Feeding Uromastyx.
Feeding
Feeding a mix of Spring Mix, Endive, Escarole, Dandelions, Dandelion Greens, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Moringa oleifera leaves and some Kale. I remove the stems and tear the greens into small pieces and bag them in one gallon zip lock bags.
Before:
After:
It is also good idea to add edible flowers to the mix such as Dandelions, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Rose petals, Nasturtiums, Dahlia, Day Lilies, Geranium, Pansies, Violets, Cat's Ear, Birdsfoot trifoil, Etc. I usually feed green peas or thawed mixed vegetables about once a week to give them a break from greens. About once a month I lightly dust their food with indoor version of Miner All calcium supplement. I also keep a small bowl of uncooked (ground up) green peas, lentils, various beans and birdseed. It has been suggested (I believe by Audrey Vanderlinden) to occasionally add pure bee pollen granules to the ground up green peas, lentils, various beans, birdseed mix.
Studies of Uromastyx in the wild show they are completely herbivorous, and insects are harmful to their liver in the long term. Studies of wild hatchlings show no evidence of them eating any insects either. That being said if you place a cricket, meal worm, super worm in a Uromastyx enclosure they will feed on them voraciously. It makes me wonder how many and what types of insects they are exposed to in the wild that they do not feed on. I do not offer my Uromastyx insects as I feel one of the greatest things about Uromastyx is that they can survive and thrive without insects as my wife can not stand insects and she is much happier if I do not bring them into our home, plus with the warnings about insects hurting Uromastyx livers it is just not worth taking a chance feeding them to Uromastyx, especially when we have so many high protein foods we can use in there place.
I do not offer my healthy Uro's water, they get all the water they need from the above mentioned diet. I have spoken to some breeders that suggest some species of Uromastyx benefit with access more then others. If you do choose to offer water occasionally, offer in a solid container that can not be easily tipped and only leave in the enclosure for a few hours. Water spilled or left for long periods can raise the humidity in the enclosure which can cause health problems.
The more variety, the better! For
more information, check The
Uromastyx home page
care sheets for more feeding suggestions.
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