It was a morning like any other. The shop manager and I were going about the daily routine where I would water and clean rodent enclosures, spray amphibian habitats etc. The manager had to just come back from the grocery store with greens for the tortoises, Bearded Dragons Pogona vitticeps, and Green Iguanas Iguana iguana. While I was feeding he pointed to an enclosure that I had in my few days never noticed as I had never seen anything in it. He said to me to make sure to put a dish of seven bean soup into it.

Naturally, I looked at him with what must have been a somewhat quizzical look as his next statement proved.

“It’s for the Uromastyx.” He said.

“The who?”

“The Uro’s.”

He decided it would be better to show me and brought me over to the enclosure and slid back the screen top after moving the heating element off of it. After which, he reached inside and removed the large hide box revealing what to this day I consider the most beautiful and interesting lizard I have ever seen in captivity! There below me were 3 lizards which looked like what can only be described as yellow painted dinosaurs. Later on when asked to describe Uromastyx I would tell people to imagine a turtle out of its shell which had been finger painted by a three year old.

No matter how you care to describe the Uromastyx which are known by several common names such as Spiny Tails, Spiny Tailed Agama, or Dabb Lizards they are an Agamid species which deserves more than a second glance from any serious reptile keeper that is interested in keeping a lizard. I would challenge any Bearded Dragon enthusiast to keep this species and not fall in love with them. They are not only just as tractable as their cousins but in my personal opinion they are actually a more interesting species to keep as we are still figuring out a lot of their behaviors and even some of their captive care requirements.

Uromastyx hail from Africa and the Middle East and most are considered to be a desert species but there are also some which are found in the montane areas as well. When speaking of desert species most would think of Leopard Geckos Eublepharis macularius and Bearded Dragons P. vitticeps but the Uromastyx species take arid to a whole new level of hot. Basking temperatures are in the average of 130ºF! But we’ll get to that later for right now lets take a look at the species within the genus of Uromastyx. All totalled the Uromastyx genus has approximately 18 recognized species currently. I say approximately due to the fact that taxonomists are still figuring out how the species all relate to one another and which are actual species and which are subspecies. The three species often found at Northampton Reptile Centre are as follows; and is dependant on breeder availability as they never sell wild caught Uromastyx.

Uromastyx acanthinurus

Uromastyx Species

Uromastyx acanthinura which occur in North Africa. These Uromastyx can obtain an overall length of 40 cm. The typical coloration is variable within the species. The head of most is typically black in coloration while the body can represent a netlike coloration of yellow, gray, red, and green.

Uromastyx ocellata occurs in Northwest Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, North Sudan, and Southeast Egypt. The same description could be used as was for the U. ornata. This is a “scale counter” or Taxonomists call that I would rather leave to the academe of the herp industry. I have however seen high orange color morph as well as a tan and white morph as well as a high blue color morph.

U. geryi, Niger Uromastyx occur in South Algeria, Mali, and Niger in the Air mountains which are north of Agadez and East of Arlit. They also occur in the Hoggar mountains of Algeria which are located southeast of Adrar. They usually appear in the industry as red, orange, or yellow. Males are considerably brighter than females.

Housing a Uro

When considering the purchase of Uromastyx we must first consider the topic of room available for the enclosure. Uromastyx are not known for their lackadaisical behavior they are consummate explorers and therefore must be provided room to do so. This is best done with an vivarium that measures no less than 4’x2’x2’. Within this enclosure you will need to provide multiple hide boxes & plenty of basking area where the Uromastyx can heat up. One final caveat when keeping Uromastyx is the fact that they enjoy tunnels which lead to the hide area. Uromastyx are natural burrowers which if given opportunity will display this behavior in captivity. The tunnel could be as simple as dryer vent hosing or even clay pipes which the Uromastyx can climb through to get to their hide box.

Heating & Lighting

As we are all aware, or at least should be, that reptiles are ectothermic. This means that they depend on the ambient or outside temperature to regulate their own body heat for activity and digestion. Now then, Uromastyx take this element to the extreme. As we stated above they require a basking spot heat of 130 degrees Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature of at least ninety degrees. To maintain these I  recommend incandescent lighting elements. To this we add the needed 10% UVB fluorescent bulb which must be changed out every six months as they lose their intensity. Now then there are products which claim to provide both UVB and heat (mercury vapour & metal halide) and I have heard great reviews of them but I have not used them and I prefer to keep the UVB and basking lights separate that way if the UVB or the heating element fails I can replace it without much expense.

