Uromastyx Vivarium

[Mist Bringer]

Hopefully this is the right area for this, but I'm working on plans for a Uromastyx Vivarium that will be large enough for my Uro, Styx, since he has been living in one that really is too small for him for quite some time now and I want him to be healthy and happy.

Styx is about ten and a half inches long (mind you that’s rough since I just measured him from the other side of the glass, perspective and all, I'll get a better measurement the next time I soak him) so I was thinking his habitat should be 42" X 24", though I'm not sure about height I've heard a maximum should be 24". Height is my largest restraint in dimensions right now, due to the fact the only place I can conceivably put this new habitat is in part of my room, and 43" off the ground is the bottom of a light switch that I rather need to not get covered.

Other than that, my current set of questions involves the internal bits of the habitat, specifically I've heard of a method for making false rocks that I know I can do easily (and really would like to do) but I have some safety concerns. Now the last time I heard about this, supposedly a Uro breeder was doing it and everything was going fine, I just didn't hear much by the way of construction details.

The idea is to take Styrofoam and shape it into rock-like shapes (which allows for custom building of hides as well as basking areas) using a Styrofoam cutter...this I know I can do, I've used similar methods for building model terrain before. Then you coat the Styrofoam with cement, which makes the structure a stable rock basically, my questions is what kind of cement should be used?

I'm worried about how rough some cement is, I don't want it to scratch Styx, and possible chemical issues, so any help with this would be appreciated.

The other issue I'm a bit worried about is how hot are these going to get, I know that adult Uro's are fine with basking temps of 120-130 degrees but is the cement likely to A) Get too hot and B) Insulate the styrofoam enough that it doesn't melt?

As for how to apply the cement, I think you basically mix it, wait for it to thicken some and then apply it with something along the lines of a putty knife.

Also I'm curious as to how large the average hide should be for these guys, does anyone have some general guidelines? Right now his hide is a large, upside down, dog-food bowl that I've cut a hole in the side of (sanded smooth) that he can curl up in, though he does have to curl a little, or stick his head/tail out of the hole.

Those are my main concerns as of now; I will surely have more questions in the near future.

The general idea that I have going so far is to do a group of hides on the cool end of the habitat, with a stretch of sandy area in the middle, and a multi-level basking area on the hot end so he can choose where he wants to perch, and so the different spots have slightly different temperatures.

I'm hoping that I can make this large enough that one day I can maybe get a pair of Uros, but for now I just want to make sure that Styx gets a good home.

Any help or ideas will be appreciated!

[tikichick]

Uro's are burrowers, so tank height is not so important. Hide size should be big enough for him to turn around in. If you're doing more than one hide, make one large enough for two beardies to be in and you'll be set for additions. Two single sized and one double would be ideal if you plan to get another uro.

Will you be using washed play sand for substrate? If so, you can also add pvc pipes for tunnels underneath.

Here's a link to some cool photos by a uro keeper who used styrofoam:
ImageShack® - eric35's Profile Page

I can't find the link, but I've also seen black folding/accordion pipe used and would be my personal choice for tunnels since you can easily make curves. Also they come in large sizes at the hardware store.

[Mist Bringer]

What is it that he used over the top of the styrofoam though, looks like cement, its the cement that I'm worried about, what kind I should get.

I'll keep sizes in mind for the Hides when I make the layout.
I'd be using washed playsand yes, though I'll probably put the rocks that are in his habitat now in with the sand so it seems a little more familier, I'll be sure that they stay attached to the bottom.

I hear that they are burrowers a lot, should I keep a certain depth of sand in the habitat so he can dig more? Right now on average its probably an inch and three quarters deep.

I'm thinking that I may keep the actual structure all glass, like the one he's in now (old fish tank), is there benefit to using wood and glass structures?

[tikichick]

I don't know about a few of your questions, but there have been many posts lately here on backgrounds that may have the answer.

I can answer your question on sand depth - I keep mine about 3 inches deep in spots, going down to 1 inch in other spots. Mostly he likes to dig inside his hide each night to make a spot to sleep. The rest of the time, mine is usually basking and looking cute

[Rainfrog]

Wood holds heat better. than glass.