Still nothing in comparison to my former "Naga" wild fully grown BTS that started my love for the species but shes slowly getting there
shes a very active playful eager climbing skink that im happy to own
I have one problem though, She *HATES* Coir/Coco Fibre substrate with a passion, this is the pure stuff from bunnings with the reptile on the side
doesnt contain fertilizer and is fully dry when I put it in after being soaked to full size
im wondering are bluetongues in general a species that'll learn from early experiences? as she spent a few months of her early life on teatowels, in cut up blankets, paper shred and finally coir coco fibre
she seems very unhappy on this, always clawing to get out of the cage when it first goes in, I understand if its new and scary. she does calm down after a while and do the usual burrowing thing occasionally, more so when its brumation time.. its pre-soaked dried out, the things lizards should love
but whenever shes on coir substrate shes always looking at me to come out, freezes in place for hours.. willingly climbs any fingers or arms put in her cage and generally doesnt seem happy. seems to spend more time in her hide (my wifes former makeup bag) she shows all the signs of really not liking it.. sometimes I have to pick her up and put her near the food so she'll go near it. as if she hates how it feels when she walks on it
I considered this "normal" for oomox for a while.. but shes back on the kitchen tea towels while I sort out another cage for the moment. shes back to her high eating active self with more basking, eyes seem to be brighter, more curious and generally enjoys company whenever she comes out for some family time.. all up she just seems more comfortable on towels - burrows under them when she wants too as well. she has her own spot where she camps for the night under the corner to one side
to my eyes I seem to have a happier skink when shes on a teatowel - I have a set of 3 I cycle and wash just for her use
does anyone have any bluetongues that seem to like teatowels/soft flooring vs coir?
All up though shes growing into a big girl, heads a little small but I think thats the species she is.
definitely isnt a hisser, I only get hissed at if I try to pick her up without talking first so she knows its me.. never bitten me
always goes to sleep in my arms..
loves high places, climbs on my head alot.. even spent a few nights on and off in bed during the winter months where I worried about how cold she'd get at night
https://youtu.be/y-QHINndfa0
On a sidenote and unrelated topic:
Ive made friends with a wild waterskink - sitting in a local carpark its graduated to the coming close to me to take food almost from my hands stage..not quite a BTS but it reminds me of one
That and.. I was very surprised today to see 2 wild very large what I assumed to be wild eastern bearded dragons in the same place (first time I seen wild ones - previously only seen a water dragon) Happily my waterskink friend was seen running away undetected while they devoured any moth or bug that dare go close enough
We have no indigenous reptiles. Although we now have an invasive population of garter snakes on the western part of the island.