Ok, some of you know that I got my son a uro for Christmas. At first he was very curious and active. Eating, pooping and peeing well. This past Sunday we gave him 2 small crickets (as the literature I covered said 1-2 every week). Since then, I have noticed a decline in his appetite. He seems to hide in his cave most of the time or in a little borough he made through a rock tunnel. He is still peeing ok, but I can't say that he poops every day. I was making him a "salad" of greens, sugar snap peas, carrots, strawberries and finch seed. He liked the peas the best and would pick those out first, now he doesn't seem interested in them either. I hought maybe he was hiding from my son (6yrs old); thinking that maybe my son was overwheling him. Now I don't know. He just finished shedding. Temps in the tank are 80 on cool side, 95 on warm side and 130's in basking spot. Night temps are 70's.
Any thouhts would be appreciated. I hate to be a pest, but I want the little guy to do well.

The only thing that I pick up on is that your basking area may be a little high.
Browse through this sheet.

http://www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx/caresheets/dix.htm

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Fran
January 9, 1940 - June 1, 2006 (R.I.P)

Hello,

I am curious...are uros a hibernating species? Is it possible that the uro is going into brumation?

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.:: Rich ::.

+ Spread The Info

Apparently they are Rich. Here is an exerpt from the caresheet that I provided above by Douglas E. Dix Ph.D.

Breeding: Most breeders believe Uro's need to be put through some form of winter in order to sufficiently cycle to induce
breeding and fertile egg production. We tried a short winter of the low 70's in 1995-6. We got breeding activity , but no egg
production from our ornates (the only species we attempted to breed that year). We then switched to consistent temps in the
mid to lower 60's and successfully produced 5 clutches of ornates that year but lost several animals immediately
post-hibernation. Last year we went for a constant 55 F thinking that maybe we had overwintered too warm, causing our
mortality problems. Yet we still lost most of our breeding age ornates and our only pair of Sudanese! Our two 2-year-old CB
ornates bred but nether of our surviving older females have bred yet (one does however appear to be cycling and she was late
last year as well). Our Mali's were all pre-conditioned in Mali last winter, so their breeding for us this year was not due to
anything we did. This coming winter we'll probably shoot for the low 60's F for every one except this years hatchlings but try to
warm up to the mid to upper 70'd most days. We'll keep several of our best individuals back at warmer temps just to be safe!

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Fran
January 9, 1940 - June 1, 2006 (R.I.P)

Yes, I had that problem with my uro last winter. I thought he was dying and in fact he was just brumating. In the spring he perked up just fine. He hasnt done it yet this winter, but this time I will be prepared.

I wanted to know though, how old and what size is your uromastyx??? I would think babies don't go through the brumation period...I could be wrong??? Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Hello,

Maybe since your night temperatures are so low, your uro thinks you are cooling him off. There for he is going to brumate.

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Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)

Sounds like he's trying to brumate.They seem to know what time of year it is even if you don't shorten the light cycle.There lack of activity doesn't give them their usual appetite.Gradually reduce the light to 8 hours, and reduce the heat to 110-115 basking only on for 3 hours midday.

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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 to all of you for your suggestions.

Lyn, our mali is a juvenile, age undertermined. approx 4-5 inches long. He has a vet appoinment on thursday. I will adjust the temps and see if that helps at all. He has pooped sinced I posted this thread, so that was a relief. I wasn't sure if maybe the crickets had given him and obstruction.

I will keep you posted

__________________
Hard to notice, gleaming from the sky
When you're staring at the cracks
Hard to notice what is passing by
With eyes lowered

"The Leaving Song"- AFI

0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Spike)
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons (Hercules, Megora & Eeyore)
1.0.0 Bi-color Flame Point Himalayan (Koda)
1.2.0 Children (Dimitri, Mercedes, and Mariah)

your mali is a baby- they need slightly less heat and the crickets should be no more than 75% the size of its head. malis hatch around july/august so he/she is about six months old.your night temps are fine. keep in mind that in the wild uros spend nearly 80% of the time in their burrow and often warm slowly by hiding under rocks in the sun (hot side). it is also winter and you are new to him/her so do not disturb. do not panic but go to the vet anyway