Keeping and Breeding of Ornate Spiny-Tailed Lizard (Uromastyx ornata ornata Heyden, 1827) at BION Terrarium Center

Keeping. We keep adult U. o. ornata in horizontal terrariums that should be long enough to provide temperature gradient. We use terrariums of 90*60*60 cm (35 *23*23 in) for a pair (1.1). We provide a layer of coarse sand or pressed loam as a substrate. Decoration includes bamboo steams, stones and artificial shelters (a ceramic plate on stones/2 bamboo trunks) along the terrarium’s perimeter and especially under the basking point. We keep them in pairs since animals of the same sex demonstrate aggression towards each other. On the opposite side from the basking place we make a hill of coarse sand that is lightly moistened during breeding season.

Lighting. Since these lizards are arid and diurnal, high light intensity is needed. We use LED lamps for lighting and a Raptor Solar lamps for heating and UV in one corner of the terrarium. We use them for making basking place above a ceramic plate. UV-light is necessary. Lighting period is 14 hours during mating season and 12 hours at other time except winter dormancy.

Temperature. Ambient temperature should be around +28 – +30 °C (84.2–86.0 F) at the day and not lower than +22 °C (71.6 F) at night. At basking place the temperature is about +50 – +60 °C (122.0–140.0 F). A flat stone/ceramic plate is placed under the basking lamp.

Water. Water bowl is placed inside a terrarium daily when a female is gravid and several weeks after egg-laying (until female fully recovers). We also place a water dish twice a month to adult animals at other period of time.