Roxy still not eating.

[Tania]

Roxy has been with me now for 9 days and still isn't eating. I have the temp gradient fine.... basking spot... hides.... substrate (she loves laying in that).... all sorted.
She exits the substrate to wander around and go for drinking regularly... but wont touch the food.

Any suggestions?

I have tried dog food/boiled eggs/vegies and boiled chicken --- but still nothing.

Should I worry yet?

[Linnea]

no need to worry. especially not if your bts is drinking and doing regular skink stuff like hiding, basking and looking around
just keep going :> (its actually the only way since you cannot forcefeed them or feed them treats all the time)

how large is roxy? a newborn or a few months old?

if a few months old then id say 2 weeks is still normal. a month is too much.
if full adult then three weeks sounds about okay.

for adult skinks they eat only once or twice a week, so for Roxy it might be like..........for you to skip food one day.

[Tania]

Thanks... we don't know how old she is but estimate about 12 to 18 months (based on size and past owner).

I will take the food out and leave it empty for 24 hours and then see what happens when I put it back in. She is moving all around depending on the time of the day, sunlight through the window, and seems to like being at my end of the aquarium when I am on the computer...... so all normal behaviour except for eating!

Thanks for the help...

[Linnea]

then you really dont have to worry if she is a full adult it just feels hard the first few times they do this.
definitely take out the food bowl for a day.

when she is back on track again, offer food only every 3-7 days, find a feeding rythm that works for you and your pet if she isnt interested in food with 3 days interval, then you can skip that feeding and wait another 3 days. it doesnt sound very heartwarming but it wont hurt them as long as they keep a healthy and steady weight XD

she is near a window? then it might get too warm during the day?

[Joey1983]

Hey. I am new to bts as well but if she is moving around and even drinking. Those are all great signs. Just give her enough time. Try a banana. They like those every now and then.

[Linnea]

Hey. I am new to bts as well but if she is moving around and even drinking. Those are all great signs. Just give her enough time. Try a banana. They like those every now and then.

dont try banana. this bts needs to start eating proper food at first. at least thats my opinion.

[Tania]

Thanks everyone.

The window she is near has a large patio outside.... so no direct sunlight... but she seems to like looking out and watching things move around.... maybe dreaming? LOL

Food is out... what would be the best thing to offer her for a first food?

[Linnea]

first food is probably best made as her staple food
you can make it special too, of course, but since you want her to start up on a good diet its simpler to offer what she will have to expect, so she wont go on a second hunger strike due to eating banana as a first meal and then waiting for more meals like that. this is a test of patience on both parts.

so go with the dogfood veggie/salad mix you have planned now several times for her.

can she see birds close or often from where she is? i think she likes to look outside too, but if theres a lot of birds she might be too scared to come out at all, or eat (since she cannot understand theres protective glass)

[Spindown]

Weird suggestion but...perhaps try to cover multiple sides of the tank? She could be watching the birds because shes curious, she could be watching the birds and trying to be constantly on guard against them equaling stressed out lizard. I've had good luck covering 3 out of 4 sides of my tanks.