I really want to let my Skink out of her vivarium more because she is really inquisitive when she is out.
The problem is, I have to put her on my bed and let her explore the (Usually messy) bedsheets. I do not like to do this however because I have to keep an eye on her to make sure that she doesn't fulfill her obsession with throwing herself off things (I have developed ninja-like reflexes thanks to her many attempts).
I have two potential places where I could let her run free but both have problems, there is my living room, there are a few nooks and crannies but my main concern is that she will get under the reclining sofas and it will be difficult to get her out without hurting her.
The second potential location is my spare room, the only furniture being a large wardrobe that she would never be able to get under and a table. The problem with this room, however, is that the floor is some nasty wood that is really cold and rough and I am not sure if it is safe to let her crawl around on it.
Advice on giving my Skink an area to run loose?
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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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- Bluey Devotee
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Re: Advice on giving my Skink an area to run loose?
We give our big skinks and bearded dragon the run of the lounge / living room & dining area & kitchen , I have a long narrow cardboard box that we place across the hall door way so the door can be left open but they can't go up the hall into the bedrooms and very messy study/craft room (doesn't stop them from trying to push it over or climb over it.
The area of the house they have access to when having funtime on the floor is mostly carpeted, there's lino on the floor in the dining & kitchen areas. They all love the front door (when we have it open (but the security screen closed) and the door length window next to the front door when the sun is coming in through the glass or the screen door.
To stop your skink from going under lounge , get some towels and roll them up to make a barrier , or some cardboard sheet cut to size to slip under the front and sides .
My gang go on the floor individually for at least an hour each and I stay in the room , often they come over and want to be picked up to go on the chair next to me or have a snuggle when they've had their fill of exploring.
Do make sure there is nothing on the floor that an inquisitive skink can swallow and cause problems later.
The area of the house they have access to when having funtime on the floor is mostly carpeted, there's lino on the floor in the dining & kitchen areas. They all love the front door (when we have it open (but the security screen closed) and the door length window next to the front door when the sun is coming in through the glass or the screen door.
To stop your skink from going under lounge , get some towels and roll them up to make a barrier , or some cardboard sheet cut to size to slip under the front and sides .
My gang go on the floor individually for at least an hour each and I stay in the room , often they come over and want to be picked up to go on the chair next to me or have a snuggle when they've had their fill of exploring.
Do make sure there is nothing on the floor that an inquisitive skink can swallow and cause problems later.
- Angcious
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Re: Advice on giving my Skink an area to run loose?
I have other pets so my 2 spend the majority of their time out in one room. While I certainly let them venture outside of the one room, it is not something I can always do. But the room their cages are in is basically the lizard play area and lizard proof and I know they consider it a sort of extension to their cage, or like their 'bigger cage'. I can give them more freedom in this room without having to be directly on top of them the entire time. However as much as they love being out, they don't like it if I'm not in the room with them...unless they've found somewhere cozy and are sleeping, then i might leave the room for a few mins to do dishes or something like that.
I have to use foam boards to block off the gaps underneath the closet door and room door. Had to put wire mesh along an area to keep them away from all the cage light wires (but since have found a way to keep the wires high and inaccessible to them, not that they chew on them or anything, I just didn't want them walking on the wires). I also have been using a screen to keep my older away from his fascination...the air vent lol. The central air conditioning was recently turned off since its starting to get a little cooler now but during the summer, he is fascinated by it.
I also have a high watt basking bulb set up for when they're outside of the cage and in the colder months, I put an electric blanket down on the floor for them as well. They have a short cat tree and various other cat/small dog furniture items, houses, tunnels and ramps, and even cat toys...my younger likes balls and things that move on their own, my older likes anything shiny or metallic looking.
I also have to vacuum the room pretty much every day, they will find the littlest piece of something to try to eat. My older is a huge taste tester of EVERYTHING, edible or not. He also won't go far from me and just prefers to be near me all the time so he is the one who more often goes into the other rooms with me. He likes to help with laundry (walking underneath the clothes or going into the hamper) and he loves to be in the kitchen with me while cooking, he walks around smelling the food and begging for pieces of it. His job is also to inspect the grocery bags of food lol.
I have to use foam boards to block off the gaps underneath the closet door and room door. Had to put wire mesh along an area to keep them away from all the cage light wires (but since have found a way to keep the wires high and inaccessible to them, not that they chew on them or anything, I just didn't want them walking on the wires). I also have been using a screen to keep my older away from his fascination...the air vent lol. The central air conditioning was recently turned off since its starting to get a little cooler now but during the summer, he is fascinated by it.
I also have a high watt basking bulb set up for when they're outside of the cage and in the colder months, I put an electric blanket down on the floor for them as well. They have a short cat tree and various other cat/small dog furniture items, houses, tunnels and ramps, and even cat toys...my younger likes balls and things that move on their own, my older likes anything shiny or metallic looking.
I also have to vacuum the room pretty much every day, they will find the littlest piece of something to try to eat. My older is a huge taste tester of EVERYTHING, edible or not. He also won't go far from me and just prefers to be near me all the time so he is the one who more often goes into the other rooms with me. He likes to help with laundry (walking underneath the clothes or going into the hamper) and he loves to be in the kitchen with me while cooking, he walks around smelling the food and begging for pieces of it. His job is also to inspect the grocery bags of food lol.
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- Bluey Devotee
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Re: Advice on giving my Skink an area to run loose?
Angcious wrote:I have other pets so my 2 spend the majority of their time out in one room. While I certainly let them venture outside of the one room, it is not something I can always do. But the room their cages are in is basically the lizard play area and lizard proof and I know they consider it a sort of extension to their cage, or like their 'bigger cage'. I can give them more freedom in this room without having to be directly on top of them the entire time. However as much as they love being out, they don't like it if I'm not in the room with them...unless they've found somewhere cozy and are sleeping, then i might leave the room for a few mins to do dishes or something like that.
<<<<I get that too …. all my gang when they have floor fun time will regularly amble over to me or my wife and check we are still watching and or it seems like "ask for permission" .
I have to use foam boards to block off the gaps underneath the closet door and room door. Had to put wire mesh along an area to keep them away from all the cage light wires (but since have found a way to keep the wires high and inaccessible to them, not that they chew on them or anything, I just didn't want them walking on the wires). I also have been using a screen to keep my older away from his fascination...the air vent lol. The central air conditioning was recently turned off since its starting to get a little cooler now but during the summer, he is fascinated by it.
I also have a high watt basking bulb set up for when they're outside of the cage and in the colder months, I put an electric blanket down on the floor for them as well. They have a short cat tree and various other cat/small dog furniture items, houses, tunnels and ramps, and even cat toys...my younger likes balls and things that move on their own, my older likes anything shiny or metallic looking.
I also have to vacuum the room pretty much every day, they will find the littlest piece of something to try to eat. My older is a huge taste tester of EVERYTHING, edible or not. He also won't go far from me and just prefers to be near me all the time so he is the one who more often goes into the other rooms with me. He likes to help with laundry (walking underneath the clothes or going into the hamper) and he loves to be in the kitchen with me while cooking, he walks around smelling the food and begging for pieces of it. His job is also to inspect the grocery bags of food lol.
Crumpled paper and bubble wrap are great lizard toys … too.
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