Description
- Common Name: Sudan Uromastyx
- Scientific Name: Uromastyx dispar
- Locality/Morph: Wild Type
- Sex: Unknown
- Age: 2025
- Source: Captive bred
- Native Range: Northern Sudan, Chad, Niger, and surrounding Saharan regions
- Natural Habitat: Open desert, rocky plateaus, and sandy wadis; burrow-dwelling and ground-dwelling
- Diet: Strictly herbivorous—leafy greens, seeds, dried plant matter, occasional flowers
- Basking Temperature: 50–55°C (intense hotspot)
- Ambient Temperature: 30–36°C (night drop to ~20–24°C)
- Average Adult Size: 35–40 cm (including tail)
The Sudan Uromastyx (Uromastyx dispar) is a hardy, medium-sized Saharan species well adapted to some of the harshest environments on Earth. With its sturdy build, heavily spined tail, and warm sandy coloration ranging from tan and brown to yellow mottling. Its resilience, manageable size, and engaging behaviour make it an appealing species for keepers experienced with hot, arid reptiles.
In the wild, U. dispar inhabits vast open desert and semi-rocky terrain where it constructs deep burrows to escape extreme heat and predators. These burrows provide stable humidity levels and thermal gradients, which are important to replicate in captivity through secure hides and a deep, diggable substrate. Their daily rhythm is tied to intense sunlight—emerging to bask, forage on sparse vegetation, and retreat underground during midday extremes.
Captive husbandry must reflect their natural climate. Uromastyx dispar requires very bright lighting, strong UVB exposure, and a powerful basking hotspot that reaches 50–55°C, allowing proper digestion and activity. The enclosure should provide a broad temperature gradient, rocky basking platforms, and areas of shade to support natural thermoregulation. Substrates such as a sand–soil mix or fine packed sand allow for safe digging and more natural behaviour.
As strict herbivores, these lizards thrive on a high-fibre, low-moisture diet. Staple greens (endive, escarole, dandelion, mustard), seed mixes, edible weeds, and occasional flowers form the core of their nutrition. Vegetables can be offered in moderation; fruits and animal proteins should be avoided entirely.
With correct lighting, diet, and environmental conditions, U. dispar can live 15–20+ years and becomes an active, bold, and engaging display species. While not typically suited to frequent handling due to their speed and occasional defensiveness, they can become accustomed to keepers over time. Their impressive basking behaviour, vibrant desert colours, and natural robustness make them a rewarding species for those prepared to meet their high-heat requirements.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
