How often to soak?

[sacs4010]

So, I was wondering how often some of you would suggest I give my Merauke some time to soak in the tub or something along those lines?

[Fatal_S]

If your husbandry is correct, they never need a bath.

[sacs4010]

I have not noticed any stuck shed or anything like that. I just see so many people doing it I thought I would ask.

[sacs4010]

The humidity reads 45-50% consistently.

[Fatal_S]

Some people use baths to clean off their skinks (after a poo-nami for example), or to help remove stuck shed. I myself use baths with my babies (and to clean my adults before expos where the public will be handling them). But really, there's something weird going on lately where some owners seem to think skinks should be constantly bathed and soaked. It has some of us long-time keepers (I'm haven't for that long, but some who've been keeping for decades) scratching our heads and wondering what is going on. I think it's carried over from a sect of bearded dragon owners who think constant soaking makes beardies more hydrated? Anyways, it's not a required thing.

If your setup is good, and you're not noticing any problems, I suggest not bothering with baths. Spend the time letting your skink explore and encounter new, fun things instead. If your skink has trouble getting shed off, then a bath can be useful, but you also then need to check and adjust your setup, because something isn't working. If your skink is covered in poo, then a bath might be appropriate (though I prefer warm, running water under the tap, so the skink isn't just sitting in poop-water).

[sacs4010]

I agree Fetal_S. I am having a hard time figuring out or setting up an area for my BTS to explore. I live in a studio apartment and there are a bunch of places that would be dangerous for him to get into. Any ideas? I know how much they like to explore and such. When I get his larger set up in the future I plan on changing his hides and such.

[Fatal_S]

I honestly spent years using my bathroom as a play-room, since it's enclosed and there's no where for a skink to escape into. You can also put a sheet over the couch, then have them out to play while you sit there. Some people go all out and set up a whole skink-proof room where the skink can wander, or some people build/buy a pen of some type for the skink to romp around in while supervised. Get creative

[joan]

I use this: http://www.grrreatwall.com
It's pretty roomy and works great. I got it a long time ago for pet rats and I just dug it up to use for my lizards. It actually works really well for them and it can conform to all kinds of spaces. Don't know if I would have bought it specifically for the lizards though...it's a bit pricey for a large piece of plastic. But it is heavy (for the animals) and pretty escape proof unless you put it on an uneven surface.

[Coomassie]

I agree Fetal_S. I am having a hard time figuring out or setting up an area for my BTS to explore. I live in a studio apartment and there are a bunch of places that would be dangerous for him to get into. Any ideas? I know how much they like to explore and such. When I get his larger set up in the future I plan on changing his hides and such.

I'm in a small two bedroom apartment. Indigo is small enough (and crazy enough) that he gets to explore the couch and the bed. I pile pillows, blankets, etc up and let him dig through them. You can do a lot in a little area with layers. Coomassie is bigger and significantly slower and calmer so he gets to roam around on the floor. I just put pillows and blankets under the couch so he can't get under there. I watch them both pretty close when they are out.

[sacs4010]

He enjoys going on my couch, but he also likes to try and get in between the cracks and cushions. Which would be a VERY bad if he managed to get into. I would not mind him on my bed, IF I know for sure he would not defecate on it. lol

[sacs4010]

The sheet over my couch is a pretty good idea.

[sacs4010]

I look forward to getting him a larger enclosure so I can change out his hides, plants and such.