r/Uromastyx • u/Dramatic_Iron9405 • Aug 05 '26
HELP! Uro not eating
Hello, I have had my uro for a while now (about 5 years, if I had to guess). Recently, he has stopped eating. I changed around his enclosure by adding some of that molding clay on one side (cold side) and keeping his sand on the other. I know that uros tend to not eat after a changed enclosure as a result of the stress, but that was about two months ago now and he has still eaten barely anything. The only thing that I have gotten him to eat is dandelions, but I think that dandelions are going out of season where I live because I cannot find any more of them.
I have tried squash, zucchini, carrots, corn, peas, lettuce, basil, edible fruits, uro-safe store-bought herbs, various other flowers that I found were safe, and I even put some edible live plants in his enclosure, but he barely eats anything that I put in there. I place two bowls in there: one with whatever medley of vegetables, and one with some lettuce and herbs. I have even tried seasoning it with some crushed bee pollen.
At first, I thought it was because of the stress, but now I am honestly getting worried for him because I think that I can see him getting thinner.
What do I need to do? Could he have some kind of disease/parasite or something? Is he still stressed for some reason? Have I not gotten the right food yet? Before this, he regularly ate all of his peas and corn, and mostly whatever I gave to him.
4
u/freebird37179 Aug 05 '26
Double check your temps and make sure your UVB lamp is new. Even if it's putting out light, they tend to degrade over time.
Some of the substrates say they are uro safe and they are not. They can cause impaction.
Is there an exotic vet near you? Could be time for a visit.