Substrates

When we say desert species most people think of the sandy Sahara type deserts. While accurate, this is in fact not where Uromastyx are found. They inhabit areas which are a mixture of sand and clay soil types which will hold the shape of the burrows that they dig. So what substrate is best for the Uromastyx? This is still somewhat debated but for my personal tastes I use washed, fine sand with lots of slate pieces or rock outcroppings with a lot of success. Some recommend the use of bird or millet seed which the Uromastyx will also eat. The final choice however is up to you. There is still a lot of argument about whether particulate substrates cause impaction and within the decades that I have used the sand I have never had any Uromastyx become impacted.

(note from Gary: not sure if they have excavator clay in the U.S, but it pretty much fits exactly to what John is describing above).

Feeding

Uromastyx are vegetarian reptiles and are not omnivores as some would have you believe. I have read numerous studies of herpetologists doing field work and they all agree. The only time a Uromastyx will eat an insect or bug in the wild is then that bug gets in the path of a Uro feeding on its plant matter. The main part of the Uromastyx diet should consist of a spring mix of vegetables which can be purchased at any local grocer as well as dandelion greens, turnip greens, collard greens, and frozen mixed vegetables that have been defrosted. These should all be dusted with a calcium supplement. You can also add a dry bean soup mix to the diet as well which they will eat ravenously. To feed the babies the dry beans simply grind them up and then feed them as a topping to their salad mixture.

Water

Never offer a water dish to Uromastyx as this has the potential to increase the humidity in the enclosure which will cause skin issues in Uromastyx. They will get all the water they need from their herbivorous diet that they are being given.

A whole new lizard

Now with the above and some further information from the folks at the Northampton Reptile Centre you are well on your way to experiencing a whole new aspect of lizard keeping which will not only be fulfilling but also an incredible addition to the family environment. So what are you waiting for? Get over to the store and check out one of these incredible Agamids with the funny name. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

Who is John F. Taylor? John is an internationally published author of many captive reptile care articles and former editor of the San Diego Herpetological Society Newsletter. He most recently opened the website www.reptileapartment.com to answer questions instantly and share free care articles on the captive care of reptile and insect species. John’s publications include Reptilia, Reptiles Magagazine & TFH Publications Complete Herp Care Series Uromastyx.

Buy an Uromastyx setup

Are Uromastyx currently in stock?

The post Uromastyx – The Incredible Agamid with a Funny Name appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

If your bearded dragon is like any of hours, the way to their heart is always through their stomach! A lot of our smaller lizards have their good behaviour rewarded with a tasty waxworm or calciworm but our bigger guys love nothing more than a fat, juicy fruit beetle grub (Pachnoda).

As these grubs are quite fatty, they are only given as an occasional treat, maybe once a fortnight.

One thing to note, these grubs have quite a good bite on them so we squish their heads quickly before feeding. Just to make sure our reptiles do not get bitten.

There is a small video below showing one of our female bearded dragons and Leonard the yemen chameleon enjoying a fruit beetle grub. Also, those with good hearing will notice the grey tree frogs singing at the end.

The post Have your lizards tried fruit beetle grubs? Tasty eh? appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

They are collection only from the shop and on a first come first served basis. Like all of our animals, you have to have the right setup before you’ll be allowed to purchase them.

Please comment at the bottom of this blog if you have any questions or call me on 01604 753823. Or you can email me on sales@reptilecentre.com.

Hope to see you soon!

Sam x

These prices are not advertised in the shop yet so print this page and bring it with you or mention this blog to a member of staff.

When they’re gone, that’s it, they’re gone!

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Cresties usually only lay a couple of eggs at a time so they also hatch in twos. Currently we having some hatch every week, we wait until they are at least 6 weeks old before offering them to you guys. So, we have lots of babies at various ages dotted around the shop.

I think they are the cutest of all reptile babies, but what do you think? Have you seen cuter babies? Let me know in the comments box below.

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The post Baby Crested Geckos Hatched – see the pictures appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

These are Leopard Geckos that have literally just hatched. The eggs had been in the incubator for 2 months. The interesting thing about these lizards is that you can choose what sex they are. You do this by incubating them at a certain temperature (temperature-dependent sex determination). These eggs were incubated at 82oF so should be little girls.

I hope you like the pictures!

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Whilst we’re working through them all, I thought I’d share with you some photographs we have had taken of some of our animals recently. The photos were taken by Mike and Sarah from First Site Images. I think they are are superb, but what do you think? Let us know which are your favourites in the comments box at the bottom!

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1. They’re incredibly easy to care for.

