Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad
Saturday morning dawned bright and early, and with it came a mission: to catalog our adorable baby Uromastyx Geyri. With 12 tiny dinos scampering around, we knew we had our work cut out for us. How do you tell apart a dozen nearly identical little lizards? The answer, as it turns out, involves a bit of creativity, a dash of non-toxic chalk markers, and a whole lot of patience!
The Quest for Tiny Identifiers -
We started our day perplexed. These babies all look similar, same spiky tails, same curious eyes, same adorable waddle. Sure, a few had some obvious differences (like our little, small fry (runt of clutch), who’s already stealing hearts), but for the most part, they were like tiny, scaly clones. We needed a way to tell them apart, especially since we’re tracking their growth, health, and quirky personalities.
A quick scour of the internet didn’t yield much - there’s surprisingly little written about safely marking baby Uromastyx, or any baby dino for that matter. But then, buried in a forum thread, we found a gem: non-toxic, washable chalk markers. Safe, temporary, and perfect for our needs. So, off to the store we went, returning with a pack of colorful markers (washing off with water and will break away with first shed) that would turn our little dinos into a rainbow squad.
The Cataloging Adventure
Armed with our non-toxic chalk markers, we set up a temporary 10-gallon tank to hold the babies while we gave their nursery a good cleanse. Then, it was time for the main event: documenting each and every one of them.
Each baby was treated to a mini spa day - well, minus the spa part. Here’s what the process looked like:
Weighing In: Most of our little ones clocked in at a respectable 6 grams. We did have one chunky champ at 7 grams (clearly the overachiever) and our tiny warrior, Small Fry, at 3 grams. But don’t worry - this little one holds its own and eats like a champ! Small Fry has a voracious appetite, is speedy, and one of the most inquisitive babies when we come around.
Health Check: We carefully checked each baby for any signs of illness or defects. Thankfully, they all passed with flying colors, but there were a few items that we noted here and there, that we expect will disappear as they grow. Overall, no missing toes, tails, or any obvious wounds.
Photo Shoot: Every baby got its moment in the spotlight with a quick photo session. These pictures will help us track their growth and unique markings as they develop. Momma and Kiley ran the camera shots!
Marking: Using the chalk markers, we gave each one a tiny, colorful dash. It was like assigning them their own little superhero capes - temporary, of course, but oh-so-cute. Already it has helped us keep an eye on what seems to be a slow eater, more on that later.
Unique Traits: We jotted down any standout characteristics, like a slightly longer tail or a unique pattern, coloration of head and body, to help us identify them even after the markers fade.
Appetite Test: To top it off, we offered them their first meal of the day in the newly cleaned nursery: mixed greens sprinkled with calcium powder and bee pollen. All but one dove in with gusto, proving they’re ready for the vegetarian life ahead.
Everything was meticulously recorded in a spreadsheet, complete with photos, so we can keep a close eye on their progress. It felt like we were running a tiny dino daycare intake - and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way!
A Tiny Cause for Concern
Among our lively bunch, there’s one little one who’s stealing our hearts with worry. This baby was the last to hatch and seems a bit slower than the rest. While its siblings are zipping around like mini maniacs, this one prefers to bask most of the day. We haven’t seen it eaten yet, which has us on high alert. We’ve given it some light hydration and are keeping a close eye on its behavior. If we don’t see some positive signs soon - like a sudden burst of energy or a nibble on those greens - we might set up a private suite (aka its own enclosure) to give it the extra care, it needs. Fingers crossed for this little trooper!
Wrapping Up Our First Clutch Adventure
Overall, this was our first clutch, and we’ve been learning as we go - what a wild ride it’s been! It all started when we realized Eevee was gravid with eggs back in November of 2024. From there, we held our breath waiting for her to lay them, then scrambled to prepare everything for incubation. The over 68-day wait for the first little one to hatch was a rollercoaster of excitement and nervous anticipation, followed by just over a week of pure joy as all 12 babies successfully made their grand entrance into the world.
Documenting this journey has been an absolute blast - snapping photos, recording videos, and writing about it all to share with you has kept us on our toes and grinning from ear to ear. If you’re an experienced Uromastyx Geyri keeper or breeder, we’d love to hear from you! Your wisdom and tips would mean the world to us as we navigate this scaly new adventure.
