Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
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In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
This is also where you can have some FUN while sharing the enjoyment you get from your blueys!
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Came home to find her having a soak today, her attitude has changed completely and she is actually active now that I have moved the viv to another room.
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- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Now that it has been a few weeks since I got her, she seems to be quite calm.
During the day she just goes about her business regardless of if I am in the room or not, she doesn't mind being handled either.
Her attitude changes during the night when her lights go off though, she goes into a sort of "Leave me alone" mode in which she will not tolerate my presence at all, I assume this is normal though.
I got viv readings too now:
Warm end 30C
Cool end 20-25C (It varies)
Humidity 40-50%
During the day she just goes about her business regardless of if I am in the room or not, she doesn't mind being handled either.
Her attitude changes during the night when her lights go off though, she goes into a sort of "Leave me alone" mode in which she will not tolerate my presence at all, I assume this is normal though.
I got viv readings too now:
Warm end 30C
Cool end 20-25C (It varies)
Humidity 40-50%
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
I got up to go the toilet only to find her basking in the middle of the night (I turn the UV off and leave the heat lamp on because it is winter)
Is this normal behavior? she doesn't seem distressed or anything, she is pretty relaxed and indifferent to my presence. She isn't Lethargic in any way as she is still reacting to me being there and is quite alert.
This is the first time she has done this as she usually burrows in the substrate under her plant in the cool end to sleep.
I attached a picture.
Is this normal behavior? she doesn't seem distressed or anything, she is pretty relaxed and indifferent to my presence. She isn't Lethargic in any way as she is still reacting to me being there and is quite alert.
This is the first time she has done this as she usually burrows in the substrate under her plant in the cool end to sleep.
I attached a picture.
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- Y33T
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
I’d have all lights turned off it can mess up your skink’s sleeping pattern. Which is probably the reason why she’s out in the middle of the night. They have a third eye above their head that is sensitive to light and having the light on all night can confuse them into thinking its daytime.
If you want to keep her warm at night use a ceramic heater.
If you want to keep her warm at night use a ceramic heater.
1.0.2 Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, Kirra, Bajo and Hestu <3
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
I have placed the viv near a Radiator that I can leave on overnight, it seems to be doing the job temprature-wise, it will do for now until I can go to the nearest pet shop and get a ceramic heater.
In other news, she ate a roach for the first time today, it was quite amusing because I hate roaches with a passion, I don't think that she has ever ate one before because she remained still for about 5 minutes just staring at me, almost as if she was surprised.
In other news, she ate a roach for the first time today, it was quite amusing because I hate roaches with a passion, I don't think that she has ever ate one before because she remained still for about 5 minutes just staring at me, almost as if she was surprised.
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
This is actually kind of frustrating me now, I changed her substrate to something better suited for her (suspected) species (orchid bark) and now it is just a whole new can of worms, she is literally burrowed 24/7 and will only eat if I put the food right in front of her face.
I will get up in the morning before her lights are on and she will be burrowed, which is understandable because she is likely asleep. When I come home, however, I find her in the exact same spot and find no signs of activity elsewhere in the vivarium.
She is out right now and staring at me (cautiously) as I type this but she was only out because I had to move the vivarium and I put her back in the warm end where she went to bask.
I know that reptiles need outside sources to regulate their body temperature and if she is burrowing all the time without any motion at all, I fear that cannot be good for her.
I will get up in the morning before her lights are on and she will be burrowed, which is understandable because she is likely asleep. When I come home, however, I find her in the exact same spot and find no signs of activity elsewhere in the vivarium.
She is out right now and staring at me (cautiously) as I type this but she was only out because I had to move the vivarium and I put her back in the warm end where she went to bask.
I know that reptiles need outside sources to regulate their body temperature and if she is burrowing all the time without any motion at all, I fear that cannot be good for her.
- kayla990
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Hmm, while it could be a few things.. the two main possibilities that come to mind are:
1) possible shedding - it's known they burrow more when they are about to shed. So it's possible she'll stay underground for longer periods of time, and may not be directly related to changing to orchid bark.
2) On a similar note - we notice our bluey will hide more frequently if humidity is on the low side. As it's difficult to ID yours for the moment (still trying to get better with ID's! but previous to original idea of a hybrid, I'm wondering now if she could be an Irian Jaya). Maybe try bumping up humidity to around 60% and see how she reacts.
Otherwise difficult to say for the moment. While I'm not too sure how true this is (basing it on observations), it seems like skinks activity levels are based on primarily temperature, then humidity; followed by interest in the room. For example if I'm actively doing something in the house - then our bluey is out much more compared to when I'm working on the pc (where I can still see her tank, but more likely to 'hide' earlier in the day). Maybe something to start with
1) possible shedding - it's known they burrow more when they are about to shed. So it's possible she'll stay underground for longer periods of time, and may not be directly related to changing to orchid bark.
2) On a similar note - we notice our bluey will hide more frequently if humidity is on the low side. As it's difficult to ID yours for the moment (still trying to get better with ID's! but previous to original idea of a hybrid, I'm wondering now if she could be an Irian Jaya). Maybe try bumping up humidity to around 60% and see how she reacts.
Otherwise difficult to say for the moment. While I'm not too sure how true this is (basing it on observations), it seems like skinks activity levels are based on primarily temperature, then humidity; followed by interest in the room. For example if I'm actively doing something in the house - then our bluey is out much more compared to when I'm working on the pc (where I can still see her tank, but more likely to 'hide' earlier in the day). Maybe something to start with
- Hons. Degree Animal Management -4 years volunteer in a Zoo -10 years volunteer in animal shelters -Enclosure enthusiast
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
So I upped the humidity to 60 like suggested and woke up this morning to find her inside her log (Her hide on the warm side) instead of burrowed.
She even came out to bask and is still sitting there now.
Given the fact that the pet shop misidentified the species and that they couldn't even tell me the age of the creature, I have found a specialist vet to take her to just to make sure she is healthy and everything is fine, it doesn't hurt to be sure.
She even came out to bask and is still sitting there now.
Given the fact that the pet shop misidentified the species and that they couldn't even tell me the age of the creature, I have found a specialist vet to take her to just to make sure she is healthy and everything is fine, it doesn't hurt to be sure.
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Yep, she looks like she is starting to Shed, flakes are starting to fall off her body as she rubs against things.
- kayla990
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Hope she'll have a good shed! Fingers crossed
- Hons. Degree Animal Management -4 years volunteer in a Zoo -10 years volunteer in animal shelters -Enclosure enthusiast
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
The shed went kind of well, It came off in patches and I had to take some stuck shed off 2 of her feet (Which she did not enjoy one bit).
Both of her ear holes are clear and so are her legs and tail, there are still unshed patches on her belly but I am sure they will just come off on their own.
Both of her ear holes are clear and so are her legs and tail, there are still unshed patches on her belly but I am sure they will just come off on their own.
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
I have noticed this weird new behavior lately.
She will be in her hide, come out, stare at me, and sort of move about to stare from different angles before going back into her hide and repeating the process again later.
She will be in her hide, come out, stare at me, and sort of move about to stare from different angles before going back into her hide and repeating the process again later.
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
So the bulb on her basking light just blew right after she had eaten so she cannot bask to digest her food, all pet shops are closed until 10AM tomorrow, will she be ok overnight?
- splashy07
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
Good idea to keep a spare bulb or two...
- Taliats
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Re: Not sure if I have harmed the progress of my new Skink getting adapted
splashy07 wrote:Good idea to keep a spare bulb or two...
Yeah, I have done just that, I bought a couple of spares the other day.
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