For any that missed the previous post about these, most of these skinks arrived in large shipments and are still being acclimated - they're primarily wild caught and are definitely quite a project. They're really coming around now, and I can't wait to see what they look like after they've all shed out another time or two.
And, just as a side note, I've noticed in the group a distinct correlation in appetite between the skinks I switched over to basking bulbs (despite the bulbs being slightly lower wattage) over "daylight" style bulbs. The ones under the basking lights have much, much better appetites than the ones under regular daylight bulbs. Ambient temps with both bulbs are similar (80s), but the basking spots are, naturally, much hotter under the basking bulbs. Work links 'cause they're easy to show you what I'm referring to:
Basking: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/heat-bulbs-night-heat-bulbs-ceramic-bulbs/-/zoo-med-50-watt-basking-bulb/
Daylight: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/heat-bulbs-night-heat-bulbs-ceramic-bulbs/-/zoo-med-60-watt-day-bulb/
I just thought it'd be worth mentioning - most of us only have a handful of skinks we devote our time to, my personal collection included, so it was neat for me to see a correlation among a larger group of skinks being housed identically in every other way besides light bulb style. Today with the other breeding manager I'll be switching out the remaining bulbs, it's a pretty clear difference and I feel it's worth it to switch all of them immediately rather than wait as bulbs blow out.
So, the pics:
The mix:
1 lb raw turkey, 2 raw eggs (shells included), 1 grated carrot, 1/8 grated butternut squash, 1/2 yellow squash, 1/2 mexican squash, 1/4 cup finely chopped broccoli, 1 banana, 1 cup finely chopped spring mix, 2 big tablespoons Reptivite w/D3
Nom!
I love the Irian Jayas, they don't care at all about what I'm doing in the cage, they just want the chow!
Starting the babies right - this one happily crunched down some egg shell without a problem.
Mmmmm good stuff
This particular Indo is really dark, and really ugly, and he wasn't doing the greatest initially - some TLC and his appetite is the best of the bunch, to the point where he was initially very laid back and sweet but now he's trying to eat anything that moves once his door opens. I'm stoked!
"What are you looking at?"
My favorite Merauke giving me crazy eyes before running away
One of the axanthics - these are really shy, and messing with them causes them to go off feed sometimes, so I don't take pics of them often
My very favorite Irian Jaya - funky colored guy, bad head scarring, extremely sweet and has it figured out that I bring food, so he always comes up to the glass to say hi.
I like his funky color, I personally haven't really seen too many this color before. You can see his head scarring better here.
"oh...oh what's this?"
"OH I EAT THIS"
To denote feeding/non feeding skinks I have notecards and feed them in different sized bowls - any that didn't eat much/at all the week before get a note and are offered a smaller amount in a smaller bowl. I was thrilled to see this one happily chowing down and offered it second helpings, which it also ate.
Thanks for looking!
-Jen
I'll gladly save you from having to look at that ugly face again. ha ha ha!
