Basking
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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.
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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!
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- Bluey Beginner
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Basking
Hello! I just got my blue tongue skink a new heat blub, it's 75 watts and he seems to be enjoying it. The problem is that he spends hours on end in his basking spot... I don't know if thats normal, when I first got him he would stay basking for around 1-2 hours then go walk around or borrow (he was a month old) and now he just doesn't get off his basking log unless its time to go to sleep. (hes now 10 months old) He just started doing this about 3 days ago.
- kayla990
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Re: Basking
That's odd! Maybe he's enjoying the additional warmth.. But I would do a quick check on your tank readings in case the rest of the tank is on the colder side. How is his appetite? If nothing has changed with eating habits, it may not be anything to be concerned about for the moment.
Does the light contain UVA/UVB? They may be trying to get some of the D3 from it, staying in for longer than normal. But I'm no way an expert on such things, just taking a guess! Hopefully someone has more of an concrete idea.
Does the light contain UVA/UVB? They may be trying to get some of the D3 from it, staying in for longer than normal. But I'm no way an expert on such things, just taking a guess! Hopefully someone has more of an concrete idea.
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- splashy07
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Re: Basking
One of my Easterns does that seasonally. But as previously mentioned, check cage temps.
- Y33T
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Re: Basking
one of my easterns used to do that during the cooler months.
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- Bluey Beginner
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Re: Basking
kayla990 wrote:That's odd! Maybe he's enjoying the additional warmth.. But I would do a quick check on your tank readings in case the rest of the tank is on the colder side. How is his appetite? If nothing has changed with eating habits, it may not be anything to be concerned about for the moment.
Does the light contain UVA/UVB? They may be trying to get some of the D3 from it, staying in for longer than normal. But I'm no way an expert on such things, just taking a guess! Hopefully someone has more of an concrete idea.
It has recently just started getting hotter these days, and his heat lamp does not contain UVA or UVB, he's eating perfectly fine and his temp on the hot side is 102-95, and his cool side is 70-66. I'm not entirely sure why he acts like that.
Edit : He ate perfectly fine last meal, but when I try to feed him again today he won't eat, only a little but not alot... he hasn't eaten in 4 days.
- kayla990
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Re: Basking
The cooler sides seem on the slightly low end (nothing too bad though of course; considering the hot end keeps warm).
As a general rule Bluey's rely on heat to aid digestion (and general activity seems to reduce when cooler). If you have an Australian type, perhaps it's a pre-brumation behaviour (associated with the cold). Do you know how temperatures are overnight?
While I know you have a temperature gradient already - I would presume he'd eat again and become more active if you raise up the temperatures in the cooler end slightly (and if it doesn't drop too much in temperature at night).
BlueTongueBoris wrote:Edit : He ate perfectly fine last meal, but when I try to feed him again today he won't eat, only a little but not alot... he hasn't eaten in 4 days.
As a general rule Bluey's rely on heat to aid digestion (and general activity seems to reduce when cooler). If you have an Australian type, perhaps it's a pre-brumation behaviour (associated with the cold). Do you know how temperatures are overnight?
While I know you have a temperature gradient already - I would presume he'd eat again and become more active if you raise up the temperatures in the cooler end slightly (and if it doesn't drop too much in temperature at night).
- Hons. Degree Animal Management -4 years volunteer in a Zoo -10 years volunteer in animal shelters -Enclosure enthusiast
- splashy07
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Re: Basking
At 10 months it's not that unusual for them to not eat in a few days, especially if their last meal was a large one, or if possibly going into shed. I can't say this is gospel, as a few of mine eat right through their entire shed period and some do not. Sometimes weather changes (even if cage temps remain the same) will affect them also. At that age they are beginning to enter into adulthood and some changes may be noticeable but most likely nothing to worry about. They are sort of 'teenagers' at that age, and sometimes with hormones to match. I have seen males start dropping sperm plugs at five months. May be a good idea to monitor his behavior and make notes, you may see a repeat next year.
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- Bluey Beginner
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Re: Basking
splashy07 wrote:At 10 months it's not that unusual for them to not eat in a few days, especially if their last meal was a large one, or if possibly going into shed. I can't say this is gospel, as a few of mine eat right through their entire shed period and some do not. Sometimes weather changes (even if cage temps remain the same) will affect them also. At that age they are beginning to enter into adulthood and some changes may be noticeable but most likely nothing to worry about. They are sort of 'teenagers' at that age, and sometimes with hormones to match. I have seen males start dropping sperm plugs at five months. May be a good idea to monitor his behavior and make notes, you may see a repeat next year.
He is extremely active and curious so I'm guessing that's a good thing. His last shed was on January about 4-5 weeks ago. Thank you for the response! I'll be Definitely looking at his behavior.
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- Bluey Beginner
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Re: Basking
splashy07 wrote:At 10 months it's not that unusual for them to not eat in a few days, especially if their last meal was a large one, or if possibly going into shed. I can't say this is gospel, as a few of mine eat right through their entire shed period and some do not. Sometimes weather changes (even if cage temps remain the same) will affect them also. At that age they are beginning to enter into adulthood and some changes may be noticeable but most likely nothing to worry about. They are sort of 'teenagers' at that age, and sometimes with hormones to match. I have seen males start dropping sperm plugs at five months. May be a good idea to monitor his behavior and make notes, you may see a repeat next year.
I have a decent sized room, not to small, not to big. His enclosure is in my room so it's pretty hot in here, at night I turn the fan on at low and when I wake up I imidiently turn on his heat lamp. His last meal was pretty big, I'm going to try to feed him today and see what happens. I don't know if this is relevant but his poo is kinda runny. The vet told me to lay off the fruit and veggies so I'm trying that out.
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- Bluey Devotee
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Re: Basking
All my skinks do that .... they love the UV and bask for ages everyday.
I often see the wild eastern bluetongue who lives under my back steps out on the old concrete slab (used to be an outside laundry on it way back the 1960s) basking in the morning. The wild water skinks and delicate garden skinks come out and bask in the morning in the back yard on the paths and the same slab , and in the afternoon they are on my front patio getting the afternoon sun and soaking in the warmth on the bricks and concrete .
This is perfectly normal behavior for skinks.
I often see the wild eastern bluetongue who lives under my back steps out on the old concrete slab (used to be an outside laundry on it way back the 1960s) basking in the morning. The wild water skinks and delicate garden skinks come out and bask in the morning in the back yard on the paths and the same slab , and in the afternoon they are on my front patio getting the afternoon sun and soaking in the warmth on the bricks and concrete .
This is perfectly normal behavior for skinks.
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- Bluey Beginner
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Re: Basking
kingofnobbys wrote:All my skinks do that .... they love the UV and bask for ages everyday.
I often see the wild eastern bluetongue who lives under my back steps out on the old concrete slab (used to be an outside laundry on it way back the 1960s) basking in the morning. The wild water skinks and delicate garden skinks come out and bask in the morning in the back yard on the paths and the same slab , and in the afternoon they are on my front patio getting the afternoon sun and soaking in the warmth on the bricks and concrete .
This is perfectly normal behavior for skinks.
That's so cool! And thank you for the info!
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