I was deployed to Iraq a few times from 2003-2006 and had the opportunity to observe and catch uromastyx aegyptia microlepis. They are essentially the Egyptian Uro's but bright yellow. Their range covers Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. All the areas that I found them in were sandy deserts. They dig massive burrows in the hard packed sand and if you don't catch them before they run back in their hole you will never get them. The 110-120 basking spot would be accurate for microlepis as well and they have no problem wandering around in the hottest part of the day and they love it. For breeding I would imagine a month or so with high temps being no more than 80 should be considered. And if anyone knows who can get some microlepis here in the U.S. please let me know.
I loved this episode. Uromastyx are one of my favorite species of lizard. Really cool to see them out in the wild like that. I can't wait to see what else you find while in Isreal. Much love, support, and respect as always. Stay safe and rattle on!
Hello Dav! I love watching this video! But a side note, I am from Saudi Arabia and we have plenty of Uromastyx ove here! I don't know if they are the same species over in Isreal and Egypt (ornate uromastyx) but over here they live in completely sandy deserts. Not a single rock in site! Just miles and miles of sand, and they make burrows to hide in them. Just wanted to give you some information because not all uromastyx are built the same. Thanks for the great video again!
Thank you for this video! I sometimes have a hard time explaining to people the importance of a hot surface temperature for many species of lizards for basking (monitors, uros, bearded dragons, etc)...they think OMG 120 is way too hot! Yeah...maybe if your ambient or air temperatures were that high, which is what sadly so many people are measuring. Get an IR gun and see what the actual temperature is of the basking spot on the surface, it makes a world of difference. It also starts to illustrate the importance of enclosures with solid lids for many situations.
As someone looking into getting an ornate uromastyx this video was just incredible! I learned so much about their habitat. Thanks for your awesome work.
I think it’s very interesting how people have so many different ideas on something as simple as their diet! Also as a side note people don’t realize there are different species of Uromastyx that have different needs. Love your content!
Agree with this about different subspecies living in different environments. Unfortunately this video seems to have glossed over that a bit, maybe even enough to be misleading.
Thank you for taking the trip out to Israel on behalf of all of us that are keeping Uromastyx as pets here in America. I am building a large outdoor habitat for Egyptian Uromastyx and the terrain shots and descriptions you have provided are absolutely essential and I very much appreciate you for sharing. Really, this is one of the most informative videos because of the accurate documentation via video. Again, much appreciated
Another awesome video! I'm a snake guy but watch all your videos no matter what they are on. Can't say I do that with anyone else's videos. Keep them coming!
This is an amazing video, we need more like these to help educate people on how to better care for their pet reptiles, especially with the rising interest in "Bioactive Vivariums."
Thank you so much for this Dav 😄. I just got an ornate young adult male and have him on a mix of sand with rocks, branches and layered slate basking (around 125) he is going nuts as it's all new but loves his slate/brick 'triplex' and always prefers climbing over burrowing. I thought he preferred his veggies dryer..this explains it.
Great video brother. Love these little guys. Very cool to see them in the wild. There definitely should be more vids like this. Animals should not have to adapt to captivity, they should be set up as naturally as possible.
During the 1st Gulf War, I was near the Saudi City of Rafa. I caught several U. microlepis, I kept them as mascot/pets while there. they were eating wild mustard, seed pods, flowers and stalks. In captivity, I had Egyptians for a while. I fed them dried split peas, safflower seeds & grape nuts cereal dusted with Repcal. They did well. Also, I dug a few up with a pick axe. Their burrows reminded me of ground squirrel holes.They would burrow through VERY hard packed dirt down about 24-30" to a rock layer that was almost impenetrable, & 30+ feet long! Emperor scorpions galore... Their habitat was literally flat hard pan desert without features of any type, like dried mud flats. At least in that area...
Dav, leave it to you to once again post an awesome video. There is so much to be taught when keeping these reptiles and you my friend are an excellent teacher! Rattle on...🤘
The best pet lizard I ever had was a Chuckwalla. Or equivalent of a Uromasrix. Big desert lizards have to be smart to survive where the predators crave a big juicy meal..especially one with cool blood to slack their thirst.
Thank you for making this video!! It really helps seeing where these amazing creatures live naturally!! They are my favorite reptile and I feel is my spirit animal.
Foods I supply them dandelion greens and flowers mustard greens collared greens occasional strawberry another thing I do is I place paper towels in a clear plastic container lar lentils black beans and chick peas on the moistened paper towels then leave in a sunny window til they sprout then feed the sprouts to them
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures get some chrystalised bee pollen in a huge sugar shaker lifted from Starbucks. Give a few granules a week they recognise the sound and will come running for it
I know this is a very old video but I just wanted to say, I’ve been to Israel many times and it’s one of my favorite places on the planet. I’d love to go back someday. I miss the food, the people and just everything tbh.
I think Uromastyx are at the top of my wish list for when i move house and can keep pets again. I plan to purchase a pretty large vivarium (say 5' or 6' long x 2' deep x 3 or 4'' high). I think I'm gonna go bioactive with some hardy plants. As for the heating and lighting i'm going use a Zoo med Powersun mercury vapour bulb. (It should be noted that you can't use thermostats with these type of bulbs and in order to so get the temperatures right you simply lower or raise the bulb (Hence the reason i'm thinking of a tall vivarium. At night time a ceramic bulb and dimming thermostat should suffice. Cool upload man, very informative as per usual. Keep up the good work!!!
Hi Dav, I love your vids and I could watch it every day!!! PS- Could you post a video about garter snakes or rainbow boas maybe you know someone with a big collection of these amazing snakes? Have a nice day!! ✌️🇳🇱.
Yea a desert is mainly like a dry place thats why antartica has a desert and shows they come in many forms not just sand like most people think of and your totally right
I can’t believe you don’t have way more subscribers your videos are fun to watch and educational I’ve been trying to find a video of a wild leopard geckos can’t find any to see there natural environment just like this video awesome
Dāv Kaufman's Reptile Adventures thanks for responding it means a lot to me first saw you in videos with Miguel and kusko jay brian a lot of other people I admire too hopefully I’ll meet you in person someday have a good day
Oh & I have 2 ceramic bulbs , one in basking end to keep temp up & humidity down & one in the cooler end . So one end is 100w spot light plus ceramic , cool end is just a 60w ceramic . Then you have the uvb ( try & change every 6 months ) . At night it's supposed to be I think 60-70 but Donnie's about 80-90 because you have to have the temp up a little to reduce the humidity here in the UK . Over night it's just the ceramics on & Donnie always chooses to sleep down the hot end but provide hides at both so yours can choose as they will all have their own preferences . I always have his lights on with the seasons & have his lights come on & off the same time as sunrise & sunset obviously changing to shorter hours in winter . I have heard about not feeding them in winter as they hybernate , again with Donnie if he's up I provide food . Every year Donnie's preferences change , whether it's what food he likes to activity or how long he sleeps . Some winters he's not got up at all , some winters he's been active . Some summers he's really crazy some summers he sleeps alot . As I've said I roll with him & even at the age he is the vet said he's in the condition of a lizard half his age so I must be doing something right . When Donnie is up for it you can get loads of cuddles & kisses in but if he's not in the mood , don't even look at him ! He definitely does things he knows he shouldn't & will look at you when he's being naughty as if to say " yeah what are you going to do about it ??" . He really is the best . Xx
A couple months ago I switched one of my two uros from fine pet store sand to Menards play sand after sifting, washing an baking the latter. Your video suggests I could skip the sifting stage when I make the same switch for my other uro. Thanks for the insight. Really appreciate the practical info for herp keeping that you provide.
Glad it helped! Small pebbles that can't be ingested and larger secure rocks are the way to go to provide good basking spots, and hiding spots as well.
Very informative to get a glimpse of their natural environment. Would you have made any temperature measurements at night? My experience with deserts (Egypt, South Africa, Arizona and New Mexico) is that people also underestimate how cold it actually gets.
I love these types of videos Dav. After you went to New Caledonia I bought some Crested and a gargoyle gecko. They are in my tarantula room. Low of 75 degrees. High is 80 and it's humid in there. They are all doing well.
Awesome and informative video, thank you for sharing, I hope someday you can put a trilogy of care videos based on your assessment in their natural habitat!
TY for traveling and teaching how to replicate natural conditions for optimum lizard evironments. They remind me of the chuckwalla in my 8th grade science class " Chucky ". As always the backround music and production values are top notch. Happy Thanksherpergiving to you and your loved ones.
I gotta say Dav, go visit the U. a. microlepis out in the Arabian peninsula. The ones I was finding in Kuwait and Iraq were 100% digging their burrows in sand. Not all uros have the exact same habitat. Yes, many come from rocky areas but others do in fact live in/on sand.
My uromastyx is 20 years old. I keep him in sand with lots of rocks. I'm thinking of getting rid of sand altogether after watching this episode. Thanks for the tips! My guy loves dandelions.
The red headed agamas in my yard climbs up the dwarf mulberry to get the berries at the ends of branches- just like that! And they’re small, flexible stems at the end. I was surprised they maneuvered it, being about 14” long.
Hey Dave I just subscribed to your channel. I also just watched the video of the guy who transformed his whole house into a reptile sanctuary. What I got from that video was that the guy was more into constructing and building more so than the ACTUAL animals. Great video though. Added it to my favorites.
