Handling and being outside of enclosure

[lemon1]

My baby is skink is almost 3 months . We've had him for 3 weeks . He is super friendly and not very skittish . Even with my 3 loud crazy kids . We usually take him out every second day for around 20 minutes . We let him do his pooping on newspaper or outside and then pass him around let him crawl very short distances and out him back .

I was wondering how long you take your skink's out for and what you do with them . Is this a good amount of handling or should we take him out more ?

[Katrina]

I don't think there is really a "good" amount of handling - it really depends on you and the bluey. If you have three kids, you will likely handle your bluey more than many people - and if he is friendly and not skittish then that is probably just fine. 20 mins a day sounds fine.

As for how much I take mine out... because I have quite a few, I don't take them out nearly as much. I have some that don't seem to appreciate being handled much at all, so they rarely come out (although I do interact with them quite a bit, but generally leave them in their homes). Others are much more curious and will be handled much more often. It depends on how busy I am, but if I have time and the skinks are up and don't seem to mind I take them out every couple of days. If they are hidden then I just leave them alone.

[Coomassie]

Coomassie comes out for at least 20 mins 3 times a week (usually much longer) and on Saturdays he comes out for 2 to 3 hours at a time. I cut the longer times out in the winter because it can get really cold in my apartment. Coomassie loves to come out and play. I will also say, I didn't start handling him this much. When he was a baby, he came out about the same as yours. As he got older, we started taking him out more. He is around a year and a half now.

[Spindown]

my Indo hates coming out, so i usually just come by and talk to her and pet her, and leave her in her cage. My others come out when i have a chance. they can be out for 10 mins to 30 mins, occasionally much more. Depends on if they have pooped

[Linnea]

my skink has never pooped elsewhere but just where he basks, so i trust him to 100% when hes outside. this might be rather stupid of me however.

i usually dont have my skink outside, and when i do i am usually too careful. he is out about 15 mins at a time due to his talent of moving slow, then sprinting into impossible hides. at least he gets some excercise, id like to give him more time out though, like an hour, but hes really very good at running....

He does not like handling much(i think), but he loves to explore - and never sits still until he finds a spot he likes. then he goes into his basking mode (head upwards. immovable). this spot happens to be on top of my bed so he can get a good view of his surroundings(i suppose). when he sits there i let him be for 30 mins.

[lemon1]

Thanks for the responses . We took Larry outside today and lost track of time . When I came in I realized he was out for an hour . He can't get very far fast yet . Between me and my 3 kids plenty of people to catch him . He did freak when I stepped back in the house . Tried running up my shoulder very fast .He will have a nice quite day tomorrow .

[Fatal_S]

Why are you up so late, you crazy woman?

Your new post made me smile. One of the hardest things I try to explain is knowing when a reptile is stressed. It's basically when they behave significantly different from normal. You seem to be have a great grasp on what Larry is feeling and how to look after him.

You're doing an absolutely fantastic job as a skink-mom! Keep it up

[lemon1]

Thanks Mel

My kids R loving their pet . I think Larry really likes being outside . I was telling Seamus about how you're breeding more next year and he said " We're going to have to get more because everybody needs their own skink ."lol I suggested that maybe in a few years he could breed reptiles for a job . He thought that was a great idea .

It was cute because the kids do their school work right beside his cage . When ever they R writing his nose is right up against the cage . I suggested Seamus could tell him all his division facts (LOL) .

I have horrible sleeping habits ...... usually in bed at 1-3 am and up by 9 give or take an hour .

[lemon1]

Thanks Mel

My kids R loving their pet . I think Larry really likes being outside . I was telling Seamus about how you're breeding more next year and he said " We're going to have to get more because everybody needs their own skink ."lol I suggested that maybe in a few years he could breed reptiles for a job . He thought that was a great idea .

It was cute because the kids do their school work right beside his cage . When ever they R writing his nose is right up against the cage . I suggested Seamus could tell him all his division facts (LOL) .

I have horrible sleeping habits ...... usually in bed at 1-3 am and up by 9 give or take an hour .

[Argentra]

Cool that your kids love the little fella.

As for handling, it really is up to the skink. My Topaz adores being handled and will paw the door of his cage over and over until I open it, then he will look up at me as if saying "Well, pick me up already." The only drawback to having him out is that I have to have a hand on him at all times when holding him (rescued, and all his toes are stubs so he has no claws). But he just loves to sit on the couch on my husband's lap and watch him play XBox games. Heck, he watches the TV from his basking spot.

This being Washington, I can't take him outside as often as I'd like, or as He would like as he loved being out in Denver summers. But the few times I have taken him outside here he's loved it.