Calcifer the Uro - Happy colors!

[Claudiusx]

I have half a mind to take out the cave and just put in a log for her to bask on, but that seems like child abuse!

-Brandon

 

[MissT]

I have half a mind to take out the cave and just put in a log for her to bask on, but that seems like child abuse!

-Brandon

Oh that would be a horrible thing to do!

 

[Claudiusx]

Not to hijack Calcifers thread but, Kiki is getting lonely, and a bit jealous no one has posted on hers yet!

-Brandon

 

[MissT]

I did!!!! I was just slow because I was eating my food!

 

[reptilegyrl]

Wait...u just hijacked ur own thread? Lol :mrgreen:

 

[Claudiusx]

Avast! ........ Aye.

-Brandon

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Brandon! I'm gonna contact deerfernfarms today and see if I can reserve a red saharran/niger baby. (I know they the same thing lol just different names, I tend to use the Niger name more though) Steph loves Calcifer's colors and has been wanting to get a Uro baby for a while now. So... maybe we can get one reserved for us!

 

[Claudiusx]

That would be awesome!!!

Let me know how it all goes.

-Brandon

 

[TASTIGER]

Brandon! I'm gonna contact deerfernfarms today and see if I can reserve a red saharran/niger baby. (I know they the same thing lol just different names, I tend to use the Niger name more though) Steph loves Calcifer's colors and has been wanting to get a Uro baby for a while now. So... maybe we can get one reserved for us!

they have great babies really social too hes always at the reptile expos here in washington. i put my hand in the cage that he had the babies in and they all crawled onto my hand.

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Hey Brandon,
Can you give me a rundown of your setup for Calcifer? I read the caresheet I just wanna see how you got yours set up as well. Pics would be cool too. I've got an idea rolling around in my head and your setup may help decide me. Thanks!

~Jonathan

 

[Claudiusx]

Hey Brandon,
Can you give me a rundown of your setup for Calcifer? I read the caresheet I just wanna see how you got yours set up as well. Pics would be cool too. I've got an idea rolling around in my head and your setup may help decide me. Thanks!

~Jonathan

Her set up is pretty plain and simple. For the longest time she only had a cave/hide on the hot side, but now she has one on her cool side too. Uros like a low ceiling hide, they feel more safe being able to feel their back up against the ceiling in their hide, so don't get a tall one.

For substrate I have always used bird seed. Its suitable for a quick snack too ( I always see calcifer eating it) If I wasn't housing on bird seed I would still give a bowl of seed for her to eat as she pleased.

They of course NEED a uvb bulb. I have used a Reptisun for Calcifer for a long time, but I am going to actually go with the Powersun like Michael uses, as it gives off more uvb and I think that is what Calcifer needs more of to be honest. Reptisuns are great for Beardies, but IMO not strong enough for Uros.

Her basking spot is the top of her cave, and the temp is usually around the 130 range. She seems to like it best at this temp, and it keeps her hide warm enough since the basking area is right above her.

She gets a fresh bowl of salad every day, and usually snacks on some seeds later on in the day after she has ate her salad.

She never gets baths or gets fed insects.

Hmm thats all I can think of for now, if you have any other specific questions feel free to ask :mrgreen:

-Brandon

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Hmm ok, so you didn't add that burrow type hide that deerfernfarms has on their care sheet? I wasn't sure if anyone used one of those or not.

I'm thinking about building in a basking ledge and having caves under that. I was going to build a boxed off area that the uro got to from the ground level via a tube and had a soil substrate for like a nice nesty hidey hole. I don't know if I wanna do that or not though. And I do plan on using bird seed. My question is, which birdseed would be best. I know alot of them produce alot of dust. I want to try and avoid that if possible.

 

[Claudiusx]

Oh I did see that on Deerfern farms. It looked really cool but I don't have the space to do something like that.

As long as you go high grade bird seed you should have minimal dust.

-Brandon

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Do you think the uro would use "caves" if they were built out of the melamine? Or should I go ahead and do the rock caves you think?


I'm going to build a 4x2x2 probably and will have a basking ledge at about 13" on the inside so the uro can get close to the UV and get's a nice warm basking spot too. If I can go ahead and build "box caves", that will be easier and help support the basking ledge as well. I may have to put a false ceiling in the caves though... maybe just stick to the rock caves now that I'm thinking on the height...

 

[AllanonsWrath]

So Ima post Doug's response here if you dont mind Brandon....

Very few if any. I don't bred those any longer - too problematic. If you like that look you might want to consider Moroccans instead. They also come in both red and yellow phases plus a mix of the two colors (more like a rainbow than just the red or yellow of Saharans). Also both sexes color up while in Saharans with rare exception, only the males get the bright colors. But their main advantage is that they are much hardier relative to Saharans. They grow at a better rate, live longer, and generally just do better overall health wise. They are similar in length to Saharans (to maybe a little longer) but are blockier bodied with generally wider beefier tails. They tend to be shier as hatchlings but most settle in well and tame as they mature. They are tan as juvies with the adult colors beginning to show up at 2 years of age and getting better each year after that. You can see photos on my website to get a better feel for them .

I have hatchlings for $185 each and a few 2 year olds for $225. Shipping is $39 for FedEx Overnight.

Let me know if I can help you,

Thanks,

Doug

Looks like we may get a Moroccan instead, I will need to ask the wife first.