Hi , ive had Donnie now for about 17 years so he's about 18/19. His basking side has always been over 120 but the last couple of years he likes it not so hot , but still at 100/110 . He has sandstone in his basking end which makes his hide & a big piece of rock to bask on. He has other hides & wood to climb . But because of the vivariums we have to have here in the UK you can't let them climb too high because of the lights & they can't burrow because there's no room in the bottom so if you can try to get or make a Viv that allows for that behaviour ( always make sure they can't burrow & get squashed by anything ). I do have sand but the main thing is impaction on their stomachs , espesially if the temps are not high enough as they can't digest food . They are super messy , kicking sand on their food or kicking the food about onto the floor then eating it ! So keep their food off of the sand . No water they get that from their food , kale , romaine , spinach , bok choi , peas , beans , fruit & seeds . Donnie only likes what he likes so don't expect them to like everything . Calcium dust is important . Humidity must not be over 40% , over night if it tips over that ok coz down in their burrows in the wild the humidity gets past that . But definitely not over 40% all the time & after a few weeks they will develop respitory problems . Donnie is the ornate of his species' & he is the most gorgeous , sexy & handsome boy . He is super smart , non conformative , brazen , funny , cute & quite honestly he's the love of my life . Always let them come to you , don't just grab them out & try to never turf them out of their hides . Everything is on Donnie's terms & he has a personality & mood swings just like us & I can tell just by looking at him what mood he's in ! If you have to have vet treatment do not let them put anything down their throats as their jaws are super strong & they will chomp down as hard as they can which can result in them breaking off their jaws as the jaws & teeth are cartiledge & all joined together . We had that extremely traumatic experience this year & I don't want anyone else to to have to go through that . They do tend to sleep alot & tuck themselves away in their hides , for the first couple of years all he did was sleep apart from a few hours a day , my mates thought I was lying about him & just had an empty box ! You have to let them be so if our want a really interactive maliable lizard these are not the best . If your happy to let them be & just get loving in as & when they offer it then cool but it is really hard coz they are so cute but I think the only reason Donnie's so tame & confident is because I've let him be in control . Anyone that meets him loves him , if I show people photos they don't think he's real coz he's so amazing . I love him so , so much & has been my rock , we have gone through alot together . They are just not as sociable as some species & can be quite skittish .Hope this has been of help xx
Great video. I have a Mali Uro. She's a runt, but she's grown some. I have her in a 20 gallon long tank, with 100w heat bulb. But I'm thinking it needs to be hotter, and I'm planning on lining her tank with tile.
Nice video Dav. A lot of herpers have no idea how their captive species really live in the wild. Too much sand is bad for their gut. They can't help lapping it up when feeding in sand enclosures. They ingest sand in the wild but not as much as in an all sand enclosure.
I have a yellow Niger uromastyx named Elliott.. i have him on millet(small bird seed) with different size rocks plus excavator clay cave and burrow... the millet holds heat like nothing else i have ever seen. I keep his basking spot at 120°F. His cool side is 98°F. I have found that my uromastyx like red and green lentils. I also feed him a mix of barley and flax seed. He loves Aleo Vera and prickly pear cactus.
I presume the Uromastyx must be a close relative of the Arizona Chuckwalla. The environment in this video is the same as the Sonoran desert in Phoenix where I used to hike and see a lot of Chuckwallas. They look very similar and have the same eating and living habits. The Chuckwallas are wary but will allow you to get close if you are slow and non-threatening. I've sat near them and watched them eat flowers close to the ground.
This was awesome!!! Ive been thinking about getting a pet uromastyks for several years now. But with the challenge of availability and price. I waited. And still am. Now that they are becoming more and more popular, available, and with more affordable prices. I may be able to get one soon. I think uromastyks might make better pets then bearded dragons. Even though I like them both the same. This video was very helpful thanks!!!
Hey Dāv great video and super helpful! I wonder tho, I’m using a 150 w bulb and it only gets to 100 degrees And I haven’t been able to find any bulb that’s hotter. Would you know of any?
I’m planning to get a uromastyx soon, and this helped me plan out the enclosure better. Using a lot of rock, maybe some hard clay that is similar to rock mixed with sand for texture. Super hot basking spot!
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures It really did! Seeing how hard packed the ground is was one reason I decided I should try clay mixed with sand instead of loose sand, since it's hard to make sand pack down like that, mixing in clay seemed to be a better way to simulate the way the ground is there. I might have a bit of loose sand in a corner or box for digging, but I'm getting some nice big rocks to add in to better mimic the natural habitat!
