Tank accessory good or bad?

[Toxique]

Well, I'm getting a little IJ from Zach here within the next week, and I was wondering about this silly little tank accessory I have. Its originally made for fish, and I am thinking about putting it in my little fellows tank for the sake of making the tank not just a boring thing for when I'm not home to take the little fella out.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x204 ... thingy.jpg
As you can see, it has one large hole up front, one mirrored on the back, and four smaller holes where the 'roots' stick out.

My worry: Will my lizard stick his head in and get stuck? I had a betta fish that did that once upon a time, and I know there's a big jump between a betta and a bluey, but curious critters will be curious. Can I fix it by stuffing it with something? Perhaps a teeshirt of mine or something with my scent to get the little guy used to me when he comes home?


Also guys, I apologize in advance if I start smothering the board with a bunch of new owner questions. I've read ton of caresheets online, so I have a pretty good idea on what to do, but that won't stop me from new owner worry!

[missmacabre]

Looks fine to me. Just as long as he's small enough to get through the hole without any problems.

[Katrina]

Should be fine - try it and see. Mine seem to be pretty good for not getting stuck in spaces too small for them!

[Toxique]

Thanks so much guys, I'll give it a go, but to be safe I'll stuff it with a washcloth.

Also: So I don't have to make another topic right away; is it good to have a background for my skink's tank? I am wondering due to the fact that they're pretty expensive in the store I get my immediate supplies from, and I'd like to have everything done and ready by this thursday. If not one of those silly paper backgrounds, would a thick blanket of those hanging tank-wall plants work?

[Katrina]

An expensive, store bought background definitely is not necessary. A blanket, a plant or even posterboard would be fine. It is nice for glass tanks for them not to feel exposed from all sides, but not completely necessary with good, snug hides and adequate substrate for burrowing. But anything that covers the sides will work fine if you want a background - pet store ones definitely aren't necessary!

[Bird_Brain]

IMO, I feel that using a background is important. While I feel BTS DO handle stress better than other reptiles, many reptile enthusiasts recommend minimizing the amount a reptile can see out. I feel when a reptile can see out all around them, but yet not have access to that area, it will only cause stress. There needs to be a visual barrier.

Now, you can purchase the over priced background, but there are many other cheaper options. When I was using aquariums to house skinks, I purchased a roll of clearance wall paper that looked like a rock. It worked and looked decent. You can use a paper grocery sack, wrapping paper, etc.

[Nae]

You could also use a piece of cheap cotton material - different colours, patterns etc! Plus you can cut it to size without having to worry unsightly sticky tape holding together multiple pieces of cardboard if looks are important (Like in my house...Yes, I can have the pet spider, as long as the tank looks nice My mother makes perfect sense )

[Toxique]

Okay, that sounds good to me. I'll probably hang some blankets around the area around his tank (He's beneath my loft bed on a desk, so I can hook up blankets and the like above and around the tank). I just worry about having the heat lamp close to fabric, but so long as it isn't touching, there shouldn't be to much of a problem?

And again, forgive me for asking yet ANOTHER question, but I've been reading back on the forum a few pages, and a lot of problems seem to happen with dry shed on toes and the like. I'll read on the caresheet to see about this, but does anyone have any advice for humidity + shed issues? I know to soak a few days before shed, and I'll have to look for shedding signs in my skinker, but every little bit of advice is welcome!

And before I forget, thanks for your time in answering my questions! I do appreciate it!

[Fatal_S]

For shedding the best thing would probably be offering a moist hide and then just leaving the skink to do it's own thing. Only if problems arise do you really need to consider specific substrates/misting/baths/etc.

[Katrina]

Don't worry about the questions - it is great that you are asking and getting fully prepared before you get your skink.

Don't worry about shed issues - IJs seem to do well with most humidity levels, so wait until you get your skink and see. If you find after a couple sheds that there are issues you can add a humid hide or switch substrates.

As for soaking - I'd only soak them 3-5 days after they shed if they still have bits on their toes etc. No reason to soak before a shed and I find that if you soak when they are just shedding (i.e. that day) it doesn't really help - it seems to wash away all the natural oils that they produce to aid in shedding, and I find it makes it worse. So I always wait a few days after they have shed, and then if there are issues I soak - but not until ~5 days after.

But don't worry too much - they all shed just fine in the wild and so if you set up the enclosure properly (lots of stuff to help them rub shed off, like drift wood etc) they pretty much to fine on their own. If issues arise you can adjust humidity or add a humid hide, but give it a few sheds to see first. Chances are you have nothing to worry about!!

Don't worry too much - I know it is hard!! But they are very hardy reptiles and I'm sure you'll do just fine. And don't feel bad about asking any questions that come up - you are obviously doing your research which is great!

[MissMeg]

In Ruckus's old tank we printed off some scenery from Oz and put them in clear paper protectors (instead of laminating them) All I had to pay for was the paper covers... wich were a dollar

[SapphireTigress1]

I'd like to get a nicer background at some point, but I had a 11x19 pad of Newsprint from an old drawing class in college, and i just taped some of that onto the cage. The skinks dont care what it looks like, just us people

I'd be careful about the accessory, and would definitely recommend what you said you'd do by stuffing a shirt into it...I gave my skink a paper towel tube, and she crammed herself in there...and then could not get out! So yes, they will be silly sometimes

For shedding, I agree with whats been said: wait for a few days after the shed, and if they still have some stuck on their toes or tailtip, give em a soak. Do be prepared to get peed/pooped on, as their toes and tailtips are not an area that they are used to being touched..and mine hate it! I get pooped on a lot during this process *sigh*

[Toxique]

Alright, I won't worry about shedding to much then, only if it becomes a problem.

And as for the tank: http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x204 ... tstank.jpg

I decided I'd use my Jolly Roger flag as a background and a side cover, (I've gotten so many pirate jokes for the little guy now, its sad) I've got a banister keeping the other side clean, so only the front and top will reveal anything (Though the top would be the underside of my loft bed, oh so exciting there). But if anything, general tank yesses, nos, recommendations? Anything I need to fix?

The details are as such:
Cypress Mulch substrate
x2 hanging plants (they cover and make the 'back' of the hide)
extra large hide
large water dish
flat basking rock
fake stump (To be stuffed)
fake log
digi thermometer

[Fatal_S]

Do you not have a lid? I'm pretty sure the skink is going to get out of these right away, especially with no lid and fake plants to climb.

[Nae]

Do you have anything to monitor the temperature on the surface of the basking rock? Many members have brought a heat gun? (Im not 100% thats what they are called, but basically they measure the surface temp) as it gives a more accurate reading then a thermo. Is that black strip in the top corner the thermo? If so, its probably reading the temp near the light, and so the surface area of the rock would be colder. Although I do see a cord near the rock - whats that for?

You could also add another hide on the hot end - silicone some rocks or bits of wood to the bottom of the basking rock makes a great hot-end hide

[Toxique]

There is a lid, I forgot to mention that, it was just on the floor due to me putting everything in it and rearranging stuff. The tank (Zill 40 gal breeder) came with the locking screen lid.

And I have a digital thermometer, that's what the cord is for, I had it laying right on the rock and I'm going to give my tank a few days to cycle the temps before I say exactly what it is. The little strip was one of those stupid stick on thermometers that I got for free. Its not my main one, the digital one is.

[Rodneyma]

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