ReptiHabitat
desert

Uromastyx

North African spiny-tails run the hobby's hottest basking zones and lowest humidity — desert specialists in every sense.

Core Biological & Field Specifications
Basking surface
45–48°C (113–118°F)
Cool side
24–28°C
UVB
Zone 3–4: strong
Humidity
15–25%
Enclosure min
4×2×2 ft
Diet
herbivore — greens, seeds, lentils

Profile & Natural History

Uromastyx break every "reptiles like it warm" ceiling: their basking surfaces run 45–48°C, and they sleep buried in dry substrate. The classic error is keeping them like bearded dragons — too cool, too humid, too much protein. They are long-lived (20+ years), heat-loving vegetarians that burrow; deep substrate and a proper heat gradient are the entire hobby.

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