I live in San Antonio and learning as much as I can about Beardies and now Uros before I offer myself to be adopted by one. I grew up in the Florida Keys with wild/tame Igies and King snakes. My questions to you is this: If I use local ground elements (rock/sand/gavel), how would I sanitize/sterilize it? I believe in well ventilated environments, How "clever" are each as far as being escape artists (screen gauge)?
Yikes! Everyone says they like it hot but dang thats smokin hot! So they clim the acacia would that then make them semi arboreal like beardies? I have no plans to get one just curious. Really cool vidoes digging these are we keeping them aegments. So informative and really crucial to keeping the hobby ever changing and as natural as possible
One thing I learned the hard way is that uros- being solitary creatures in the wild- are probably best kept individually, in their own cages. At least don't make the mistake I made of housing an ornate- a rather aggressive type- with a shy, passive Rainbow Benti! Each type of uro, interestingly, seems to have its own personality, and they vary a great deal. I've also read that in any case they should NEVER be housed with bearded dragons, which nearly always carry an organism which will make uros sick and against which they have no natural defense. My breeder, Doug Dix, mentioned that uros live in rocky rather than sandy environments, and recommends a thin dusting of millet seed as a substrate. It's easily cleaned and it's actually nourishing should the uros swallow some. The only drawback is that it tends to harbor moth eggs. You HAVE to freeze the millet thoroughly if you're going to do this. Uros are great pets, and easy to keep. But you have to make sure their UVB needs are met or they'll develop rickets and die. Collard and mustard greens are readily available, inexpensive, and nourishing. Also, they love dandelions! But avoid spinach and other stuff that binds calcium or you're courting rickets problems. They need UVB to process Vitamin D, and they really need that Vitamin D! And of course, adequate temperatures are vital, including a gradient between the basking spot and the rest of the cage. But heat rocks are an absolute no-no since the bellies of uros don't have nerves capable of detecting excess heat and they'll cook themselves alive on them.
when I studied in yeshivah in Jerusalem I once saw a large lizard outside the yeshivah - I am pretty sure it was a uromastyx - it was kind of far away from the second floor so I wasn't sure.
Hey Rattlers! I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below and share your tips for keeping Uromastyx so others can learn from you as well!
We need more videos like this
I'd love to see more like this! How about one of the Indonesian and islands breeds of Blue Tongues since they're still heavily caught?
Maybe iguanas cuz everyone gets one and have no idea what to do
I was deployed to Iraq a few times from 2003-2006 and had the opportunity to observe and catch uromastyx aegyptia microlepis. They are essentially the Egyptian Uro's but bright yellow. Their range covers Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. All the areas that I found them in were sandy deserts. They dig massive burrows in the hard packed sand and if you don't catch them before they run back in their hole you will never get them.
The 110-120 basking spot would be accurate for microlepis as well and they have no problem wandering around in the hottest part of the day and they love it. For breeding I would imagine a month or so with high temps being no more than 80 should be considered. And if anyone knows who can get some microlepis here in the U.S. please let me know.
Gosh that’s even more dry and desolate than I ever knew it was!
Dāv, I can't claim for a second that I'm not jealous of your adventures. Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
Maybe we'll go on one together one day
I'd like that! This was one of the coolest ones yet.
Thanks Clint!
Im subscribed to you both!!! Lol
THEY HAVE MET!? THE WORLD MAY IMPLODE!!!!! SKSKSK I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!!
I loved this episode. Uromastyx are one of my favorite species of lizard. Really cool to see them out in the wild like that. I can't wait to see what else you find while in Isreal. Much love, support, and respect as always. Stay safe and rattle on!
Thanks and Rattle On!
Hello Dav! I love watching this video!
But a side note, I am from Saudi Arabia and we have plenty of Uromastyx ove here! I don't know if they are the same species over in Isreal and Egypt (ornate uromastyx) but over here they live in completely sandy deserts. Not a single rock in site! Just miles and miles of sand, and they make burrows to hide in them. Just wanted to give you some information because not all uromastyx are built the same.
Thanks for the great video again!
I’d love to make it there one day and see them.
How long do they grow in your country?
Thank you for this video! I sometimes have a hard time explaining to people the importance of a hot surface temperature for many species of lizards for basking (monitors, uros, bearded dragons, etc)...they think OMG 120 is way too hot! Yeah...maybe if your ambient or air temperatures were that high, which is what sadly so many people are measuring. Get an IR gun and see what the actual temperature is of the basking spot on the surface, it makes a world of difference. It also starts to illustrate the importance of enclosures with solid lids for many situations.
Uromastyx are my favorite lizards
Hey I’ve got a Moroccan uromastyx we watched this together
Nice!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! i just adopted a uro , i already knew a bunch about them but this extra info helped me a lot !
Glad the vid helped!
As someone looking into getting an ornate uromastyx this video was just incredible! I learned so much about their habitat. Thanks for your awesome work.
