My Skink stopped eating

[Kylejs91]

So I just got a my first BTS 3 weeks ago its a juvenile im amsuming around a month and a half, when i first got him he was eating just fine and then stopped eating out of no where its been 7 days and im so worried hes getting super skinny any help would be appreciated.

[kingofnobbys]

This problem diagnosis chart will guide you in diagnosing what's wrong and why he's off his food ,



( yes I know it's specifically targeted as bearded dragons BUT IMO it's as good a start as any - with a few tweeks for BTs (especially young BTs) .

Really need a lot more information on this setup, the room, and your husbandry to have much chance of helping. The weight loss is a concern , have you tried hand feeding him or offering something like HerpaBoost ?

[splashy07]

I don't know what type you have, but if an import (most Indonesian species are) internal parasites could be present. I'd suggest a vet check, would show up in fecal exam. If your temps are good and he is not going into shed and nothing else has changed I'd look into a checkup.

[Janella]

Definitely agree with Splashy07 on this one. It is not normal for babies to not want to eat. Vet order is a must.

[Kylejs91]

[quote="splashy07"]I don't know what type you have, but if an import (most Indonesian species are) internal parasites could be present. I'd suggest a vet check, would show up in fecal exam. If your temps are good and he is not going into shed and nothing else has changed I'd look into a checkup.[/quotei

I took in a fecal sample today to our local vet im waiting on reults and yes he is an indonesian

[Kylejs91]

I sent in a fecal sample today and the species is an Indonesian, Also i contacted the person who i bought the skink off of he told me to feed him ensure( protein drink)

IMG_0522.JPG

Here's a pictur of him idn if this would help anything

[kingofnobbys]

I sent in a fecal sample today and the species is an Indonesian, Also i contacted the person who i bought the skink off of he told me to feed him ensure( protein drink)

IMG_0522.JPG

Here's a pictur of him idn if this would help anything

He's only really young.

Isn't Ensure based on diary ?
.... if so , not a good food to give to a lizard.

[Janella]

I would absolutely NOT give ensure. Your vet should have something called carnivore care that is way better and specific for reptiles. What have you been trying to feed? How is it doing now?

[Kylejs91]

As of right now, what I have been able to get the guy to eat is baby food i use the mix veggie with the fruit, Sadly enough I wont be able to actually see the herp vet til Tuesday as it being labor day...
Ive also just been letting him soak in some luke warm water im actually not to fully sure if thats helping the situation but it seems hes been enjoying it

[Janella]

I would add in some sort of high quality protein. They definitely need the protein. Have you seen/read the feeding chart on our forum? If you can follow that to a "T". You have an appointment then at the vet? That is a good thing. It for sure isn't normal to have a baby not eating. Keep us posted.

[Kylejs91]

I sure will thank you for the concearn it means more than you think, I actually just went and got him some reptile boost until Tuesday to keep some nutrients in him

[Janella]

No problem at all. The reptiboost will help for sure. Keep working at him. Let us know.

[Kylejs91]

Well he ended up loving the repta+boost so hopefully thats a good sign, but heres what my diet consisted of up until this all happend:

-Lamb and rice dog food it had no byproducts it was all natural i read the ingredients before fed
-Boiled chicken
-mealworms
-Hard boiled egg just the whites
-blueberries
-banana
-peach
-snail (canosnails)
-green beans
-carrots
-collard greens
-strawberries
-squash
Also this was not all in a single sitting i offered it in a variety

[Janella]

Hi again, I am glad the reptiboost was a hit. Your diet looks good. The only thing I would change is the meal worms and the lamb dog food. Mealworms have like zero nutrition. The lamb dog food is probably fine, but I personally like to stick with chicken, turkey, or quail based diets. When feeding, do you finely mix everything together? Like blended? I recommend doing that. That way the skinks can't pick out their favorites. Again keep us posted and happy labor day!

[kingofnobbys]

Hi again, I am glad the reptiboost was a hit. Your diet looks good. The only thing I would change is the meal worms and the lamb dog food. Mealworms have like zero nutrition. The lamb dog food is probably fine, but I personally like to stick with chicken, turkey, or quail based diets. When feeding, do you finely mix everything together? Like blended? I recommend doing that. That way the skinks can't pick out their favorites. Again keep us posted and happy labor day!

This is a comparison of common feeder insects :


Main problems with mealworms as a feeder insect is their very hard to digest exoskeleton and their very poor Ca/P ratio. Apart from that they are OK.

[Kylejs91]

Fecal test came back negative no parasites! He's still acting a little lethargic though :/

[Janella]

Glad to hear the fecal was negative. Did you get him in for a vet visit? How is the eating going?

[Kylejs91]

He goes to the vet in the morning tomorrow for the day, eating wise hes actually starting to eat on his own a lil bit i just kinda gotta put in front of his face for awhile a then he starts to eat

[Janella]

Glad to hear you are taking him into the vet for a check up. Hopefully there will be nothing wrong. Keep working on his eating. It is highly unusual for a skink that young to not want to eat. Follow the feeding chart and also remember to ask the vet about carnivore care if it is needed. Good luck.

[Kylejs91]

Got him back from the vet he's got to have an antibiotic shot every 2 days, they said he will survive but might not live a normal healthy life..