Nails

[donkeybuff]

How do I cut my skink's nails when he won't let me pick him up? And also, do you have any advice for getting them used to handling?

[Katrina]

I would try to add very scratchy surfaces into the enclosure. Stuff like slate rock, porous rock, drift wood etc will file them down every time he walks over it and reduce or eliminate the need to trim them. If they are so long that they are curling over, then just picking him up quickly won't be an issue, sometimes wrapping them in a towel will reduce the struggling to that you can clip quickly.

There are quite a few threads on taming, but the best method I've found is to go very slowly. First get them used to you being in the room and them not running and hiding. Then open the enclosure and let them sniff / smell your hand without them running away. Then you can try offering food or holding them quickly for brief periods. Just be very patient, go slow and remember that you need to convince them that you aren't a giant predator. Make the interactions quick and positive and as stress free as possible. If you scare them and they are really stressed then it will make them run in future as well, so it is better to just go slow and get them used to you being in the room or the smell of your hand first (in my experience, others will likely have different methods that work as well). Good luck!

[donkeybuff]

I read somewhere that sandpaper works well. Would that be okay?