Glad it could help!
I think it’s very interesting how people have so many different ideas on something as simple as their diet! Also as a side note people don’t realize there are different species of Uromastyx that have different needs. Love your content!
Agree with this about different subspecies living in different environments. Unfortunately this video seems to have glossed over that a bit, maybe even enough to be misleading.
Thank you for taking the trip out to Israel on behalf of all of us that are keeping Uromastyx as pets here in America.
I am building a large outdoor habitat for Egyptian Uromastyx and the terrain shots and descriptions you have provided are absolutely essential and I very much appreciate you for sharing. Really, this is one of the most informative videos because of the accurate documentation via video. Again, much appreciated
Love this one. You were correct on me loving this one. I'm on point with my uromastyx husbandry. All smiles here
Awesome!
Awesome show, first time watching! I love learning about the natural ecology of reptiles commonly kept in the hobby, this is great to see.
Another awesome video! I'm a snake guy but watch all your videos no matter what they are on. Can't say I do that with anyone else's videos. Keep them coming!
Thanks for being such an awesome fan!
Question...Research...Answer. Great video! That’s how you take care of your animals.
Exactly!
They look like wise old lizards, with tortoise faces. What's the night time temp drop? Loved the segue.
At that time of year the night time temps were in the mid-90s
One of the best reptile videos i have seen! I will now update how I keep my uromastxy
Love this keeping them correctly series
Thanks! There'll be more to come!
This is an amazing video, we need more like these to help educate people on how to better care for their pet reptiles, especially with the rising interest in "Bioactive Vivariums."
Thank you so much for this Dav 😄. I just got an ornate young adult male and have him on a mix of sand with rocks, branches and layered slate basking (around 125) he is going nuts as it's all new but loves his slate/brick 'triplex' and always prefers climbing over burrowing.
I thought he preferred his veggies dryer..this explains it.
Great video brother. Love these little guys. Very cool to see them in the wild. There definitely should be more vids like this. Animals should not have to adapt to captivity, they should be set up as naturally as possible.
Couldn't agree more!
Great video Dave. Would love to see a more detailed view on them by the breeders in the Us and afar. Keep up the good work.
I have that video on my list. Just looking for the right breeder
Im thinking this is something i could add to my collection. And i absolutely adore them.
During the 1st Gulf War, I was near the Saudi City of Rafa. I caught several U. microlepis, I kept them as mascot/pets while there. they were eating wild mustard, seed pods, flowers and stalks.
In captivity, I had Egyptians for a while. I fed them dried split peas, safflower seeds & grape nuts cereal dusted with Repcal. They did well.
Also, I dug a few up with a pick axe. Their burrows reminded me of ground squirrel holes.They would burrow through VERY hard packed dirt down about 24-30" to a rock layer that was almost impenetrable, & 30+ feet long! Emperor scorpions galore...
Their habitat was literally flat hard pan desert without features of any type, like dried mud flats. At least in that area...
You should do a series like this on all the common kept species. It's interesting to see their natural habitat.
That's a lot of what my channel is all about. There's more like this coming up!
I look forward to seeing more. Great channel 👍
Dav, leave it to you to once again post an awesome video. There is so much to be taught when keeping these reptiles and you my friend are an excellent teacher! Rattle on...🤘
Thank you! I really appreciate that! Rattle On!
Awesome video Dave! It would be awesome if someone made a video like this for ball pythons so people could see how they actually live in the wild!
Funny you should mention that :)
Seems like this video should be way longer. Literally traveling the world.
‘This was so badass man ! Good job !!
Awesome vid👍
If you ever have a chance you should do a similar one with Leopard Geckos.
It's on my to go list!
Would love to see that too.
That would be great so many people think these geckos live on sand when they don't
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures then you have to visit pakistan or india. because they live there.
That would be so dope! One of the most commonly domesticated pets seen as they live in the wild? Totally interesting
Really enjoyed seeing how they live in their native habitat, thank you for sharing this Dāv! Greetings from Blu's Zoo!
The best pet lizard I ever had was a Chuckwalla. Or equivalent of a Uromasrix. Big desert lizards have to be smart to survive where the predators crave a big juicy meal..especially one with cool blood to slack their thirst.
Great Vid! I've been toying with getting a uro (only snakes so far) and this type of research is priceless! So from one Dav(e) K. to another, thanks!
Lol. Glad it helped
Israel is so gorgeous, and so is the Uro. Amazing lizard.
I just started breeding uromastyx geyri.
Your great validation made me realize a mistake in my setup.
I really appreciate it!
Thank you for making this video!! It really helps seeing where these amazing creatures live naturally!! They are my favorite reptile and I feel is my spirit animal.
