Ornate Spiny-tailed Lizard — Fact Sheet

Uromastyx ornata · Ornate Spiny-tailed Lizard · Bunte Dornschwanzagame

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• One adult: minimum 120 x 60 x 60 cm; 150 cm length preferred
• House singly; social pressure may be subtle before injury appears
• 15-20 cm compactable sandy soil: about 50% fine sand, 30% pesticide-free soil, 20% clay
• Place heavy rocks on the solid base before substrate
• Avoid calcium sand, walnut shell, wood chips, dust, loose gravel, and adhesive surfaces

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Broad body-sized basking platform and lower cooler ledges
• Several tight rock-like crevices at different temperatures
• Low climbing routes, visual barriers, and one protected slightly moist deep refuge
• Stable shallow water bowl and clean feeding slab or dish

💡 Lighting

• Strong linear T5 UVB is essential; target measured UVI 4.5-6 at the basking back
• Bright white daylight across most of the enclosure
• UVB and heat overlap on the warm side; preserve shade and dark cracks
• Replace lamps from measurements or manufacturer schedule
• Photoperiod: about 12 h active season; reduce gradually toward 10 h only for planned cycling

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 48-55°C

• Warm zone: 30-35°C

• Cool zone: 24-29°C

• Night: 18-24°C

• Use several halogen floods for a broad heat patch

• Measure surfaces by infrared thermometer and air/hides by digital probes

• Avoid heat rocks, unregulated mats, and direct sun through glass

💧 Humidity & water

• General humidity: 20-35%; dry, well-ventilated surface
• Keep only a selected deep refuge slightly moist; do not wet the whole enclosure
• Small clean water bowl always available; change when soiled
• No routine soaking; investigate dehydration through diet, setup, and veterinary assessment

🥬 Diet

Feed regularly:

• Dandelion, plantain, sow thistle, endive, chicory, turnip or mustard greens, mulberry, hibiscus, safe clover and flowers

In moderation:

• Squash, green beans, carrot, soaked herbivore pellets, lentils and small seeds

Avoid:

• Routine insects or other animal protein, dog/cat food, frequent fruit, and pesticide-treated plants

Supplements:

• Plain calcium lightly 1-2x/week; multivitamin by label and measured UVB; do not stack fortified products

💤 Brumation

• Optional, mainly for healthy established breeding adults
• Never cool juveniles, thin, ill, dehydrated, new, or parasite-positive animals
• Reduce daylight and food gradually; night may approach 14-18°C while daytime basking remains available
• Track weight and condition; stop and consult a reptile veterinarian if either declines

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Soft jaw, tremors or weak limbs → possible UVB/calcium disorder
• Skin retained on toes or tail → dehydration or poor refuge gradient
• Nasal discharge or abnormal breathing → cold, damp conditions or respiratory disease
• Weight loss, diarrhea or poor condition after import → possible parasites or systemic illness
• Repeated digging, straining or weakness in a female → possible retained eggs

Consult a reptile-experienced veterinarian for severe weakness, swelling, breathing signs, burns, persistent weight loss, or reproductive straining.