Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure
What started as a fun trip to a reptile expo became a thrilling adventure into the world of Uromastyx care and egg incubation! From tracking down the elusive Spiny Tail Lizard to creating a bioactive home and witnessing the miracle of eggs, our family’s Uromastyx journey has been unforgettable. Join us as we dive into the excitement of caring for our own Pikachu and Eevee - and soon, their adorable babies!
A Reptile Adventure: From Expo to Eggs!
This past winter, we embarked on an unforgettable adventure into the world of reptiles, attending our very first reptile expo hosted by Show Me Reptiles in Warwick, RI. The venue was teeming with an astonishing array of creatures—ball pythons, boa constrictors, colubrids, crested geckos, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and even arachnids and amphibians. It was a reptile enthusiast’s paradise! We were totally stoked and couldn’t wait to dive in! Even purchased VIP tickets to go in an hour early!
Leading up to the event, Dad had been on a mission. He had stumbled upon a unique reptile while surfing YouTube (thanks ChiefSweetsUniverse)—the Uromastyx, also known as the Spiny Tail Lizard. Looking like a miniature dinosaur and being a strict herbivore, it quickly became his must-see at the show. He scoured every corner but, alas, found no sign of the elusive creature.
Despite the Uromastyx no-show, the expo itself was an incredible experience. We could have easily spent the entire day there, but our five-year-old, Kiley, eventually ran out of steam - though she was in awe of every reptile she laid eyes on. We look forward to her growing a deeper connection with reptiles and these shows the older she gets.
The Unexpected Discovery at 401 Reptiles
On our way home, we made a pit stop at 401 Reptiles, a shop in West Warwick that we had been following on Facebook. We were greeted by Ray and his enthusiastic team, who proudly showcased their collection of reptiles, mostly housed in stunning bioactive enclosures. It was like stepping into a living reptile museum! Oh and they just happened to have a couple of puppies in the stockroom that Kiley went nuts for!
As we wandered through the shop, Momma rounded a corner and suddenly exclaimed, “Husband, do NOT come over here.” Naturally, Dad made a beeline in her direction, and there it was—the fabled Uromastyx! Not just one, but two pairs! Jason, one of the staff members, eagerly handed one over, and it sat there, chill as a potato with an ankylosaurus-like tail. Dad was hooked—but somehow, we walked out empty-handed… this time.
A Second Chance Encounter
Fast forward to summer, and we found ourselves at another reptile expo - this time in Massachusetts. This show was even bigger, with more incredible reptiles on display. Who did we run into? None other than Ray and his 401 Reptiles crew! Among all the creatures, an Akie Monitor caught Dad’s eye, but he decided to hold off.
On the drive home, we realized that 401 Reptiles was on our route. Even though Ray and most of his team were still at the expo, Jason was manning the shop. We made another stop, and Kiley even got to meet a parrot that a customer had brought in for a nail trim. And then… we saw them again - the Uromastyx! Despite Mom’s usual, “just get it, you know it will just drive you crazy until you have one.” somehow again we ended back in the car and drove home, and about 20 minutes down the road, the idea struck:
Dad: “How amazing would it be for Kiley to witness a reptile breeding and hatching process firsthand?”
And that was it. We turned around, met back up with Jason, and walked out with a bonded pair of Uromastyx Geyri! The male was a striking yellow, while the female had hints of yellow but was mostly brownish grey. Fun fact - Uromastyx Geyri clutches can contain either yellow or red/orange babies, regardless of the parents’ colors. Uromastyx Geyri are native to North Africa and are often called Saharan Uromastyx.
Jason set us up with a 40-gallon bioactive enclosure, complete with heating and lighting. Dad was beyond excited - his very own mini ankylosaurus duo! Kiley named them Pikachu and Eevee, inspired by their colors. 401 Reptiles estimated them to be about three years old - just the right age for breeding.
Eevee female on left and Pikachu the male on the right.
From Setup to Surprises
Once home, after a couple of weeks, we noticed a lot of glass surfing (a sign that they needed more space). Our research led us to upgrade to a 4x2x2 enclosure, providing separate basking platforms and hiding spots. Their behavior improved significantly, and soon enough, we noticed the telltale signs of mating behavior—head bobbing, chasing, and quick escapes.
Then, on October 30th, it happened. A confirmed lock! Momma even caught a picture, though Dad somehow missed the message at work. Over the next month, Eevee’s belly grew noticeably larger. By early December, the digging began, and sure enough, she laid 15 eggs!
With an incubator already prepped, we set them up for incubation. Sadly, we lost three eggs to mold, but 12 healthy ones remain, set to hatch in just a few weeks! We’ve converted the original 40-gallon enclosure into a nursery and can’t wait for the babies to arrive.
Uromastyx Mating - Cue the Barry White..
Looking Ahead
Fun fact - most Uromastyx in the pet trade are wild-caught, making breeding efforts incredibly valuable. There aren’t many Uromastyx breeders out there, and with so many varieties and stunning colors (Dad’s been eyeing the Ornate Uromastyx next), it’s tempting to expand. But let’s be real, there’s only so much space for 4x2x2 enclosures!
For now, we’re eagerly awaiting the hatching of our first clutch, excited to share this incredible experience with Kiley. From an initial fascination to a fully realized breeding project, our journey with Uromastyx has been an unforgettable adventure - and it’s only just beginning!
The Fabled Ornate Uromastyx - So Dad Says
How we care for our Pikachu and Evee Uromastyx Geyri:
· Heating and Lighting: We run two basking platforms that read about 105 degrees. Uromastyx like it hot! They worship the sun even more so than the Bearded Dragon! It’s advised to get your basking spot up to 120-130 degrees, but oddly enough our pair like it right around 105-110 degrees. The hot side ambient temperature is about 90-95 degrees, and the cool side is between 80-85 degrees. We provide an Arcadia Dragon 14% UVB and LED for more light.
· Décor: We have some concrete pavers, that we stuck together using aquarium safe silicone, transforming them into hides and topped them with reptile slate basking platforms from Amazon. We bought a few of the slate platforms so we can swap them in and out for cleaning. Uromastyx like to burrow, so you have to be extra careful with heavy stone/concrete and ensure it won’t collapse. We also decked the enclosure out with various cork bark hides.
· Diet: They are plant and seed eaters. Therefore, under Décor, you will notice we don’t have any plants. They just won’t last a day, as we tried Pothos, and they ate it within the first 24 hours! We prepare them a salad with greens and various other vegetables each day. They also get a mix of lentils and seeds once a week. About once a month I will spoil Pikachu with a Superworm, but Evee can’t be bothered.
· Substrate: We went with a homemade 50% topsoil, 30% play sand, and 20% excavator clay mixture. This creates an arid environment with low humidity and holds burrows fairly well. We have been successful keeping Springtails, Isopods, and Darkling Beatles as a cleanup crew by keeping some spots on the cool end well misted, such as under the water dish, food bowl, and a couple pieces of cork bark.
Stay tuned for our adventures in Uromastyx babysitting!
Great Resources:
Bioactive Supplies – The Biodude or NEHERP.
Care Guides - ReptiFiles and ChiefSweetsUniverse