Foods I supply them dandelion greens and flowers mustard greens collared greens occasional strawberry another thing I do is I place paper towels in a clear plastic container lar lentils black beans and chick peas on the moistened paper towels then leave in a sunny window til they sprout then feed the sprouts to them
Good idea!
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures get some chrystalised bee pollen in a huge sugar shaker lifted from Starbucks. Give a few granules a week they recognise the sound and will come running for it
This is an excellent video, thank you so much for this information. 🤩
i love these type of videos. thanks!
I know this is a very old video but I just wanted to say, I’ve been to Israel many times and it’s one of my favorite places on the planet. I’d love to go back someday. I miss the food, the people and just everything tbh.
I think Uromastyx are at the top of my wish list for when i move house and can keep pets again. I plan to purchase a pretty large vivarium (say 5' or 6' long x 2' deep x 3 or 4'' high). I think I'm gonna go bioactive with some hardy plants. As for the heating and lighting i'm going use a Zoo med Powersun mercury vapour bulb. (It should be noted that you can't use thermostats with these type of bulbs and in order to so get the temperatures right you simply lower or raise the bulb (Hence the reason i'm thinking of a tall vivarium. At night time a ceramic bulb and dimming thermostat should suffice.
Cool upload man, very informative as per usual. Keep up the good work!!!
I really enjoy this type of vid Dav it is great to see the environmental conditions that the animals are living in.
Thank you! I have a lot more like this coming up!
Thanks for this! Subscribed!
Thanks for a great video Dav. It should really help those who are keeping these creatures.
This video is amazing! Thank you! I have an egyptian uro and this is super helpful.
Nice video Reptiles 🦎.
GREAT video!
Uro substrate = rocks, tile, and slate.
This was so interesting, i need to see one in person now
Hi Dav, I love your vids and I could watch it every day!!! PS- Could you post a video about garter snakes or rainbow boas maybe you know someone with a big collection of these amazing snakes? Have a nice day!! ✌️🇳🇱.
Great video and no better way then to show them in their natural environment. Good one and what a wonderful place to visit as well.
Thanks! It's an amazing place. What until you see what else I found out there!
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures Look forward to it thank you.
Another awesome video.
Yea a desert is mainly like a dry place thats why antartica has a desert and shows they come in many forms not just sand like most people think of and your totally right
I can’t believe you don’t have way more subscribers your videos are fun to watch and educational I’ve been trying to find a video of a wild leopard geckos can’t find any to see there natural environment just like this video awesome
I was thinking the same thing actually lol. My focus is on content over subs though. Wild leos are on my to do list, and I'll make it over there soon.
Dāv Kaufman's Reptile Adventures thanks for responding it means a lot to me first saw you in videos with Miguel and kusko jay brian a lot of other people I admire too hopefully I’ll meet you in person someday have a good day
Awesome video Dāv! Very helpful video! And definitely a great example on a desert, yet not “sand” from what most people think.
Oh & I have 2 ceramic bulbs , one in basking end to keep temp up & humidity down & one in the cooler end . So one end is 100w spot light plus ceramic , cool end is just a 60w ceramic . Then you have the uvb ( try & change every 6 months ) . At night it's supposed to be I think 60-70 but Donnie's about 80-90 because you have to have the temp up a little to reduce the humidity here in the UK . Over night it's just the ceramics on & Donnie always chooses to sleep down the hot end but provide hides at both so yours can choose as they will all have their own preferences . I always have his lights on with the seasons & have his lights come on & off the same time as sunrise & sunset obviously changing to shorter hours in winter . I have heard about not feeding them in winter as they hybernate , again with Donnie if he's up I provide food . Every year Donnie's preferences change , whether it's what food he likes to activity or how long he sleeps . Some winters he's not got up at all , some winters he's been active . Some summers he's really crazy some summers he sleeps alot . As I've said I roll with him & even at the age he is the vet said he's in the condition of a lizard half his age so I must be doing something right . When Donnie is up for it you can get loads of cuddles & kisses in but if he's not in the mood , don't even look at him ! He definitely does things he knows he shouldn't & will look at you when he's being naughty as if to say " yeah what are you going to do about it ??" . He really is the best . Xx
A couple months ago I switched one of my two uros from fine pet store sand to Menards play sand after sifting, washing an baking the latter. Your video suggests I could skip the sifting stage when I make the same switch for my other uro. Thanks for the insight. Really appreciate the practical info for herp keeping that you provide.
Glad it helped! Small pebbles that can't be ingested and larger secure rocks are the way to go to provide good basking spots, and hiding spots as well.
This is so cool! Great way to help people best replicate their environment.
