Archives of The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 31, Number 5;   May, 2004

Ornate Uromastyx (Uromastyx ocellata ornata)

Compiled by Deanna Lance

General Information:

Life Span: ??
Total Length (STL): about 12 inches
Range in the Wild: Egypt, Sinai, and Northern Arabian Peninsula
Sexual Maturity: 2 to 3 years

Description:

Stout, turtle-like head
Short, stout limbs with strong claws
Small, sharp teeth
Broad, flat body and tail
Head is green with bright yellow on sides
Body is green or red-violet with yellow bands.
Tail is grey-green and limbs are green

Housing:

50 gallon cage or larger
Need hiding spots
Sand is the recommended substrate
UV fluorescent light needed

Temperature:

Basking spot: 120-130 degrees F
Day: 80-90 degrees F
Night: about 70 degrees F

Very low humidity
No underbelly heaters or "hot rocks"
12-14 hours of light in the summer
6-10 hours of light in the fall/winter
Natural sunlight (even a little) is highly beneficial
Generally housed individually

Food and Water:

Daily: Mustard, Turnip, and Collard Greens, Kale, Escarole, Apples
Twice a Week: Peas, Lentils, Birdseed, Dandelions, Thawed Mixed Vegetables
Twice a Month: A few crickets or mealworms
No standing water in cage
They may soak in hot water occasionally

Acclimation of New Animals:

Do not handle until after they are eating well
Partially cover cages to reduce stress

Breeding:

Breeding season is in March or April
Nest box should be placed in cage
Eggs are somewhat squishy but will firm up in a day or two
Incubate eggs at 92-94 degrees F
Eggs hatch in 55 to 65 days
Hatchlings must be fed fresh fecal pellets from an adult
Do not feed dry food for several months

Conservation:

Banned from import in 1995 because of declining numbers of wild individuals
Captive breeding is very important to reduce numbers of animals being taken out of the wild

Miscellaneous:

Tail stores fat and is armored for protection
They are solitary in the wild, and each digs a burrow