RecoveryLizards
Uromastyx care guide
Uromastyx spp.
An extreme-desert herbivore needing the hottest basking surface and driest air of any common pet lizard, plus a deep burrow.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Uromastyx enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult uromastyx should live in at least 72" L × 30" W × 24" H; we build toward 96" L × 36" W × 24" H (8 × 3 × 2 ft, roughly 24 sq ft of floor and about a 359-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Juvenile
- 72" L × 30" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 96" L × 36" W × 24" H recommended · min 72" L × 30" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Bank of halogen floods over a thick stone slab, dimming thermostat.
- Basking / warm surface
- 120–150°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 95–100°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 80–85°F ambient
- Night
- 65–75°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 12% (UVI 5–7 at basking) — very high requirement. Run lights on a 13–14 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target Under 35%. No standing water bowl; hydration comes from greens.
Substrate and depth
Sand / clay burrow mix that holds a tunnel. Depth: 6–8 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Stone basking slab under the lamps
- Deep stable burrow
- Rock stack for climbing
- Feeding dish for greens
Build list
- 6–8ft enclosure with solid sides — Needed to hold 120°F+ on one end and 85°F on the other.
- Multiple halogen floods + 12% T5 UVB — Highest heat and UV demand of the common species.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk sand/clay burrow substrate — Must hold a collapse-proof tunnel at 6–8in.
Uromastyx FAQ
How big should an adult Uromastyx enclosure be?
At least 72" L × 30" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 96" L × 36" W × 24" H — about 8 × 3 × 2 ft, or a 359-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Uromastyx need?
Basking or warm surface 120–150°F surface, warm side 95–100°F ambient, cool side 80–85°F ambient, night 65–75°F. Bank of halogen floods over a thick stone slab, dimming thermostat.
Does a Uromastyx need UVB?
T5 UVB 12% (UVI 5–7 at basking) — very high requirement. Photoperiod: 13–14 hours.
What humidity does a Uromastyx need?
Under 35%. No standing water bowl; hydration comes from greens.
What substrate is best for a Uromastyx?
Sand / clay burrow mix that holds a tunnel, at a depth of 6–8 in.
How big does a Uromastyx enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 36" L × 18" W × 18" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own uromastyx record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.