Hi, I am strongly considering getting one or two ornate uromastyx and had a couple questions about them.

1. I've kept and bred leopard geckos for years and I've read many caresheets on uros thus far, but still had a few questions to ask. I know at least with leopard geckos they are extremely intelligent, they recognize you and can bond with you, they can remember things that happened to them years before...do uromastyx do this as well?

2. Also, do uromastyx usually deficate in the same location each time or is it sporadic?

3. I'm making this next assumption because I use to keep land turtles....do you need to brumate all uros no matter what stage of life they are in? Specifically, if I were to get one or two hatchlings would I need to brumate them in order for them to be healthy or do you only brumate if you are looking to breed them?

4. I am kind of worried because I will be building my own cages for these uros and I am thinking about building two 4 foot x 2 1/2 foot x 2 1/2 foot cages. Would this be too large to put one hatchling in? I've read that this is the perfect size for adults, but will hatchlings stress out in a cage this big?

5. I've been checking out a few sites of ornate uro breeders and was wondering if anyone knew of another breeder besides douglas dix who breeds the green limeon phase of the ornate uromastyx?

Thank you!

I heard some people call Uros stupid dogs.Hardly.They are very intelligent in their own ways.Each definitely has their own distinct personality.They do most often do their thing in the same location.But once cleaned out it might move to another.
The only problem you'll probably have with the large tank is trying to tame the hatchlings.They are quite quick despite their appearance.You could try www.urotopia.com for some unique specimens as well.I'll warn you though they are not as easy to hatch eggs from as Leopard Geckos.Oh yeah for burmation I wouldn't try it with hatchlings.Better to wait until the next winter.It's too hard on them.I've read some breeders don't believe it's necessary to brumate even if you're going to breed.So I was going to try not doing it this year.But they started on their own anyway so I didn't really have a choice.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Thanks for the response. Would you recommend a smaller tank (say a 20 gallon long or 50 gallon tall) for the first year, then graduate them on to the bigger tank?

Sure go for the 50 gal.A 20 gal is too small to get the proper heat gradient.

__________________
Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

just to add a little....i think uros are pretty intelligent, and have unique personalities, ours, likes my wife mandy, ALOT better then he likes me, and im the one that serves dinner...lol

i have read that brumation benefits the males little to none, where as it MAY be beneficial for breeding females...