Uromastyx lizards are becoming much more popular because of the mild temperament of these docile reptiles. But many owners want to know if they should keep multiple Uromastyx lizards together.
Uromastyx lizards typically are best suited to be kept alone as they can become territorial but housing two females together is the best bet if you want to keep multiple Uromastyx together.
Housing more than one lizard in the same enclosure may be bad for many reasons. We explore the nature of Uromastyx care below and guide you on the special needs of these pets. Continue reading to learn more about these unique reptile species and whether you can have two Uromastyx in your home.
Do Uromastyx Do Well in Pairs?
Uromastyx are also called spiny-tailed lizards, and these terrestrial lizards are native to north Africa and the Middle East. They have unique features: round heads, bulging cheeks, round bellies, and a total body mass of 10-36″. However, Uromastyx are most famous for their heavy spiked tails, which come in variable lengths depending on the species.
They are fast runners and escape from predators in the wild by climbing rock stacks and burrowing. As true heat lovers, Uromastyx lizards love to bask under the sun even during the hottest climates. In addition, they’re easygoing pets and can live for over 25 years with proper husbandry.
Many owners like to keep a male and female lizard in an enclosure, but this may not always work out, and they will need to be separated. You need twice the size of a regular enclosure to ensure that both lizards have the space to thermoregulate between the hot and cold zones without trouble.
However, it’s generally not a good idea to house two Uromastyx together. Most lizards are happy living alone, and having a cage mate can result in competition. Competing for food, space, and territory can cause stress and stunted growth in one or more lizards. We recommend housing your lizards in separate enclosures to ensure good health.
How Many Spiny-Tailed Lizards Is Too Much?
Uromastyx lizards make great pets, and as long as you know what, your lizard can have a long full life. However, many pet owners make the mistake of cramming the cage with too many lizards. Too many could mean two, three, or more Uros, depending on the specie size and size of the enclosure.
For instance, an Egyptian Uromastyx is a large breed, and a single animal needs an enclosure with 6x3x3 dimensions. This means that you would need an enclosure almost 3x larger to keep another lizard. Most Uromastyx subspecies need a lot of space to thrive, and they can become very competitive when they feel threatened.
Suppose you put a bigger lizard with a small lizard. In that case, there’s a chance the smaller one will be constantly bullied and may eventually become stressed. When caring for your Uromastyx lizard, it is important to provide the most suitable living conditions, including not overcrowding the enclosure.
When you want to house more than one Uromastyx, you can prepare two enclosures in case your lizards are not compatible. Some lizards also start OK and do not have problems being cage mates when they’re young. However, the case may differ, where two bigger adult lizards are typically more territorial.
If You’re Going to Keep Multiple Uromastyx Together, What Is the Best Combination?
Generally, most Uromastyx are solitary animals and don’t need mates to survive. In the wild, it’s rare to find an Uromastyx moving with other lizards, and they usually come together to make. However, it’s common for many reptile owners to get their lizards in pairs, especially if they have hopes of breeding.
Housing two or more Uromastyx is typically an experimental process, and it can be tricky to keep two adult lizards in a case without any trouble. For starters, you have to note that there are different subspecies of Uromastyx lizards from many parts of the world. Different species can handle different climates and humidity and may also carry certain diseases.
When you keep two different species in the same tank, you’re risking the lives of both lizards, and it may cost you more than building a new enclosure. We suggest you don’t try keeping Ornates with Saharans or Saharans with Mali Uromastyx.
In addition, putting two different species can also increase the risk of crossbreeding where there are both males and females. Learn more about the different combinations of Uromastyx group housing below.
Male-to-Male Housing
There are many species of Uromastyx breeds, and different breeds have unique personality traits. However, many experts have confirmed that male spiny-tailed lizards are often territorial and can struggle to gain dominance. This is common for most animals, but most unknowing reptile owners don’t expect to have any issues.
You’re in trouble if you’re keeping two males Uromastyx in the same cage. This combination will create a dominant/submissive hierarchy that can result in the weaker lizard being stressed and possibly ill. The bigger lizard will fight to maintain dominance, and this constant power struggle can affect the growth of both lizards. It is much easier to handle your Uromastyx in different cages.
Male and Female Housing
Another common Uromastyx cage grouping is male and female caging. While you’re far less likely to have a power struggle with this option, it’s not a foolproof plan. Most reptile owners have reported cases where the female lizard becomes stressed and aggravated in the cage.
An adult male lizard will mate with the female Uromastyx in an enclosure. However, after breeding, the female Uromastyx may become aggressive towards the male, and things could get ugly. Some female lizards may become stressed and refuse to eat until they become ill.
Female-to-Female Housing
When you’re considering housing two or more Uromastyx, female-to-female housing is probably your safest bet. Female lizards are less combative than male lizards, and there’s a lower chance of dominance struggles. But this only applies when there’s enough food and space for all the lizards.
