How to Cool Uromastyx Lizard Habitats
The uromastyx, or spiny-tailed lizard, lives in arid and semi-arid habitats and is adapted to temperatures ranging from hot desert days to cool desert nights. These lizards change their skin colour with the varying tempertaures and you need to know how to provide the proper temperature and lighting conditions for your uromastyx, if you want to keep one as a pet. To do so successfully read and follow each and every instruction provided in this article.
Instructions
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1
Use thermometers to check the temperature for both the warmer and cooler sides of the habitat.
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2
Maintain daytime temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the cool area and 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the elevated basking spot.
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3
Maintain the night temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ceramic heat lamps work best at night because they don't emit any light.
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4
Provide your uromastyx with a substrate like washed play sand that's moist and deep enough to burrow in, or a low structure to hide in, so it can cool down. In the wild, their burrows can reach up to10 feet in length.
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5
Make at least one hide per lizard, keeping it in the hot end of the cage.
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6
Provide a full-spectrum UVB/UVA light that emits between five and seven percent rays, such as a UV fluorescent strip light available from pet stores and at the Zoo Med website.
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You should also keep a proper balance between the artificial and natural light being provided to the lizard. Ensure that proper food and nutrition is being provided.
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8
Use two basking lights if you have three or more lizards in the same habitat.
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9
Keep in mind that sunlight filtered through glass doesn't provide UVB rays because it can't penetrate it. Always use artificial UV lighting.
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10
Expose your lizard to real sunlight whenever possible. Although artificial UVB/UVA lights are effective, they're no substitute for the sun.