All reptiles need specialist care and we should always do everything we can to keep them in the best health possible. But, Leopard Geckos are not very demanding and it’s easy to create the perfect home for them. During the day, we recreate the sun, and heat the air with a light bulb. At night, we recreate heat that is retained in the ground by using a thermostatically controlled heat mat.

Leopard Geckos not fussy eaters and will eat a variety of insects that have been dusted in vitamin and mineral powder. They’ll just drink water from their water bowl too, no need to mist the vivarium. For more detailed information, click here to view our care sheet.

2. They’re a family pet.

Due to their docile, placid nature, Leopard Geckos really are a pet for all members of the family. They’re happy to be held by children of all ages and will slowly walk across gentle hands. They’re not aggressive by nature but like all animals should be treated with respect. I have never seen a Leopard Gecko get upset or try to bite somebody, ever.

3. They’re extremely pretty.

Big doey eyes, leopard spots and a smile from ear to ear. These guys really are good looking animals. I don’t mean they’re good looking in the same way a Boa constrictor is good looking. I mean they are good looking in a cute, adorable way. Always guaranteed to make you say “Arhhhhh”.

As well as the common ‘leopard’ variety (which are still my favourite) you can now get Leopard Geckos in a variety of different colour morphs. Pure white ‘blizzards’ to bright orange ‘tangerines’ are on sale, all have the lovely Leopard Gecko temperament but if you like something a bit different they offer you some choice.

4. They’re long lived lizards.

A Leopard Gecko can easily live for over 20 years if cared for properly. If you don’t want to explain to your kids why Hammy the hamster has gone to the big cage in the sky, get a Leopard Gecko instead!

5. They’re very easy to breed.

In the right conditions, your Leopard Geckos will usually breed, on their own, without you needing to do anything. A lot of the time you will literally find a couple of unexpected eggs in their nesting box without even knowing your girl was gravid. Adult males will not get along but you can keep a harem of females together with one male. It’s very satisfying breeding your own animals so this is a big plus with Leopard Geckos.

Do you already have Leopard Geckos?

If you already have a leopard gecko you’ll already know what fantastic pets they are. Please feel free to leave a comment on our blog and share your experiences with your Leopard Geckos. If you are reading this on our facebook or in an email please click here to visit the blog and have your say.

I look forward to reading your comments!

Link to the Leopard Gecko care sheet

Link to products for setting up a Leopard Gecko vivarium

Link to our Leopard Gecko Facebook fan page

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The post Why is the Leopard Gecko such a great pet? 5 good reasons appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

What can I win?

1x 45x 45x 60cm Exo Terra terrarium, 1x compact light canopy, 1x 5.0UVB compact light bulb, 1x SunGlo bulb, 1x substrate brick, 1x water dish, 2x jungle vines, 1x thermometer, 1x hygrometer, 1x rock effect background, 3x jungle plants, 1x misting bottle, 1x heat mat and 1x Crested Gecko complete diet! Everything you need to get started! R.R.P of over £200!

How do I enter?

It’s a caption competition. Have a look at the picture below of some of our friends holding a Boa constrictor and leave a funny caption in the comments section at the bottom of this page. Whoever’s caption is the funniest, wins! Only entries posted on our blog are eligible to win, if you are reading this somewhere else (i.e Email or Facebook) please click here to visit the blog and submit your caption. The closing date is the 28th February 2010 and the winner will be announced at the start of March. This competition is only open to UK residents unfortunately.

This is the picture you need to write a caption for!

I know there is a giant snake in the photograph but please try and use your imagination! Good luck to everybody who enters and if you know anybody who would love a Crested Gecko please share this competition with them!

I’m looking forward to having a laugh at your captions!

Please click here to read our Crested Gecko care sheet.

Please click here if you are interested in purchasing a set up.

The post Want a Crested Gecko? – Win a Complete Setup Now!! appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

Below are 6 animals that I found in the shop today that I think are a little bit unusual. I’d be interested to hear which you think is the weirdest, or the most wonderful.

Albino Soft Shelled Turtles

These Soft Shelled Turtles are freshwater turtles originally from China. They spend most of their time sifting through the sand for small insects and other invertebrates to eat. Like the vast majority of freshwater turtles they come onto land to bask in the sun. Their long nose enables them to breathe air without leaving the water, to stay hidden. Albinism just makes these guys look even stranger!

