Huffy

[Andreamorey]

Hi everyone
We have had our merauke, blue for a week and a half in the last two days we have got her out all she does is huff nearly the whole time ( about 3 minutes) and try to get away from us is this normal? She is four months old
Would be gratefull for any replies
Andrea

[tylociraptor]

Any baby reptile I have ever dealt with has been 'moody'. The truth is that they aren't just in an off mood, but usually feeling a bit insecure. How many hiding places does she have? I'd bump it up if it's only 1 or 2, let her feel more secure in her home. Huffing, puffing and being defensive are all perfectly normal reactions for a young reptile being picked up by a big ole monster like you or I. To curb the behavior maybe try waiting for her to come to you, giving her a bit more space, or my personal favorite... bribing her with her favorite treats. My geckos seem to warm up to me a little more after I give them a pinkie or a hornworm as a treat!

[Fatal_S]

It is recommended to give babies 1-2 weeks without bugging them just to let them get used to their new home and the people around. Eventually they tend to get curious, which is a good time to start handling them.

Huffing isn't anything to worry about. Even some really tame skinks will huff. Take him somewhere safe and let him explore a bit. Offer treats. Just work slowly and patiently and you'll win him over easily.

[Brydie]

Hey Andrea,
That's a good question and something that I have also had to deal with. I recently rescued my two BTS a few months ago and they used to hiss at me when ever I put my hand near them, but now they hardly ever hiss and it is usually only when I disturb them from a nice comfy hiding spot for a cuddle.
The tips that I would give you is to handle her for a lot more then 3 minutes a day and also get other people to handle her like your hubby or friends, making sure everyone washes their hands before and after.
This is something that I did and they loved it, a hooded jacket is a great place to hammock in while you are sitting watching t.v, Plus they feel secure while being with you and can keep warm.
I also let them run around on my bed or couch just observing them and sure enough they do come to you and that's when I slowly started to stroke them getting used to being touched all over. This helps with vet checks if anything should go wrong.
As Fatal has said just persist with her and you will soon win her over.

I hope this helps you and that you will soon have a non huffy lizard. =D.

[sarah]

I had a skink who was tame but never grew out of huffing.So she may just be a noisey skink.

[Lea]

As long as she's got clear eyes, without a runny nose or laboured breathing, the signs of infection, then huffy little skinks are normal. Sometimes they'll grow up into huffy adults, or they may grow out of it. After brumating, most of mine wake up a little more huffy than usual.

Give her time to adjust to her new home, handling her daily or twice daily after some settling in time. Hold her supporting her little legs, preferably close to the floor or another flat, hard surface, so she feels secure and doesn't fear being dropped. They are not arboreal and therefore any height above 6 inches will make even a tame skink a little less content!

Remember, she is tiny and you are 100's of skinks bigger than she is! To her, you are a threat from the word go and it may take a while for her to start to trust, or not to fear, is probably a better way to put it. Our clumsy hands are foreign and look weird and suddenly being plucked from a nice spot under the basking lamp and whisked through the air for a cuddle, is not any small skinks idea of a good time! Lowering your hand slowly into the cage, placing it flat on the substrate close to your skink and leaving it there for 5 or so minutes, may sound laborious, but it enables your animal to see you as something other than a scary threat. They might still run for cover, but by not chasing them with your hand to pick them up, they gradually begin to accept "that awkward looking fingered octopusy object" and the fear will lessen.

I'm not saying any way is proven or my ideas are better than the next persons, but they have certainly worked with my more timid animals, even the wilder rescues I've looked after in the past. Patience is key. The world is weird from a baby skinks view, respecting that will get you a happier skink.

[Andreamorey]

Thank you for all your replies, we have had her out yesterday and today for about 15 minutes both times and after a couple of minutes she stopped huffing only doing it when I stopped her trying to escape down the back of the sofa lol, she sat with me for quite a while nestled in the crook of my arm and in my hoody pocket.
She is 5 months old and is 18 inches long, is that about the right size For her age?

[Linnea]

5 months old and fully grown is not usual, your skink is probably older im guessing over one and a half year.

if eighteen inches equals 45 cm that is. otherwise im wrong.

[Andreamorey]

Oh thats confused me She/he is a merauke and we were told she could grow to 24-26 inches the reptile shop we bought her from said she was a 2012 baby also we saw a blue toungue in Southampton reptile centre he/she is an ij and was 24 inches