Very informative to get a glimpse of their natural environment. Would you have made any temperature measurements at night? My experience with deserts (Egypt, South Africa, Arizona and New Mexico) is that people also underestimate how cold it actually gets.
I love these types of videos Dav. After you went to New Caledonia I bought some Crested and a gargoyle gecko. They are in my tarantula room. Low of 75 degrees. High is 80 and it's humid in there. They are all doing well.
That's great!
JUST a four hr drive? That would get me almost from Top to bottom of my Country!
Awesome and informative video, thank you for sharing, I hope someday you can put a trilogy of care videos based on your assessment in their natural habitat!
TY for traveling and teaching how to replicate natural conditions for optimum lizard evironments. They remind me of the chuckwalla in my 8th grade science class " Chucky ". As always the backround music and production values are top notch. Happy Thanksherpergiving to you and your loved ones.
Thanks Karen! Happy Thanksherpergiving to you and yours as well!
I gotta say Dav, go visit the U. a. microlepis out in the Arabian peninsula. The ones I was finding in Kuwait and Iraq were 100% digging their burrows in sand. Not all uros have the exact same habitat. Yes, many come from rocky areas but others do in fact live in/on sand.
My uromastyx is 20 years old. I keep him in sand with lots of rocks. I'm thinking of getting rid of sand altogether after watching this episode. Thanks for the tips! My guy loves dandelions.
Great, great video!!!
The red headed agamas in my yard climbs up the dwarf mulberry to get the berries at the ends of branches- just like that! And they’re small, flexible stems at the end. I was surprised they maneuvered it, being about 14” long.
Very very very helpful. Thank you！！！！！
Hey Dave I just subscribed to your channel. I also just watched the video of the guy who transformed his whole house into a reptile sanctuary. What I got from that video was that the guy was more into constructing and building more so than the ACTUAL animals. Great video though. Added it to my favorites.
awesome video, really interesting!
Fascinating. Did ya go down to the water on the beach?????? What ya have for lunch??
So cool!!! 😍😍👊❤💯
Hi , ive had Donnie now for about 17 years so he's about 18/19. His basking side has always been over 120 but the last couple of years he likes it not so hot , but still at 100/110 . He has sandstone in his basking end which makes his hide & a big piece of rock to bask on. He has other hides & wood to climb . But because of the vivariums we have to have here in the UK you can't let them climb too high because of the lights & they can't burrow because there's no room in the bottom so if you can try to get or make a Viv that allows for that behaviour ( always make sure they can't burrow & get squashed by anything ). I do have sand but the main thing is impaction on their stomachs , espesially if the temps are not high enough as they can't digest food . They are super messy , kicking sand on their food or kicking the food about onto the floor then eating it ! So keep their food off of the sand . No water they get that from their food , kale , romaine , spinach , bok choi , peas , beans , fruit & seeds . Donnie only likes what he likes so don't expect them to like everything . Calcium dust is important . Humidity must not be over 40% , over night if it tips over that ok coz down in their burrows in the wild the humidity gets past that . But definitely not over 40% all the time & after a few weeks they will develop respitory problems . Donnie is the ornate of his species' & he is the most gorgeous , sexy & handsome boy . He is super smart , non conformative , brazen , funny , cute & quite honestly he's the love of my life . Always let them come to you , don't just grab them out & try to never turf them out of their hides . Everything is on Donnie's terms & he has a personality & mood swings just like us & I can tell just by looking at him what mood he's in ! If you have to have vet treatment do not let them put anything down their throats as their jaws are super strong & they will chomp down as hard as they can which can result in them breaking off their jaws as the jaws & teeth are cartiledge & all joined together . We had that extremely traumatic experience this year & I don't want anyone else to to have to go through that . They do tend to sleep alot & tuck themselves away in their hides , for the first couple of years all he did was sleep apart from a few hours a day , my mates thought I was lying about him & just had an empty box ! You have to let them be so if our want a really interactive maliable lizard these are not the best . If your happy to let them be & just get loving in as & when they offer it then cool but it is really hard coz they are so cute but I think the only reason Donnie's so tame & confident is because I've let him be in control . Anyone that meets him loves him , if I show people photos they don't think he's real coz he's so amazing . I love him so , so much & has been my rock , we have gone through alot together . They are just not as sociable as some species & can be quite skittish .Hope this has been of help xx
Glad to see that I’m doing something right!
Great video. I have a Mali Uro. She's a runt, but she's grown some. I have her in a 20 gallon long tank, with 100w heat bulb. But I'm thinking it needs to be hotter, and I'm planning on lining her tank with tile.
Nice video Dav. A lot of herpers have no idea how their captive species really live in the wild. Too much sand is bad for their gut. They can't help lapping it up when feeding in sand enclosures. They ingest sand in the wild but not as much as in an all sand enclosure.
