My Skink has been hiding for a week

[NickC]

Hi,

I bought a skink last November (he was probably a few months old). Everything has been going fine, and maybe still is, but he has gone into his hide and not come out for about a week now.

If I lift his hide, he hisses, so he is alive under there. I have left food out and it has gone untouched. He has never done this before.

Virtually nothing has changed except that it has gotten a little cooler in our house. He is in a very controlled environment with 12 hours of UV light including 10 hours with a 25W spot on the warm side of his cage. So his daytime temps haven't changed, but night temps are probably around 68F instead of the 70-72 he would have experienced up until the last couple of weeks (I don't have a night heat-source).

Since this is the first autumn that I've had him, I have nothing to compare against. Is he hibernating? What should I do?

Thanks

[Dippy_Dipstar]

The ideal environment for the Bluey is 14 hours of daylight and a 10 hour night however the temps you are describing seem fine, and during the night he does not require a heat source unless you are in a really cold climate.

To me it sounds like Brumation, in which case he should be back out in about 3 or 4 weeks. If you are worried about him not eating you can always leave a little fresh food in his cage but these guys are pretty strong fella's and generally know when and what they need.

Apart from that the only question i have is... Is he being housed alone or with something else?

You seem to be doing everything right from what you have described, So keep up the good work and he should be fine =)

[NickC]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. He is housed alone.

I suspected brumation based on what I researched, but I thought this was a little early in the year. And now I know how long to expect him to be away.

I'll take your advice on the daylight requirements. Does it matter if I change that now while he is brumating?

Cheers

[Linnea]

i dont entirely believe the estimation 3-4 weeks. its entirely dependant on where the person lives and the temps and daylight and which type of skink it is.....?

[Dippy_Dipstar]

(Linnea)

Well seeing as we're on a Blue tongue skink site i kinda just assumed it was a Bluey lol, And the brumation period for my Bluey is about 5 - 6 weeks but i understand what you are saying lol.

(NickC)

No it wont matter at all, i was giving my Blueys a 10 hour day too but it took them about a week to get used to it.

[Linnea]

dippy. i meant the type of blue tongue skink. a northern or meruake, centralian or shingleback etc.

[Dippy_Dipstar]

Oh yeah, good point lol. In that case i better ask, NickC? Do you know what kind of Bluey have you got? or have any pics?

[NickC]

Hi,

He is an Irian Jaya, at least thats my best guess. I came to that conclusion by comparing him to the pictures section. I would say I'm 90% sure.

I'd love to send a picture, but he is hiding I'll try to find one, but the last one I took of him is months ago.

[Katrina]

It does sound like brumation... they can go weeks and months without food (if healthy), so don't worry. Offer water all the time and if he isn't eating you may as well lower his temps and save some power.

As long as you are sure he isn't sick or lethargic then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

[NickC]

Well, he came out yesterday, 3/4 shed. So he was sheding I guess, not brumating. But it must have been 2 weeks total. I've never seen him disappear for more than a couple of days to shed.