Not eating very much lately…
Forum rules
In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
This is also where you can have some FUN while sharing the enjoyment you get from your blueys!
In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
This is also where you can have some FUN while sharing the enjoyment you get from your blueys!
-
- Bluey Beginner
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:15 pm
- Country: USA
Not eating very much lately…
Hello everyone! So it’s officially been over a year since I got Beans and he has been a seemingly happy and curious little guy. All has been well since his vet check up back in April and eating consistently, pooping consistently, and just his normal active self. However, this past week or so, he has not paid any attention to his food… at all. I was wondering if this had to do with a few factors of what’s been going on; I live in Michigan, therefore it’s getting colder. He’s shedding and has a little bit more to go. Temperatures are 98° hot side, 76° cool side currently. I decreased light time by an hour a month or so ago, but other than that, I’ve done nothing else to force or encourage brumation; if it happens, it happens. I’ve tried giving him fresh food for the past few days (since it’s been a few days since he last ate) and he simply just walks over it and ignores it. He usually bee lines for it! He does not seem lethargic or ‘under the weather’; he’s been climbing around and overall just active. He hasn’t been pooping much so naturally I’m worried about impaction, but realistically it could be because he just hasn’t eaten. He’s also a northern. I know they can go a while without eating, but I don’t know what my next course of action should be since there are many things it could be. Any advice?
- Janella
- ADMIN
- Posts: 1816
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 5:52 am
- Your Facebook name: Janella Poch
- Country:
- Location: Petersburg, Mi
Re: Not eating very much lately…
He sounds like he is just doing typical skink things. My Northern goes on hunger spells during shedding and this time of our winter season. Mine will go days to week/s without eating and then all of sudden eat like crazy again. Remember with shedding some won't eat well for weeks. I also live in MI. Where are you from?
-
- Bluey Beginner
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:15 pm
- Country: USA
Re: Not eating very much lately…
I certainly felt like it would be just a typical skink thing, yet I swear I feel like a helicopter parent to him, lmao. Any changes, I’ll see it! I guess I got so used to him eating more often in the summer months that this came as a shock to me. Shedding hasn’t really affected how much he ate previously, but perhaps it really is just a combination of the weather change as well. I’ve been leaving food out for the past three days now (I believe he last ate on 12/2 or 12/3), but do you think I should give him another day or two before I try again? Or should I keep offering it to him? I throw the food he hasn’t eaten away since he walks all over it, and although wasting it is a bit of a pain, I don’t mind trying again and again. And I live in the Metro Detroit area!
- Janella
- ADMIN
- Posts: 1816
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 5:52 am
- Your Facebook name: Janella Poch
- Country:
- Location: Petersburg, Mi
Re: Not eating very much lately…
Hi again. At his age they only need to be fed once a week or twice at most. I would just offer food on his feeding days and go from there. I live in southeast MI :-)
-
- Bluey Beginner
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:15 pm
- Country: USA
Re: Not eating very much lately…
That’s quite interesting actually! I usually go every few days between feeding him (i.e. if fed on Sunday, he’ll eat on Wednesday and then Saturday, and then the next week he’ll eat Tuesday and Friday.) I remember reading about a schedule like this somewhere, but of course, it may not be optimal. He’s not obese, and for a while, I felt as though I wasn’t feeding him enough! He is quite active so that may play into it as well. I’m glad you told me that so I can start working on trying to find a new feeding schedule for him. I’ll try again tomorrow as that seems like ample time from his last, and then I’ll go from there. Thank you for the help! And gotta love us some Pure Michigan, huh? (:
- splashy07
- ADMIN
- Posts: 3123
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:24 am
- Country: USA
- Location: Farmingdale,LI,NY
Re: Not eating very much lately…
Just to ease your mind a bit, some of my males do not eat from late October till mid to late April. No detrimental effects.
- Janella
- ADMIN
- Posts: 1816
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 5:52 am
- Your Facebook name: Janella Poch
- Country:
- Location: Petersburg, Mi
Re: Not eating very much lately…
Yes, gotta love our Michigan weather. Also as Spashly said, some will stop eating for long periods of time during the winter months.
-
- Bluey Beginner
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:15 pm
- Country: USA
Re: Not eating very much lately…
I just find it odd that he’s still very active even without eating. I’ve tried offering different things and he’s still not having it. Last winter, he ate more sparingly but still consistent enough. Skink doing skink things I presume. Thank you guys for the help!
- splashy07
- ADMIN
- Posts: 3123
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:24 am
- Country: USA
- Location: Farmingdale,LI,NY
Re: Not eating very much lately…
Mine will climb the walls and run around like idiots during breeding season, but will not eat. If your concern is driving you nuts, you can try a little raw egg on top of his food and stick it in his face. Most often works, depending on season.
Return to “General Discussion and FAQ”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 36 guests