Uro not eating

[Rebecca]

My uro won't eat any veggies or anything other then mealworms. I read that bugs in general are not good to feed too often, so I've only fed a few to it. The pet store said it had not eaten in a while and I wanted to see for myself if it would eat at all, but it LOVES mealworms. My question is how can I get it to eat veggies and that more?? And how bad are bugs for them as a staple??

[thunder]

is it WC? since you bought it form a pet store, it is highly likely that it is not in the best shape. try to get more of a history on this individual from the store, although it has been my experience that some pet store employees will give false info if they do not know the answers to your questions. find out when was the last time it ate greens and what kind. what veggies have you been trying? is husbandry all correct? tip: try offering food in the early morning when it is first active.

[Tim and Julie B]

Try to offer fresh, well chopped dark greens in a dish and add some mashed strawberries. Sometimes it gets them eating. If it is eating mealies perhaps it will eat some silkies or butter worms? At least they are better nutritionally. It may be that the pet store never gave it greens at all and it has just gotten used to bugs. Also, does it have access to a basking are around 90-100 dgrs? They won't eat if they can't get really warm and digest their food.

Julie

[Rebecca]

I have the cage setup good and everything. The person at the pet store actually knew what she was talking about because I kinda quized her on stuff I already knew just to see if she knew anything about them. She said it has been about 3 weeks or so since it ate. I asked her what they had been feeding it and she said some lettuce, carrots and I can't remember everything else. She did say they never tried bugs because their main diet is veggies. I asked her what she knew about the history and they didn't know anything about it's past not even it's age. They just got it sent to them as a replacement for a different lizard they never got. Julie what kind of dark greens?? Also I don't have access to some of the kinda more semi exotic (like the fanier stuff) veggies (small town what can ya do)

[thunder]

endive is one you should be able to find in the super market. stay away from letucces such as romaine, iceberg cuz those have no real nutritional value, just water.

[Kevin McRae]

Why did you buy the lizard if the lizard wasn't eating for three weeks?

[Rebecca]

Uh because I wanted one and besides, they agreeed if it dies in the next 3 months from not eating then they will not only refund my money but also give me half off should I choose to buy another from them.
Thunder what does endive look like?? I tried to find it but some of the stuff in the store was not labeled.

[Joe]

Im not disagreeing with Tim & Julie, Im sure those temps are sufficent but try upping the basking area to around 120f thats the temps I have always used, offer fresh greens that were just washed in water, good luck, I hope it all works out for you!

[Nicki]

Hi, try endive or escarole. Mine love dandelion leaves (bought from the grocery store, I don't know of anywhere to get wild ones without pesticides). Also, get bee pollen and sprinkle it on the greens. This sometimes stimulates their appetites. Just ask someone from the produce section... they can tell you which is which.

Definitely raise the temps in the basking spot to 120 or so, because if he's not too well, that will help him.

An all bug diet will kill your lizard. Uros are primarily vegetarians, and need to eat properly.

Good luck!
Nicki

[Rebecca]

Can you just go out and pick some dandelion leaves if you know for sure they have never come into contact with pesticides??

[Nicki]

Yes, as long as you are POSITIVE they've not been treated with pesticides or any other chemicals either this year or last year. They'll also LOVE the dandelion flowers if you have any!

[Rhonda]

What kind of uromastyx is he/she? Here's what I feed my uros(I have ornates and nigerians) escarole(looks like leafy lettuce), romaine, bok choy, dandelion (leaves stems and flowers), endive, hibscus (leaves and flowers), kale, collard greens, carrot, sweet potato, snow peas, green/yellow beans, alfalpha sprouts, green/yellow zuccini, apple, pear. I aslo feed them a dry mix of wild bird seed, alfalpha pellets, lentils, split yellow/green peas served in a a shallow dish misted with water. I do give them the occasional cricket. My ornate uros are more picky eaters than the nigerians. They do get board of the same veggies all the time so it's good to offer something different once in a while like rose pedals, chopped and added to the salad. sprinkle some bee pollen on the salad. Things like that can help to stimulate their appetite. Do not feed them cabbage/broccoli or related veggies.

[Rebecca]

It's a Mali as far as I know. It has eaten the bok choy I set in there. But still won't eat anything else. I've tried carrots, the bok choy, I can't find danelions yet that I know for sure have not been treated. Can I feed it alfalpha sprouts?? Also how about friuts?? We have some watermelon I'd like to try and feed it. I read that it's bad to feed kale to them??

[thunder]

kale is not that great, and fruit should be kept to a minimum, especially watery fruits like melon. fresh alfalfa sprouts are good, but not the dry hay stuff. have you tried collard greens? they should have them at the supermarket if u ask a produce person. escarole is definately another good one to try. also: sorel and rocket (arugala) are good, but slightly more expensive. you could also try watercress.

[madison.s]

try some wild bird seeds and treats,they love that and that part of their main diet.good luck

[Rebecca]

Just any wild bird seed or is there a type they should not have??

[madison.s]

I have never heard of any they should not have,so i would say anyone would be fine as they love seeds and i would grab some of the treats that they have,i can not remember what they are called,not the treats that have honey and all that crap they look like just seeds on a stick(like a brown in colour) i think they start with a P,they are very funny looking and are not the ones with seeds and fruit. I am kicking myself i can not think of the name.you should have no problem getting he or she to eat seeds.try it.let me know what happens i hope it works,they are so cool and great animals and it would be a shame if it died, good luck

[tHeGiNo]

I have the cage setup good and everything

If you could, elaborate on what 'the cage setup good and everything means' as in temperature, substrate, etc. There are several things

I asked her what they had been feeding it and she said some lettuce, carrots and I can't remember everything else.

Wow, could you feed any more of a pathetic, malnutritional variation? Incase your wondering what I mean, lettuces nutritional value basically sums up to its water content, and the presence of calcium oxalates in the carrots (spinach has high contents as well so feed sparingly) can bind with calcium and render any dietary intake of calcium unusable. Anyways...

As far as diet itself, Rhonda has listed some perfect vegetables. I tend towards bok choy, dandelion, kale, collar greens, and those other dark greens. I also include fruits every now and then. Feed such vegetables as carrots and spinach sparingly, as they have high level of calcium oxalates, and I explained above the damage this does.

As important as changing the diet, there are many other factors that should be considered. First, as mentioned, I would raise your basking temperatures to at least 120°F. As suggested, I have encountered a few individuals which would not eat if appropriate temperatures were not provided.

Once you have that taken care of, you must consider the possibility of parasite infestation. For starters, as you should do with any new addition, I would isolate it from the rest of your collection and follow isolation procedures with handling (ie. wear gloves, wash hands after contact, etc.). I would take a fecal into your nearest veterinarian - it does not necessarily have to be a herp vet as any clinic is capable of detecting a parasite.

Finally you must take your critters security into consideration. It is likely a WC specimen and not adapted to captivity. It is essential that you provide adequate hides on either side of the enclosure - on both the hot and cool side.

Take care of all of that and I am sure the problem can be corrected.