We suggest keeping two or three lizards in no less than a 75-gallon tank. It is also important to ensure that your lizards get along because stress can cause lizards to get ill and stop feeding. Therefore, if you notice one lizard is not happily basking or feeding, it’s time to get a separate tank.
Do They Do Better Alone or With a Partner?
Most owners get a cage mate because they don’t want their lizards to feel lonely. The thing about Uromastyx and most reptiles is that they are solitary animals; sometimes, having a partner in the cage can do more harm than good. However, some species of lizards do well in family groups.
For instance, research by the University of California Santa Cruz showed that desert night lizards live in family groups and show patterns of social behavior common with mammals and birds. This socialization may give the lizards a higher chance of survival in the wild, but this is not always the case.
Studies have shown that Uromastyx live alone most of their lives and only come together to mate. Finding Uromastyx groups in the wild is quite rare, as reptile life is mostly a solitary experience. This means keeping your spiny-tailed lizard in the cage may be the best option for your pet.
However, many handlers claim to keep their lizards in groups without trouble. This is possible, provided you ensure that the enclosure is large enough to handle all the lizards. It is easier to keep your lizards in separate enclosures. You can also socialize the adult lizards to encourage mating. But we recommend separating the male and female lizard after the mating period.
Can Uromastyx Do Well with Other Pet Reptiles?
Generally, it is a bad idea to handle more than one lizard in an enclosure. However, many handlers still do this with little to no consequences. However, one thing you should avoid is keeping different species of Uromastyx in the same enclosure because this can affect the development of your lizards. Uromastyx come from different parts of the world and are exposed to different climates and food.
In addition, crossbreeding is possible when you have both male and female Uromastyx lizards from different species. Therefore, if at all you want to group your lizards, we suggest choosing a cage mare from the same species.
Meanwhile, all reptile experts agree upon keeping two different kinds of reptiles in the same enclosure. For instance, you may have a bearded dragon or an iguana lizard and choose to add an Uromastyx to your collection. However, keeping an Uromastyx with another reptile in the same cage is a bad idea.
To start with, different reptiles require different temperature levels and feeding patterns. Some predators, like snakes, may also attack your lizard in the enclosure. Uromastyx also lives in hotter climates which most lizards cannot handle.
Best Way to Keep Multiple Lizards
Multiple Uromastyx lizards can live in the same tank if properly housed together. If you’re willing to put more than one spiny-tailed lizard in a tank, you can ensure success using the following tips.
- Get A Bigger Tank
The first step is to ensure that the tank is big enough to hold more than one lizard. Uromastyx hatchlings can be put together in a 20–30-gallon terrarium. However, one adult lizard will require a 40-gallon terrarium to live comfortably. This implies that if you’re getting two lizards, you will need two times the size of a regular tank.
When you limit space, the lizards are more likely to fight over territory and have unhealthy power struggles. Uromastyx lizards also need enough space to move between hot and cold zones. In addition, a larger tank will need more heat and light sources to ensure the right environmental conditions.
- Have A One Male Lizard Per Tank Limit
It is important to consider gender suitability when housing more than one lizard in the same cage. Two male Uromastyx lizards may engage in ritual dominance struggles and form a dominant/submissive hierarchy. However, female Uromastyx are more likely to get along with adequate care.
However, the trouble with Uromastyx is that you can’t tell their gender until they mature, which may take a while. When you notice two males in the tank, you should act immediately to separate them before the struggle starts. But you can keep hatchlings together in the same cage without any trouble.
- Don’t Mix Species
As we’ve mentioned, there are about 19-22 species of Uromastyx lizards from different desserts in different parts of the world. These species have different light, heat, humidity, and temperature requirements. So, if you plan to keep more than one Uromastyx lizard, it is better and easier to keep only one species.
In addition, mixing species can also cause crossbreeding, where there are both male and female lizards. It is crucial to maintain the bloodline if you want a healthy, well-developed hatchling without any severe health issues.
- Provide Adequate Resources
Many people make the mistake of getting multiple lizards with just enough resources for one animal. Resources may include space, food, and habitat quality. You must ensure enough food and heat/light sources for all the lizards to avoid creating unhealthy competition for the animals.
You should ensure that the basking rock is large enough to hold all the animals. We recommend leaving a feeding spot for your Uromastyx to reduce competition and help in feeding. In addition, it is important to clean the tank or enclosure regularly since there is twice as much fecal and urine production. Otherwise, this can increase the risk of infection and diseases.
Conclusion
Ultimately, if you decide to house two or more Uromastyx lizards together, we suggest having enough resources to ensure success. In addition, if you’re a first-time reptile owner, we recommend starting with one Uromastyx to gain experience before handling multiple lizards. Overall, you should always watch your lizards and act quickly if you notice any sign of distress.
References
- https://www.littlecrittersvet.com/uromastyx-lizards.pml
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8381032/
For a complete breakdown on Uromastyx eating grass, check out this guide.