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worried again

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:52 am
by Linnea
sorry, again...im one of those people who worry a lot all the time x__x

I havent seen Litchie for ~9 days, other than that i check that hes still breathing every 3 days when i put out food for him. Usually he is running about or basking at least 2 out of 3 days. He was very active the day before he went into his hide.

He is not eating, not showing interest in anything but a fruit treat (this was given on the third day as i thought he was just a bit slow). Absolutely not loosing weight.

He is not going to shed for a while, and when hes about to shed hes usually on the warm side anyway.

He is sleeping on the cool side and does not move from the spot unless my family is very loud. Initially he was curled together as a C but now hes laying like an I.

he is only half hidden. his tail is outside the hide.

temperatures outside dropped a lot yesterday, but before that it was just regular autumn weather. his cage temps on the warm side is 31C with regular basking spot of about 35-36C. His cool side is around 22C, 19 C where he is laying hidden(on the glass), and thats his night temps too.

he drank a good amount of water on the third day when i accidentally woke him up with the treat. But he is very very still.

have i got a healthy, randomly brumating skink, or one that needs a vet check?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:21 am
by Susann
I would say, you have yourself a skink who chose to brumate.

If you are worried about undigested food, you might, just for your own peace of mind, pick him up and put him in the warmer hide, and see what happens. If he moves back to the cool side, then leave him be, and try not to worry (I suck at that too!). :wink:

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:09 am
by Spindown
i'd hazard a guess and say brumating, espeically if they are not too interested in food. My merauke is down for the count and my northern is still sorta active (sometimes) and is not eating either.

Dont worry, they'll be fine! ;)

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:50 am
by Linnea
feels reassuring to hear that it is more likely to be brumation.

what i do not like about it is the way he is sleeping/hiding, in nature he wouldve been eaten already!
thus i was unsure/uneasy.

what makes me the most sad is that i was guessing he would not fall asleep, and bought christmas presents for him! D:
I guess he will have to get them after christmas.

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:02 am
by Lauriek
As you are in the northern hemisphere I would say you have a brumating skink. It's getting on towards winter and in spite of the cage temperatures, in many cases their instinct will take over they will want to brumate. My suggestion is just leave him alone, but with water in the cage and maybe start to turn the cage temperatures down gradually. They do occassionally come out for a drink and then go back to sleep again. :)