Handfeeding

[MaddyKay99]

I have had my bluey for 8 months now and he is around 9-10 months old. He is absolutely amazing and I love having him in my life. I would like to form a closer bond with him and want to try hand feeding him but he will not accept any food from my hand. Even a slice of banana or strawberry in my open palm will be looked at, maybe licked, and then ignored. I really want to hand feed him and form a 'bond' or as much of one as I can with a lizard like other people on this forum. Are there any tips for both handfeeding and making a bond?

[mb606587]

In my opinion, skinks that have an exceptionally high feeding response will be those that accept food from your hand. I have skinks that will readily hand feed and many which will not. The main observation I note with the ones that will is they become instantly stimulated at the sight, smell, or even suspicion that food will be presented. The tongue starts flickering, and if hiding, they will immediately scramble out to investigate. These skinks begin eating almost immediately upon the bowl being placed. I don't believe it's a bond that I share with these particular skinks, just that they are highly food motivated and would accept food from anybody's hand. Now my skinks who do not come lumbering out the second food is present are the ones who will exhibit the behaviors you described with your skink. So in simpler terms, some will, some never will.

[mb606587]

Pictured are feeding responses for 3 separate skinks: 2 will handfeed, 1 will not.

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