Ocellated Spiny-tailed Lizard — Fact Sheet

Uromastyx ocellata · Ocellated Spiny-tailed Lizard

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• House one adult alone.
• Minimum adult enclosure: 120 x 60 x 60 cm; more length improves the heat gradient.
• Dry, highly ventilated desert setup with secure front doors and cable exits.
• Quarantine on a monitorable surface before moving to deep substrate.

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Broad stone or slate basking platform, fixed securely before substrate is added.
• Several body-tight hides and rock-like cracks on warm and cool sides.
• 15-20 cm compactable sand/soil/clay mix after quarantine.
• Feed from a dish or flat stone to reduce salad dragging through substrate.

💡 Lighting

• Strong linear T5 UVB over the warm half.
• Ferguson Zone 3; target measured UVI about 4.5-6 at the basking back.
• Bright daylight LED helps normal desert activity.
• Photoperiod: about 12 h active season, reduced only for planned winter cycling.
• No visible night light.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking surface: 45-55 °C

• Warm zone: 28-35 °C

• Cool zone: 24-29 °C

• Night: 18-22 °C

• Measure basking surfaces with an infrared thermometer.

• Use overhead halogen heat on a thermostat or dimming control.

• Winter cooling to about 14-16°C nights is only for established healthy adults.

💧 Humidity & water

• Ambient humidity: 20-40%.
• Keep the surface dry; maintain only a slightly more humid deep refuge.
• Provide a small clean water bowl, especially for juveniles and new arrivals.
• Avoid cool damp air, wet sand, and routine enclosure spraying.

🪳 Feeding

Feed regularly:

• Dandelion, plantain, sow thistle, endive, escarole, chicory, safe weeds, flowers, and high-calcium greens

Use in moderation:

• Squash, green beans, grated carrot, soaked quality herbivore pellets, and small safe seeds

Avoid:

• Routine insects, rodents, eggs, dog/cat food, fruit-heavy diets, and sprayed plants

Supplements:

• Plain calcium 1-2 times weekly; multivitamin according to measured UVB and product label

💤 Seasonal rhythm

• Keep juveniles, thin animals, sick animals, and new imports warm and active.
• Cool only robust adults after appetite, weight, hydration, and fecal status are stable.
• Reduce light and night temperature gradually; restart gradually.

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Soft jaw, tremors, or swollen joints → UVB/calcium problem
• Sunken body, yellow urates, or retained shed → dehydration or poor retreat humidity
• Wheezing or nasal discharge → cool damp housing or respiratory disease
• Weight loss despite feeding → parasites, import stress, or chronic disease
• Straining or restlessness in a female → possible egg-binding

Persistent or severe signs require a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian.