talk me out of a uro...for now...

[lilyskip]

Hey guys--
I'm in love with Uros, and will be getting one in a few years when I graduate college (that's the only time I'll be able to support a lizard with needs like a Uro). In the meantime, I need to cool my obsession with them so I don't drive myself nuts with the waiting. What kind of cons can you guys tell me about owning a Uro? They seem like they require some pretty intense care.

[Tim and Julie B]

Veggie eaters poop lots and it is really big for the size of lizard and smelly!

[JeffT]

Yup very messy, mine will crap right on the basking rock and sleep right in it, I can come home after school and smell the sweet odour of cooking ***** lol. Also they need a fairly large enclosure, it sbetter to make one yourself. But other then that they are very cool.

[Bartman]

I have 2 myself and if i had the room i would own hundreds! I really love them and there personality, but as you said they DO need a lot of care, and preperation before purchising one. First off i would build a tank, or get someone to build it, because in my opinion its deffiently the most effecient way to go, money wise that is. Also dont use plexi glass because they will claw the crap out of it, i learned that the hard way. ANYways you will just need to get about 300 bucks to invest into a good cage. Things like uv lighitng and the cage itself will cost the most. Then you need a heat lamp and then just some rocks, hides, etc. They are great lizards though. Good luck and its good to know there will be more uro owners in the future

[Cas]

Personally I haven't noticed my uro's poop to be large or smelly... but then, maybe everyone else isn't talking about <i>Uromastyx geyri</i>.

Anyway.... I think the biggest downside is keeping food for them. Most greens just don't seem to last very well in the refridgerator - 5 days to a week is about the most I can keep anthing from going bad (except for dandelions greens - I've had them last over a month in a ziplock bag). AND, if you only have one (or even two) uors, you will end up throwing some stuff away simply because the can't eat everything in the time you've got before it wilts/goes mushy. It's not so bad if you buy a lot of greens as those prepared salad mixes, but when you're buying most of your 'ingredients' seperately, you can end up with a lot of waste.

Also, some days I never even see my uro.... I get up in the morning before his light goes on, put food in, and go to work. He usually goes back to sleep in the late afternoon, so he's usually sleeping by the time I get home again. It's like having a cage that eats veggies and generates poop all by itself. *L*

Dawn

[Pookie]

Ha, i'm so glad to hear that Dawn! I thought mine was the only one that went to bed early! I just figured he was lazy or that maybe he just needed more sleep makes me feel so much better to know that others do that too!

[snakegal12345]

yea they are messy but they are so cool a lizard to keep i love mine