Care for Uromastyx Hatchlings

Hatchling care

Once hatched out my Uromastyx hatchlings started feeding in the first day or two. They are fed the same basic greens as the adults only all stems are removed and the greens are finely chopped. You may want to offer hatchlings access to daily water in a shallow container. Make sure it can not be tipped over and only leave it in the enclosure for a few hours a day. I  do not offer water, but some other species seem to benefit from it. If I notice an animal looking dehydrated I will offer water. I do not offer crushed seeds, lentils, peas, beans or any of these type dry foods until hatchlings are 6-12 months of age.  

Picture of U.ornate hatchlings 1999. 

Danny Molco the author of (Data from Wild Populations) Ornate Spiny Tailed-Lizards by Ben David Osnat and Molco Danny (Copyright 1999)  states "It is very important to put a parent's dry drops (fecal)  in the hatchling cage for the first few days." This may aid in the hatchlings developing stomach flora. Make sure if adding the parents fecal to the hatchlings enclosure that the parents have been tested for parasites, so nothing is unintentionally passed to the hatchlings. I have raised hatchlings that had access to parents dropping and others that did not and I did not notice any difference in growth rates or health of the hatchlings. So it is up to the breeder weather to add parents droppings to hatchlings enclosure or not, but if you decide to add parents droppings make sure  parents have been tested for parasites, so nothing is unintentionally passed to the hatchlings. 

My hatchlings are housed each in there own separate enclosure with similar basking and gradients as the adults. 120-130 degrees basking with a gradient to 75-85 degrees on the cool side. If your hatchlings are looking dehydrated back off your basking temperatures a little and  or offer some water in a shallow container.

I house the hatchlings on paper towels, tile and bare floor. Do not try other substrate until the hatchlings are at least 6 months to a year old.

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