That's true. I cringe when I see uros kept on sand.
I have a yellow Niger uromastyx named Elliott.. i have him on millet(small bird seed) with different size rocks plus excavator clay cave and burrow... the millet holds heat like nothing else i have ever seen. I keep his basking spot at 120°F. His cool side is 98°F. I have found that my uromastyx like red and green lentils. I also feed him a mix of barley and flax seed. He loves Aleo Vera and prickly pear cactus.
great idea going to their actual habitat! great video!
Thanks!
I presume the Uromastyx must be a close relative of the Arizona Chuckwalla. The environment in this video is the same as the Sonoran desert in Phoenix where I used to hike and see a lot of Chuckwallas. They look very similar and have the same eating and living habits. The Chuckwallas are wary but will allow you to get close if you are slow and non-threatening. I've sat near them and watched them eat flowers close to the ground.
Very similar actually but they are not relatives at all
Thank you sir!!!
Time to get my uro some more rocks :)
This was awesome!!! Ive been thinking about getting a pet uromastyks for several years now. But with the challenge of availability and price. I waited. And still am. Now that they are becoming more and more popular, available, and with more affordable prices. I may be able to get one soon. I think uromastyks might make better pets then bearded dragons. Even though I like them both the same. This video was very helpful thanks!!!
Glad it could help!
Nice one. Thanks.x
So smart!!!
Thanks for this video 👏🏼👏🏼
Hey Dāv great video and super helpful! I wonder tho, I’m using a 150 w bulb and it only gets to 100 degrees And I haven’t been able to find any bulb that’s hotter. Would you know of any?
I looooovvveeee animals so much:)
Awesome video. We just picked up 4 dispar dispars four months ago. Absolutely love them.
Nice!
This dude is my hero lol
Well done as always!
Thanks!
I’m planning to get a uromastyx soon, and this helped me plan out the enclosure better. Using a lot of rock, maybe some hard clay that is similar to rock mixed with sand for texture. Super hot basking spot!
Glad the video helped!
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures It really did! Seeing how hard packed the ground is was one reason I decided I should try clay mixed with sand instead of loose sand, since it's hard to make sand pack down like that, mixing in clay seemed to be a better way to simulate the way the ground is there. I might have a bit of loose sand in a corner or box for digging, but I'm getting some nice big rocks to add in to better mimic the natural habitat!
I live in San Antonio and learning as much as I can about Beardies and now Uros before I offer myself to be adopted by one. I grew up in the Florida Keys with wild/tame Igies and King snakes. My questions to you is this: If I use local ground elements (rock/sand/gavel), how would I sanitize/sterilize it? I believe in well ventilated environments, How "clever" are each as far as being escape artists (screen gauge)?
It amazes me that you go to these places. Fucking Amazing. Nice video
great video
Yikes! Everyone says they like it hot but dang thats smokin hot! So they clim the acacia would that then make them semi arboreal like beardies? I have no plans to get one just curious. Really cool vidoes digging these are we keeping them aegments. So informative and really crucial to keeping the hobby ever changing and as natural as possible
this music is great! hahaha
Just finished the whole video i love the lil music
Thanks!
I'm keeping mine right. ;)
Do a standing day Gecko... I’m very curious about their winter time behaviors. I own a few.
One thing I learned the hard way is that uros- being solitary creatures in the wild- are probably best kept individually, in their own cages. At least don't make the mistake I made of housing an ornate- a rather aggressive type- with a shy, passive Rainbow Benti! Each type of uro, interestingly, seems to have its own personality, and they vary a great deal.
I've also read that in any case they should NEVER be housed with bearded dragons, which nearly always carry an organism which will make uros sick and against which they have no natural defense.
My breeder, Doug Dix, mentioned that uros live in rocky rather than sandy environments, and recommends a thin dusting of millet seed as a substrate. It's easily cleaned and it's actually nourishing should the uros swallow some. The only drawback is that it tends to harbor moth eggs. You HAVE to freeze the millet thoroughly if you're going to do this.
Uros are great pets, and easy to keep. But you have to make sure their UVB needs are met or they'll develop rickets and die. Collard and mustard greens are readily available, inexpensive, and nourishing. Also, they love dandelions! But avoid spinach and other stuff that binds calcium or you're courting rickets problems. They need UVB to process Vitamin D, and they really need that Vitamin D!
And of course, adequate temperatures are vital, including a gradient between the basking spot and the rest of the cage. But heat rocks are an absolute no-no since the bellies of uros don't have nerves capable of detecting excess heat and they'll cook themselves alive on them.
when I studied in yeshivah in Jerusalem I once saw a large lizard outside the yeshivah - I am pretty sure it was a uromastyx - it was kind of far away from the second floor so I wasn't sure.