Bent's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx benti)

Short answers

Bent's spiny-tailed lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150 × 80 × 80 cm for a single animal, at least 200 × 100 × 80 cm for a pair.

Bent's spiny-tailed lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 30–35 °C (warm zone), cool side ~28 °C, basking spot 45–55 °C (basking spot), at night 20–25 °C.

Bent's spiny-tailed lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (desert-grade UVB, UV index 4–6).

Bent's spiny-tailed lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years, individual animals longer.

Bent's spiny-tailed lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

30–35 °C (warm zone), cool side ~28 °C

Night temperature

20–25 °C

Basking spot

45–55 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

30–40 %

UVB

Essential (desert-grade UVB, UV index 4–6)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150 × 80 × 80 cm for a single animal, at least 200 × 100 × 80 cm for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, at least 20 cm for digging

Feeding

Food

Mostly herbivorous: herbs, flowers, grasses, seeds; rarely insects

Feeding interval

Fresh plant food daily, adults fed to satiety

Key facts

Adult size

30–35 cm total length

Life expectancy

20–30 years, individual animals longer

Origin

Southern and southeastern Arabian Peninsula: Yemen (Hadramaut) and southwest Oman, rocky arid areas around 800–1000 m

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B, registration required

Brumation

A cooler, dry rest period of ~6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

A pair or harem; the males are territorial (never two males). The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

It needs extreme warmth, strong desert UVB and a purely plant-based diet. Cool or humid conditions lead to digestive and respiratory problems.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) – Intermediate to expert
• Indian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx hardwickii) – Intermediate
• Iraqi spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx loricata) – Intermediate
• Yemeni spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx shobraki) – Intermediate
• Macfadyen's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx macfadyeni) – Intermediate
• Mali spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx dispar maliensis) – Intermediate
• Moroccan spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx acanthinura) – Intermediate
• Geyr's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx geyri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Bent's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx benti) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150 × 80 × 80 cm for a single animal, at least 200 × 100 × 80 cm for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix, at least 20 cm for digging), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.