Food & Diet

Uromastyx are omnivores meaning that they will eat both plant and animal matter. Although they are omnivores, uromastyx are not able to process large amounts of animal protein.

Excessive amounts of animal protein in a mali uromastyx’s diet can lead to kidney failure and death. You should treat your pet as a herbivore and feed him mostly greens, fruits, and vegetables.

Food
Fresh greens and vegetables should be the primary diet of a pet mali uromastyx. Mustard greens, dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce, collard greens, and kale are good greens for your pet that are readily available at grocery stores.

Vegetables for a healthy diet can include shredded carrots, squash, zucchini, bell peppers, and peas. Make sure that the greens and vegetables are chopped finely enough so that your pet can easily eat them.

Frozen vegetables can be used occasionally. A mixture of peas, beans, and carrots make a quick meal in an emergency, but should not be the primary diet. Make sure the vegetables are completely thawed and at room temperature before feeding them to your pet.

Seeds
Uromastyx enjoy seeds and they are a good source of protein for your pet. You can sprinkle seeds into his food or keep a separate bowl in his cage with seeds. Commercial birdseed, like millet and safflower, are an inexpensive source of seeds.

Water
Your uromastyx will not need a water bowl in his cage. He will get all the water required from his food. A water bowl is also not recommended due to the possibility of it raising the humidity of your pet’s home to a level that is not optimal for his health. You can lightly mist his food with water using a spray bottle to ensure your reptile gets all the water needed.

Treats
Many fruits make excellent treats for your pet, but citrus fruits should be avoided. Some good fruits include strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, pears, peaches, grapes, apples, and raisins. Make sure the pieces of fruit are small enough so that your uromastyx can easily eat them.

Insects
Uromastyx absolutely love insects like mealworms and crickets. Unfortunately, animal matter in large amounts is not good for them. Insects can be given as treats, but only very sparingly. They are an unhealthy junk food to your pet.

Supplements
Your uromastyx will need supplements to ensure he gets enough vitamins, minerals, and calcium. A calcium with vitamin D3 supplement should be added to your pet’s food a few times per week. A reptile multi-vitamin can be added to his food weekly.

The supplements usually come in a powder that can be easily sprinkled onto the food. You should only lightly sprinkle the supplements onto the food. Too much of a good thing can be just as bad as none at all.