Uromastyx are almost exclusively herbivores, and it is not necessary to feed them any insects or meat. Their vegetarian diet consists of leaves, flowers, legumes, grains, herbs and vegetables of all kinds.
Pet uromastyx do not need much water because they absorb it directly from the veggies in their diet, so you do not need to provide a bowl with fresh water every day.
Food for Uromastyx
Because uromastyx lizads have a very similar diet to that of green iguanas, you may be able to find some commercial reptile food in the form of dry pellets (make sure that these are 100% vegetarian!). Only feed iguana food to your uromastyx as a complementary serving to freshly sourced greens, as well as the occasional fruits and seeds.
| Dark leafy greens | Feed every day in large amounts |
| Vegetables | Feed every day in smaller amounts |
| Fruits | No more than 10% of diet |
| Grains and seeds | Feed two-four times a week as a supplement to greens and veggies |
Greens & Vegetables
The vast majority of your uromastyx’s diet should consist of greens, leaves, flowers and vegetables. Staples in their diet should be dark leafy greens such as collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, chard, parsley and bok choy.
A variety of vegetables can also be offered in moderation, such as carrots, squash, bell peppers and peas. Flowers such as chamomile, dandelions, lavender, hibiscus, marigold and rose petals can also be fed safely.
Greens to avoid: Spinach, because they contain too high amounts of oxalates which can cause health problems in large quantities, and foods that are nutritionally poor such as iceberg lettuce or cucumbers.
Fruits
Uromastyx can safely consume most fruits but these should be fed in moderation due to their high sugar content which may lead to obesity. Uromastyx are especially fond of berries such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Fruits to avoid: Avocado, because it contains potentially toxic substances which are known to be harmful and potential fatal to reptiles.
Grains and seeds
Grains and seeds should only be fed occasionally. Uromastyx generally prefer smaller seeds such as millet and lentils, either dry or sprouted. These should be offered as an additional treat and cannot replace a full meal.
Insects
Uromastyx are strictly herbivorous and should not be fed insects. That said, they do occasionally ingest insects and small lizards by accident in the wild. Some species that live in dry, hot desert areas have also been observed feeding on insects when there is no vegetation available. That said, you should never feed insects or meat to your pet uromastyx.
Supplements
Calcium and D3 supplements are especially important for uromastyx as they are unlikely to meet their intake requirements from diet alone. You can achieve this by dusting their food in powdered calcium supplements 2-3 times a week.
Uromastyx Foods List
| Greens and Flowers | Vegetables and Herbs | Legumes and Grains | Fruits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicory Dandelion Clover Borage Radicchio Romaine lettuce Valerian Alfalfa Pansies Hibiscus Chamomile Squash blossoms Roses Chamomile | Carrots Pumpkin Zucchini Prickly pear shovels Bell peppers Celery Mallow Rosemary Sage Thyme Oregano Lavender | Peas Chickpeas Beans Lentils Green beans Rice Quinoa Flax Millet Barley Buckwheat | Apples Cantaloupe Mango Papaya Blackberries Blueberries Cherries Cranberries Guava Pears Peaches Plums Raspberries Strawberries |
PetsWithScales.com is an informational website about big lizard pet care. We collect and provide information from different sources across the web on how to keep and care for reptiles as pets. The species we mainly deal with are tegus, monitor lizards, skinks and geckos. Our aim is to provide high quality information to help pet owners make better, more informed decisions about their animal’s diets, health and life.