Pacman Frogs

These brightly coloured ‘blobs’ are possibly the most voracious predators in the shop. Originating from South America, Pacman Frogs will literally eat anything moving that fits into their enormous mouths. This includes fingers, so use tweezers when feeding! It’s easy to see where they got their name from, although these guys are nowhere near as active as the original Pacman!

Monkey Tailed Skinks

These pre-historic looking skinks are the only member is their genus making them quite unique. They originate from the rainforest canopies of the Solomon Islands where they live exclusively on vegetation. Monkey Tailed Skinks give birth to live young and have excellent parental skills compared to many other reptiles. Their prehensile tail acts as a 5th limb, making them outstanding climbers.

Axolotls

Axolotls are very unusual indeed. They are neotenic Salamanders, meaning they do not need to metamorphosize into adult salamanders at any stage during their life. They even reproduce whilst in this fully aquatic larval stage. They also have amazing powers of regeneration and quickly regrow a limb if they were to lose it. If their environment was to dry up, they can transform into ‘adults’. Amazing animals.

Tailless Whip Scorpion

Although these guys are Arachnids, they are neither scorpions or spiders. They have their own separate order. Like spiders and scorpions they are hunters and eat any insects they can catch. They get their name from their two front legs which have been modified into long ‘whips’. These are used for locating prey when hunting.

Albino Tangerine Milk Snakes

There’s nothing unusual about Milk Snakes, or even Tangerine Milk Snakes, but this albino morph is a little different. It’s no different to care for than any other Milk Snake but the colours on it are just sensational. It may not be to everybody’s taste and a lot of people say she looks odd but she a definite head turner. Comfortably the most striking snake in the building!

Your Thoughts

The animals above are my own personal selection, but what do you think? Comment below on your views of these animals (if you are reading this in an email, click here to visit our blog and comment).

If you have an unusual pet, why not share them with our friends and post a photo on our facebook page?

The post Six strange animals, but which is the most unusual? appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

That was the case for our pair of Madgascan Giant Day Geckos the other day.

Luckily, a crowd and a camera didn’t seem to put this pair off!

Please enjoy the photos and I’ll keep you informed if everything is successful and we have some more babies!

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The post Have you ever seen Madagascan Giant Day Geckos breeding? appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

Jonathan Ross

What do we already know about Jonathan Ross?

• He’s funny.
• He’s a flamboyant dresser.
• He likes to talk.
• He can be a bit naughty sometimes.
• He works hard.

When thinking about Jonathan’s perfect reptile match there are many that spring to mind.

Bearded Dragons are great pets, but are they flamboyant enough for him?

Corn Snakes can be flamboyant but do they have the personality?

Terrapins are funny characters but would he have have enough free time to look after them?

We need something that ticks all of Jonathan’s boxes.

The Verdict?

OK, my thoughts keep pointing back to the same reptile. A Tokay Gecko!!

• Their snazzy skin patterns certainly fit in with Jonathan’s wardrobe.
• They’re entertaining characters, always up to something!
• They also ‘talk’ a lot too. Well they make a distinctive noise anyway!
• They are definitely a mischievous gecko that can get themselves into trouble.
• They don’t really like being handled, so are happy if Jonathan is working.

Tokay Gecko

What do you guys think? Is this a good match for Jonathan Ross? Please make other suggestions below, I’d love to hear them.

Update!

I sent Jonathan a message on Twitter to see if i got his perfect reptile right. He replied:

“Love it! Where can I get one?”

Read his tweet here

The post The Perfect Weptile for Wossy? appeared first on Northampton Reptile Centre.

They originate from the Solomon Islands of South East Asia which is why they are also known as the Solomon Islands Tree Skink.  They are a large(ish) arboreal lizard (tree climbing) growing to over 2 feet and spending most of their time just hanging around in the branches. They are exclusively herbivorous and eat a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Yet another name for these guys is the Prehensile Tailed Skinks. This refers to their ability to use their tail for gripping. This is a great advantage when you spend your time climbing trees. It acts as a fifth limb and they would certainly struggle without it.

Like other skinks they give birth to live babies, usually only one or two a year. Because of this low reproduction rate and the deforestation in their native islands they have now become endangered. Exports have been banned, which is good,  and only captive bred specimens are now available.

Like any reptile, the key to keeping a Monkey Tailed Skink at home is to recreate their natural environment as closely as possible. Heat, humidity, UVB all need to be right as well as plenty of places to climb and hide. Anybody interested in keeping Monkey Tailed Skinks can contact the shop any time and we would be happy to advise.

I have included some pictures of our Monkey Tail Skink with this blog so I’d be interested in hearing what you all think of him (or her). I think he is great!

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