Philby's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx philbyi)

Short answers

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

120×60×60 cm (one adult animal), with rock structures.

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

Daytime 28–35 °C (cool zone 26–30 °C), basking spot 45–55 °C (surface temperature at the basking spot), at night 18–22 °C.

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

UVB: A very high UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6); a strong T5 HO tube (12–14 %).

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

Life expectancy: 15–25 years.

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

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–35 °C (cool zone 26–30 °C)

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

45–55 °C (surface temperature at the basking spot)

Humidity

25–40 %

UVB

A very high UVB requirement (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6); a strong T5 HO tube (12–14 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×60 cm (one adult animal), with rock structures

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in; stone slabs and rock

Feeding

Food

Purely herbivorous: herbs, leaves, flowers, seeds; no animal protein for adults

Feeding interval

fresh greens offered daily to adults, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 30–33 cm total length

Life expectancy

15–25 years

Origin

Western Saudi Arabia and north-western Yemen (rocky mountain and hill regions)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B → specially protected; registration required, proof of origin required

Brumation

A rest period over winter (cooler, with a shorter photoperiod), and mating in spring after the rest

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the standard; territorial. A harem only in a large enclosure; never keep males together

Notes

Taxonomically often treated as a subspecies of Uromastyx ornata (U. ornata philbyi). A rock dweller, fond of climbing. Rarely in the trade as pure philbyi; the figures come from genus and ornata care plus its distribution.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) – Intermediate to expert
• Bent's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx benti) – Intermediate
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Philby's spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx philbyi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×60 cm (one adult animal), with rock structures), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in; stone slabs and rock), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.