can be found in northern
Africa, including Morocco, Libya, Niger and Sudan.
U. aegyptius
: The largest member of the genus, U. aqgyptius can reach lengths of 30 inches and
weigh several pounds. Coloration is highly variable but is usually dark brown to light
brown or tan. As the species name suggests, this species can be found in Egypt as well as
parts of the Middle East, including the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq, and parts of Isreal.
U. benti
: This species shows some sexual dimorphism. Males tend to have a bluish body with
white spots while females are usually light tan with reddish tails. Like most species of
Uromastyx
, this species rarely exceeds lengths of 14 inches. This species is typically
found in Yemen and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
U. hardwicki
: Coloration is highly variable but is usually dark brown to light brown or tan.
Smaller than
U. aegyptius, this species will only reach lengths of 14 inches or less. This
species can be found in India and Pakistan.
U. ocellatus
: Like U. benti this species demonstrates sexual dimorphism, with males being bluegreen
or green with blotches of orange and yellow. Females have more subtle yellows
and browns and have less orange. As in most species of
Uromastyx, this species rarely
exceeds lengths of 14 inches. This species is found in Egypt and the Middle East like
U.
aegyptius.
Housing requirements:
Enclosure:
Aquariums, stock tanks and custom built cages can all be used. As a general rule the
cage should be four times larger than the lizard. For example, a 12 inch by 6 inch
Uromastyx
would require an enclosure 48 inches by 24 inches. Since this is a terrestrial
lizard, vertical space is wasted and custom built cages can be more practical for larger
specimens.
Western New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©
2001 - 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of information. New information is being developed
daily. It is recommend that a concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of interest.
Temperature:
This is a desert animal and can tolerate relatively large temperature fluctuations
from day to night. If breeding simulating a “winter” with temperature lows of 55° F can
be helpful.
Daytime: 85° – 95° F
Basking: 110° – 130° F
Nighttime: 60° – 70° F
Heat/Light:
As this is a desert dweller, high temperatures should be provided by use of high
power basking bulbs, ceramic emitters, or a combination of both. They also require a
relatively high degree of UVB light. Use of such bulbs as the Zoo Med Repti-Sun 5.0 is
beneficial. The new Active UV bulbs work very well for this species as it provides both
heat and light. Under no circumstance should a hot rock be used with any animal. They
are notoriously unreliable and can cause serious injury to your pet.
Substrate:
A variety of substrates can be used for this lizard. Newspaper can make an easy to
clean, though not attractive substrate. Sand can all be used as a substrate. If using sand,
use only natural sand such as Caribbean Play Sand which is commonly available at major
home stores. Many people are reporting intestinal impaction and bleeding from crushed
walnut substrate and most breeders are not recommending crushed walnut.
Environment:
These are terrestrial burrowing animals and do not require any branches for
climbing. They do require a hiding area that they can feel something rubbing against their
backs to feel comfortable. This can easily be accomplished by using rocks and a piece of
slate. The slate can also provide and excellent basking spot as well for the lizard.
Diet:
These are omnivorous lizards though a majority of their diet consists of vegetables and dark leafy
greens with the occasional insects. Vegetables such as carrots, beans, peas, corn, and many
varieties of dark greens and dandelion greens should be offered. Some bird seed can also be added
to the vegetable mix as well. Some people have even added commercially available finch pellets to
supplement the diet. Crickets, mealworms, super worms or wax worms should be offered
occasionally. Because this is a desert dweller, water does not need to be offered as they will get all
of their moisture they need from their diet.
Maintenance:
The enclosure should be spot cleaned daily. A thorough cleaning should be performed on a
regular basis. A 5% bleach solution is an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the
enclosure before replacing the substrate and placing the lizard back in the enclosure. Hand
washing after handling the lizard or any cage furnishings is essential.
Other references or recommended reading:
Gray, Randall. “Care Sheet for the Genus
Uromastyx.” Retrieved Mar 14, 20003
<http://www.kingsnakecom/uromastyx>
Gray, Randall. “Spiny-Tailed Lizards: Captive Care of the Genus Uromastyx.” 1997 Reptiles Annual
Dix, Douglas E., PhD. ”Care Sheet for Uromastyx.” Retrieved Mar 15, 2003
<http://www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx>
Creager, Jason “Gecko’s Mali Uromastyx Page v2.8.” Nov 7, 2001. Retrieved Mar 15, 2003
<http://jason.creager.com/uros.html>