How long do you handle your BTS each day?

[Chris.J]

Hey guys,

Just a question about how long you handle your skinks each day. The reason I am asking is I am curious as to the safe amount of time a Skink can be away from his/her enclosure (basking spot, humidity levels etc..) during the day without it effecting them in a negative way.

Thanks,
Chris

[Dakota]

I tend to hold my skinks maybe 2-3 minutes everyday/every couple of days, sometimes I will let them explore outside of their cage about once a week for about 10 minutes.

You hear of people rarely ever leaving their skink in their cage.. but I have never experienced this, so I'm not speaking from experience there.

[Logancrook]

I take her out for about 10 minutes everyday but feed her on my lap every other day. She takes a little longer to eat.

[Jessica]

I handle my skink between 10 and 30 mins. each day. He/she is just over a month old so I'm still in the taming phase. Because it's summer (and I rarely turn on my AC) he/she is nice and toasty either way.

[UroFreak13]

I take my girl out every couple of days a couple times during the day, she is a wild caught and I've had her only since march but she is still weary. Mine personally hates being removed as well as being put back but once she is out she will happily sit on me and watch a movie. As long as your house is room temperature and there is nothing outside that can harm them I see no danger in taking them out for an hour even

[Richard.C]

I have some I havnt touched in over a year

[LizardLady46]

Naxos gets out of his cage at least every other day. From the day I got him, at 8 weeks of age, he has always been fed out of his cage( unless he is being cared for when I am out of town) most of the time he "asks" to get out of his cage. After he has eaten I usually let him run around 30-60 minutes as long as its warm out. On his non feeding days, if he is roaming the cage and wants out I take him out but if he hides in his cave and has no interest, I leave him alone.

[Dakota]

I have some I havnt touched in over a year

You made me giggle.

[Lea]

It wouldn't be unsafe to hold them for a while, unless you've just fed them- I wouldn't want manhandling after a meal either, but letting them bask will reduce risk of accidental regurgitation also.

Letting them cool a bit isn't harmful, but letting them cool completely will likely upset their biological clock a bit, ruining routine etc. you certainly won't harm them by having them quietly on your lap for two hours, just be mindful of letting them digest food etc.

I usually hold mine outside, since the majority live outdoors, so cooling is not an issue. I don't hold after feeding, just in case. I take jade outdoors once a day, when the weather is good. She gets to have a little sunshine, while still being able to maintain her body temperature.

I don't think there is a right or wrong length of time. You just need to respect how their body's work so you don't cause harm unintentionally.

[awilcocks]

it depends on how busy i am that day...some days they get no "out time" other days tili might get 20-30 mins and the male none...he's really a jerk to take out all he does is huff and puff and thrashes around and twirls his tail which pulling him out of a 55g tank does no good and he's almost been dropped a few times..but i try to give him 10-30 mins a week out of his tank..tili comes out for 15-30 mins a day even if i'm just laying on the floor in the reptile room and she's laying on my chest hanging out..she's much more mellow..i've learned not to trust ppl when they say "yeah my lizard is puppy dog tame he'll even sleep with you"...this male is any thing BUT puppy dog tame..he's quite mean which in the end has me preferring to let tili out over him even though i'm reluctant to let the daughter play with tili bc she's small..but i trust her not to bite 100xs more than the male...and i dont always have time to work with him..

[Chris.J]

Thanks to all that responded. I read every post twice. Love to hear other peoples experience. Thanks so much guys!

[Dakota]

I think once the skink is tame, that handling doesn't need to be as often for them to stay tame.

[Lea]

I think once the skink is tame, that handling doesn't need to be as often for them to stay tame.

No, probably not, but I've noticed that after brumation, I have a lot more cranky shinglebacks than usual. It seems they get used to not being handled or socialising with humans and go a bit wild for a few weeks. Unfortunately, I think they do go through the same fear response to a degree each year, with every spring being a bit of an ordeal, until they get used to things again. I think we always have to bear in mind instinct with our skinks, being mindful if we haven't handled them for a while that they maybe more fearful of us than if we handled them every day.

[Dakota]

I could imagine they'd get cranky after that period. I was talking about reducing everyday handling to a couple times a week wouldn't be a problem for an already tame skink.

[Chris.J]

It wouldn't be unsafe to hold them for a while, unless you've just fed them- I wouldn't want manhandling after a meal either, but letting them bask will reduce risk of accidental regurgitation also.

Letting them cool a bit isn't harmful, but letting them cool completely will likely upset their biological clock a bit, ruining routine etc. you certainly won't harm them by having them quietly on your lap for two hours, just be mindful of letting them digest food etc.

I usually hold mine outside, since the majority live outdoors, so cooling is not an issue. I don't hold after feeding, just in case. I take jade outdoors once a day, when the weather is good. She gets to have a little sunshine, while still being able to maintain her body temperature.

Thanks Lea for this - yeah this makes a lot of sense.

How long after they eat do you think it will be safe to hold them? Would this include treats?

I don't think there is a right or wrong length of time. You just need to respect how their body's work so you don't cause harm unintentionally.

Thats great to know. I really dont go out after work and felt that it would be nice to have a companion to have when I come home. However it could be like two to three hours of "out time" and I did not know if this would be too much. I agree with you to respect how their bodies work.

[Richard.C]

I have a lot I rarely handle that are very very tame

I dont class it as tame,its more they learn to trust you,and see you as the bringer of food

outdoors if im in the cage I cant do squat without 5 to 10 of them climbing all over me,shooing them off doesnt work either,draws them back and usually others come to

even really shy Cunningham skinks lose there fear and pop out to see whats going on,not as calm as blueys but a really good effort compared to when I first acquired them

lea blotchies do what your shingles do,but its not because they have been away from you,when they wake up there not at full body temp,so being a little lethargic still, they are quite a bit more huffy and defensive,the few weeks to a month or so is usually that time period of inconsistent weather still for us southerners

add to that I guess with males to they are at there most aggressive,testosterone through the roof and if also hounding females,they to could be crabby,once temps get consistant they tend to calm right down,funnily enough usually after mating season,though some don't like to follow the rules there

[UroFreak13]

What are some irrisistable treats to use for taming

[Toria Dawn]

I hold Royal pretty much every day, he loves comig out for a visit and some exploration time. I'll take him out for 15 mins up to 1 or 2 hours, depending on how warm it is and how busy I am. If I have no time to take him out, I at least stop by and talk to him for a bit, give him a little rub on his nose.

For taming treats, try a bunch of things and find out what your individual skink enjoys. I use berries most often as a treat, or red pepper he adores. Last night I gave him a chunk of turkey from the dog food I feed him. But each skink is different and will have a different weakness! The fun part is learning what it is!